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Last Updated: Thursday, 30 May 2024 16:25

There are endless routes for riding on the road around our region. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, enjoy short or long-distance rides, you will enjoy what our region has to offer. Some of the most popular routes in our region are listed below. Some short town and city leisure riding suggestions are also available in our Recreational bike riding article.

Alternatively, suggested routes from members of our community can be found on Bikemap and MapMyRide.

Maps and routes are also available on the Downs Burnett Cycle Trail website.

Intermediate rides (20km+)

Some intermediate and long rides offer the most beautiful scenery. Be sure to take the camera and stop to grab a picture along your way.

Preston loop - 24Km with 530m of climbing. A scenic and challenging loop that was featured in a past Tour of Toowoomba. It contains a number of short climbs that exceed 15deg. Try the loop in both directions.

Dams loop from Hampton - 43Km with 900m of climbing. For those who like it lumpy, this loop is both spectacular in scenery and challenging for all levels of cyclists.

Red Hill Loop - 44Km with 600m of climbing. This popular group route features climbs of Mt Kynoch and Red Hill. It has a mixture of smooth asphalt and country bitumen. It includes riding on the New England Highway where a good shoulder exists, however, side-by-side riding is not recommended during peak motor vehicle periods. A portion of the New England Highway route can be ridden at a family pace on a parallel shared path.

Toowoomba City to Carbarlah loop - 40Km with 500m of climbing. This route features Mt Kynoch (climb and descent), a mixture of smooth asphalt and country bitumen, and mostly lightly undulating terrain. It includes riding on the New England Highway where a good shoulder exists, however, side-by-side riding is not recommended during peak motor vehicle periods. A portion of the New England Highway route can be ridden on a parallel shared path.

Goombungee and Kingsthorpe loop - 84Km with 1,000m of climbing. Excellence in country riding taking in the beautiful towns of Meringandan, Goombungee and Kingsthorpe. Travelling north out of Toowoomba City along the New England Highway is best done out of peak traffic times.

Long country rides (100km +)

Mt Tyson, Southbrook, Felton & Cambooya - 116Km with 1,060m of climbing. This scenic route takes in some of the best country riding of the Darling Downs. Save some legs for the last 20km for the drag back into Toowoomba City. A shortcut/bailout option is available at Southbrook - head directly east along Umbriam Rd to Wyreema.

Hayden, Crows Nest - 130Km with 1,700m of climbing. Take in the beautiful country towns of Meringandan, Goombungee, Hayden and Crows Nest. All of which have somewhere to stop and restock food and water supplies (during business hours). While not containing any large climbs, the continuous rolling hills of this route will ensure even the strongest riders are looking for a cold drink and something other than a bike seat to sit on.

Cambooya, Nobby, Cambooya & Ramsay loop -  111Km with 1,200m of climbing. This figure-eight loop starts with a gradual descent to Cambooya. From here it is a loop through the historic town of Nobby and back to Cambooya where there are resupply options if required. The route through Ramsay and Hodgsonvale and back into Toowoomba City will have your legs screaming with many short-sharp hills and a few long drags too. Numerous shortcut/bailout and extension options exist.

Hill climbing routes

The beautiful Great Dividing Range provides some excellent hill climbs for those cyclists who enjoy some hills.

Blanchview Category 3 climb - This is a classic 'hills day' route that includes a fast descent down the range (not recommended during peak traffic times), some lumps to get you warmed up and then the Category 3 Blanchview (315m of climbing with an average of 6%).

Rockmount Category 3 climb - One of the nicest climbs of the Great Dividing Range in South East Queensland that includes the Category 3 (250m of climbing at an average of 8%) Rockmount.

Ride the Range 2022 - 80km - 1,100m of climbing. Starting from Picnic Point and swoop down into the Lockyer Valley. But brace yourself for the final push home up the range via the Category 3 Blanchview Road.

Ride the Range 2022 - 112km Classic - 1,400m of climbing. Starting at Picnic Point, swoop down into the Valley then finish with a final climb via Blanchview Road back to Picnic Point.

Ride the Range 2022 - 163km (100 mile) - 1,650m of climbing. Descend into the Lockyer Valley and enjoy some rolling hills and then mostly flat riding through Tent Hill and Mulgowie. Everyone who's ridden a Ride the Range event knows all the fun begins in the last 15km, so save your legs!

Popular mass-participation ride

The yearly Toowoomba Ride the Range attracts hundreds of riders from around the country. View information about this event on the Ride the Range website.