Noosa bike hire, self guided rides and mountain bike coaching, from a local team that rides these trails every day.
Noosa has become one of Australia’s more distinctive gravel destinations, and not because the riding is brutal. Smooth hinterland gravel, quiet country lanes, rainforest, rolling farmland and coastal scenery combine into rides that are absorbing and scenic without demanding a racing licence. Where a lot of gravel regions trade on rough terrain or sheer endurance, this one offers everything from relaxed scenic cruising to more adventurous backroad exploration, all within a short drive of the coast.
The best part is that these rides go somewhere. Instead of doubling back over the same roads, each route links shifting landscapes, country towns, forests, valleys and waterways into a day that keeps changing from start to finish.
If you want the best shorter gravel rides in the Noosa Hinterland, these three are our picks under 50km.
Who runs these. Each route begins with a transfer out to the hinterland, so they are booked through By Earth and Ocean, our sister company in the Element Outdoors Group. Bike On handles bike and e-bike hire, coaching and the easier coastal and river rides around town.
One-way shuttle with By Earth and Ocean
You could ride out of Noosa to reach the trails, but a good part of your day would go on suburban streets getting there and back. Our sister company, By Earth and Ocean, runs one-way shuttles instead. They drive you and your bike straight into the middle of the hinterland, so almost all of your time on the bike is spent in forest, farmland and country towns. Every ride finishes back at our Noosaville shop.
Start in the best of it
The shuttle drops you deep in the hinterland, so the kilometres you ride are the scenic ones, pointed back toward the coast.
One car, no retrieval run
Doing these routes yourself means juggling two vehicles and an extra hour at the end of the day fetching the second one. Park once, for free, at our shop, and when the ride is done, just relax.
Leaves at 9am
We load you, your bike and your gear and drive you out to the start. Hiring a bike from us? It’s ready at the shop when you arrive.
GPS maps included
Downloadable GPS route maps come with the shuttle. Load them on your own GPS unit, or use the Ride with GPS app on your phone for spoken turn by turn directions.
Phone mounts
Mountain bike routes need a securely fixed device, such as a bike computer or a phone on a Quad Lock mount. On gravel we can lend you a free universal phone holder, but some routes get rough, so we recommend a more secure mount. Quad Lock mounts are $5 per booking if your phone has a compatible case. No secure setup? Hire one of our phones with a Quad Lock mount for $40 (most groups only need one).
Finish with a drink
Ride back into our shop, where your car is waiting. Grab a 2-for-1 drinks voucher and head to Land & Sea Brewery for a locally brewed beer, a locally distilled gin or vodka and a burger. Trading hours vary, so check before you ride.
Relaxed hinterland cruising linking country towns, forest gravel and quiet backroads all the way to the coast.
Why We Love It
What to expect
A point-to-point that eases downhill from the hinterland towards Noosa across quiet sealed road, smooth flowing gravel, forest sections and parts of the Noosa Trail Network.
Surfaces stay friendly and traffic stays light, which makes it achievable for a wide range of riders. The scenery does the work: country-town pace around Pomona, forest-lined gravel in the middle, then waterways and coastal air as you come into Noosa past the Lake Doonella wetlands, the same wetlands our Mt Tinbeerwah ride passes through from the other direction.
Difficulty and surface
Mostly smooth gravel and quiet sealed road, with achievable gradients and almost nothing technical. A good fit for most riders comfortable on a bike. Some gravel softens or turns muddy after rain. Our rating: Generally Relaxed.
Scenic, achievable and full of variety, with a long descent off the hinterland ridgelines to the coast.
Why We Love It
What to expect
Starting higher in the hinterland near Cooran, this route links flowing gravel roads, forest access tracks and quiet country lanes before dropping steadily towards Noosa.
The landscape shifts as you go: farmland, bushland, rolling hills, rainforest-lined gravel, with wide views opening up and a strong sense of heading somewhere as the terrain tips towards the coast.
Quiet roads and constant variety make this one of the most enjoyable gravel rides under 50km anywhere in the region.
