Tumbarumba: Mountain Biking, Walking Trails and Rail Trail

If you’re looking for a hotel in Tumbarumba, the kind of days you’re planning can be a good place to start: leisure options vary by activity, route length and terrain. Options to compare include gravity-oriented mountain biking at Mt Tumbarumba, walking and cycling trails, and a museum in the former Tattersall’s Hotel. You could first consider whether you’d like to include a mountain bike trail, a walking route through forest and granite, or paths around town in your plans.

Activities at Mt Tumbarumba

The Mt Tumbarumba Mountain Bike Park has 22 km of gravity-oriented mountain bike trails and 315 m of elevation difference. These figures answer different questions: the kilometres indicate trail length, while the elevation difference adds a second measure. When choosing an activity on the mountain, consider both the type of trail and both figures; together they provide a more complete picture than a distance alone.

The 8 km “Sounding Ground” walking loop passes through forests and across rugged granite outcrops. Here, route length and landscape features come together: when choosing a walking route, you can take into account that the trail passes through both forest and granite outcrops. Compared with the bike park, the focus shifts from gravity-oriented mountain bike trails and elevation difference to a clearly identified walking route through varied landscapes. Both options are at Mt Tumbarumba, but they differ in activity type and description.

Rail Trail and paths around town

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail offers 21 km for walks and bike rides. The figure is similar to the 22 km length of the mountain biking option, but the activities differ: the Rail Trail is described as suitable for walks and bike rides, while the bike park is for gravity-oriented mountain biking. This distinction is helpful when comparing the figures; the kilometre distances here do not refer to the same type of route. So if you’d like to walk or ride a bike, the Rail Trail is a clearly identified option to consider.

In addition to the named Rail Trail, Tumbarumba has an extensive network of walking and cycling paths. These run, among other places, along the creek, around the sports fields, and as far as the showground and shops. This provides a different way to find your bearings than the 21 km route: on the local network, the named areas and destinations matter, while on the Rail Trail, the focus is on a single route and its length. The local paths thus complement the named route with points around town rather than a single route length.

The Tumbarumba Pump Track offers another focus. The professionally designed track features rollers, jumps and wide turns. Here, the specific features of the track are in the foreground, while the local path network is described by its landmarks and the Rail Trail by its route and length. These differences can help you distinguish the leisure options described here by the way they are presented.

Culture and practical information

The former Tattersall’s Hotel is now home to the Tumbarumba Visitor Information Centre and Museum. Its former use as a hotel and its current role as a visitor information centre and museum should be distinguished: the name refers to the building’s past, while today it houses these facilities. Operating details may change; check the latest information about the Centre and Museum before visiting.

Access to Mt Tumbarumba is paid; all park users must have a valid Mountain Pass. As access rules may change, check them before your visit. For the mountain bike park, also check the current trail status before riding.

Discover more destinations: Lochinvar, Clareville, Tumbi Umbi, Wildes Meadow, Glenfield, West Ryde, Berridale, Mount Hutton

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.