Mt Tumbarumba opening a milestone in community's ride to revival

At the edge of the Snowy Mountains, the small town of Tumbarumba is fast becoming one of Australia’s most exhilarating cycling destinations.

Already home to the hugely popular Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail, a scenic 21-kilometre route winding through rolling countryside, the town is now set to welcome a thrilling new addition: Mt Tumbarumba Bike Park, which opens for visitors from 31 March.

This long-awaited park is a game-changer for Tumbarumba, offering a world-class mountain biking experience just a couple of kilometres from town while carving out a milestone for adventure tourism in the Snowy Valleys region.

The opening is also a testament to the resilience and determination of a community that refused to give up.

Tumbarumba has always been known for its rolling hills, rugged granite boulders, towering eucalypt forests and sweeping views across Kosciuszko National Park.

But in early 2020, the Black Summer bushfires tore through the region, leaving devastation in their wake. Homes and businesses were lost and thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism dwindled and the community faced the harsh reality that rebuilding meant adapting.

Amid this crisis, a group of passionate mountain bikers saw an opportunity.

They envisioned a park that could not only attract riders from across the country but also breathe new life into their town.

With its challenging terrain and natural beauty, Tumbarumba was an ideal location for a world-class trail network. However, making this dream a reality would require immense effort, creativity, and an unwavering belief in their cause.

The initial plan was to build the bike park within the local state forest, but regulatory obstacles made this impossible.

Instead of giving up, the team set its sights on nearby Mt Tumbarumba.

The challenge? Securing the land and funding.

The breakthrough came with a $3.4 million grant from the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Fund.

Yet, even with this, the land still needed to be purchased.

That’s when the true spirit of Tumbarumba shone through.

In a uniquely rural fundraising effort, local farmers donated cows, which were auctioned off alongside contributions from businesses and residents.

In a single evening, the community raised an astonishing $141,000.

This grassroots effort and additional support from the Tumbarumba Community Bank and the Hyne Community Trust made the purchase of Mt Tumbarumba possible and has transformed fire-scarred land into a premier mountain biking park.

Hamish Wing of Canberra-based business Iconic Trails and Craig Stonestreet of Natural Trails, a longtime Jindabyne resident and now a Tumbarumba local, played pivotal roles in shaping the park’s layout using advanced 3D modelling and GPS technology alongside machine-built and hand-crafted elements.

Today, Mt Tumbarumba Bike Park is a gravity-focused destination featuring 22 km of trails with 315 m of elevation, thrilling downhill runs and routes catering to all skill levels.

There’s the Holy Cow, the Grin and Tonic, you can get a bit of Moomentum or try the Tumbarumble, Cattlepult or Johansen’s Corkscrew – in all, 21 aptly named interactive routes that can be accessed online to track your rides.

With shuttle services available or a dedicated six-kilometre climbing trail, riders can also experience exhilarating descents without the strenuous uphill pedal.

The park also offers an eight-kilometre hiking trail, winding through alpine forests and granite outcrops, providing stunning panoramic views of the Snowy Valleys region.

As Australia’s first community-owned and operated mountain bike park, Mt Tumbarumba operates as a paid-access facility, ensuring that all revenue contributes to ongoing trail maintenance and future development.

The project has set a precedent for other rural communities looking for sustainable ways to revitalise their economies while embracing their natural assets.

“This park is more than just trails – it’s a story of resilience, determination, and the power of community,” said Peter Marshall, president of Cycle Tumbarumba, the local cycling club behind the initiative.

“We’ve created something special here that will put Tumbarumba on the map as an adventure destination while also providing a space for locals and visitors to enjoy our incredible landscape.”

Beyond the adrenaline-fuelled trails, Tumbarumba now caters to all types of riders, solidifying the town’s reputation as a must-visit adventure hub.

There are cross-country (XC) trails at Town Common and Mason’s Hill, The Police Paddock loop, the Mannus Lookout Road Loop (20 km), Maginities Gap Loop (53 km), a pump track and a new kids’ bike playground for Tumbarumba’s tiniest cyclists.

The bike park’s official opening on Saturday, 29 March, brings together locals, cyclists and visitors for a day of fun, music and adventure with a community “muster” event to be held at that popular CBD creekscape – Goldenfields Park.

The event will showcase the hard work behind the bike park’s creation and allow visitors to experience the trails firsthand.

It will kick off with an official opening ceremony and follow with a community muster party complete with bike-themed activities and challenges, a DJ and entertainment.

It’s just the first in what the community hopes will be more staged cycling events further cementing Tumbarumba as a premier mountain biking destination, boosting tourism and local businesses.

Already a 3×3 Cross-Country Race – part of the Snowy Riverina Series – drawing competitors from across the region has been organised for 29 June.

Organisers are inviting anyone and everyone to come for the ride, stay for the story and be part of the community that turned devastation into a destination at Mt Tumbarumba Bike Park.

Find out more via the Mt Tumburumba website.

Original Article published by Edwina Mason on About Regional.