Difficulty and surface
Mostly quiet roads and manageable gravel that suit any rider comfortable on a bike. Forest and unsealed sections can turn softer, muddier or slightly more technical after rain. Our rating: Generally Relaxed.
Forest-lined gravel, hinterland lookouts and a more adventurous run through the heart of the Noosa Trail Network.
Why We Love It
What to expect
From a high start near Cooran, the Cooroora Traverse follows quiet gravel roads and long stretches of the Cooroora Trail through farmland, forest and open country before dropping towards Noosa.
Expect rolling gravel, scenic backroads and some rewarding descents, with wide views across the hinterland and the ranges behind it.
A good pick if you want a shorter day that still steps up into more demanding terrain.
Difficulty and surface
Mostly off-road, using large sections of the Noosa Trail Network: smooth gravel, forest trail and rougher technical stretches with roots, rocks and uneven ground. Distance and elevation stay achievable for confident riders, but wet conditions ramp the difficulty up considerably. Capable gravel riders will be fine; many will prefer a flat-bar gravel bike or a hardtail for the extra comfort and control. Our rating: Moderate Challenge.
Common questions
Our top three under 50km are Pomona to Noosa (32.9km), Treetops to Tewantin (44.7km) and the Cooroora Traverse (45.5km).
Pomona to Noosa. It is mostly smooth gravel and quiet sealed road, downhill overall, and rated Generally Relaxed.
A gravel bike suits most of these routes. For the rougher Cooroora Traverse, many riders prefer a flat bar gravel bike or a hardtail. We hire both, see our bike hire range.
These are point to point rides with a transfer out to the hinterland, run by our sister company By Earth and Ocean.
The shuttle leaves our Noosaville shop at 9am and every ride finishes back at the shop. Book a self guided gravel ride.
These point-to-point gravel days are run by By Earth and Ocean, our sister company in the Element Outdoors Group. A self-guided booking covers the transfer out to the hinterland start, downloadable GPS route maps with spoken turn by turn directions in the Ride with GPS app, bike hire if you want it, and local route knowledge so you spend the day riding rather than second-guessing junctions.
Staying closer to town? Bike On handles bike and e-bike hire and the easy coastal and river rides around Noosa.
Ready for a bigger day? Try Noosa’s top 3 gravel rides under 100km, or go all in with the iconic point-to-point gravel rides over 100km. Prefer dirt to gravel? See the Noosa Trail Network by mountain bike.
Our gravel routes vary a lot in terrain, surface and technical difficulty. Distance and elevation matter, but the thing that most changes how hard a ride feels is the ground under the tyres.
Most routes combine quiet sealed backroads with gravel roads, forest trails and sections of the Noosa Trail Network. Conditions shift with the weather, with maintenance and with the season, so these ratings are a guide rather than a guarantee.
Generally Relaxed: within reach of most riders comfortable spending a few hours on a bike. Well-maintained gravel, quieter sealed sections and smoother surfaces with very little technical riding. Fine on a gravel bike, hybrid, flat-bar bike or e-bike. Scenic exploration without the technical demands.
Moderate Challenge: for confident riders happy on varied terrain and extended time off sealed roads. Expect rougher gravel, loose surfaces, forest tracks, roots, rocks, short technical sections and more remote country. Gravel and flat-bar bikes both work, but you need to be comfortable on uneven ground. Wet weather lifts the difficulty considerably.
Significant Challenge: for experienced riders chasing something more adventurous. These use the rugged end of the Noosa Trail Network: management vehicle tracks, rough forest terrain, steeper gradients and sustained technical riding. Rideable on a capable gravel bike in the dry, though many riders prefer a hardtail or eMTB for comfort and control. Strong bike handling and real off-road experience required.
Discover Noosa with premium bikes built for comfort and adventure. Choose from road bikes, e-bikes, mountain bikes, cruisers, kids’ bikes and more. Hire by the day or longer.
Discover sealed riverside paths, hinterland gravel, quiet country roads, purpose built singletrack and a long stretch of open beach, all on routes locals actually ride.
Fun, inclusive and progressive coaching for all ages and abilities. Learn new skills, ride with friends and take your mountain biking to the next level.
