Remarkable mountain biking trails open in the Southern Flinders Ranges
South Australians are now able to hit the trails at the first of the completed mountain biking routes at Willowie and Wirrabara, as part of the $10 million Remarkable Southern Flinders Ranges project.
The stage one completed projects include 20-kilometres of new mountain bike trails constructed in Mount Remarkable National Park in Willowie, north of Melrose.
Catering for beginner through to intermediate riders, the new trails are family-friendly with some progressive elements included for those looking to challenge their skills. New and improved day visitor facilities are now also in place at Willowie including a picnic area, accessible toilets and improvements to the existing carpark.
Upgraded day visitor facilities and car parking are now also open at Wirrabarra, including two picnic shelters with tables and seating, barbecue facilities, an amenity block with accessible toilets and improvements to the existing carpark.
Concept design plans for the EPIC mountain biking trail at Mount Remarkable National Park, have also been unveiled by construction partner, South Australian company TrailScapes. The proposed trail has been designed in line with the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) criteria for epic trail accreditation and is set to become a world-class tourism drawcard for the region.
Detailed survey works will begin in early 2022. The proposed route offers 37.5km of non-stop adventure, with riders climbing to the summit of Mount Remarkable at heights of 950m above sea level then returning to Melrose. It traverses and showcases the unique topography and ecology of the Mount Remarkable Range, offering up fantastic views over the Willochra Plain before climbing to the summit. The trail will then return riders to Melrose by descending the western flank and navigating around the southern extent of the Mount.
IMBA epic accredited rides are designed to be an all-day adventure and to show the uniqueness of a region. This trail will complement the 20km of Mountain Bike trails recently built at Willowie Forest and increase the network at Melrose to over 150km of singletrack trail.
The partnership has been an exciting opportunity to bring together a unique group of organisations committed to working with the State Government on projects to further advance and promote the Southern Flinders region as a tourism destination.
The significant investment into adventure and nature-based tourism will help to stimulate economic growth for the region and create opportunities to further grow private and indigenous investment.
It’s an exciting project that will put the Southern Flinders on the map for a new audience of mountain bikers, while also bolstering the region’s profile locally, interstate and internationally.
Progress is also continuing on other planned works for the precinct with tenders also released for two other key projects – a Gorges multi day walk and upgrades to the Mambray Creek campground.
Construction of the Willowie and Wirrabara day visitor facilities were completed by local Port Pirie business Alsanto Constructions Pty Ltd, with TrailScapes completing construction of the Willowie trails.
The projects are being funded by the Australian Government under the Building Better Regions Fund and the South Australian Department of Environment and Water.
The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, Regional Development Australia Yorke & Mid North, Northern Areas Council, District Council of Mount Remarkable, Port Pirie Regional Council and the Nukunu traditional owners were foundation partners to secure the collaborative funding for the project.
Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid North is supporting the delivery of the Mount Remarkable EPIC mountain bike trail.
People interested in finding out more are encouraged to go to: www.engagementhub.parks.sa.gov.au/southern-flinders-precinct
