Livingstone National Park is one of the Riverina’s best-kept secrets. Photo: Josef Winkler.
Just 35 km south of Wagga Wagga, Livingstone National Park is a natural wonderland and a haven for mountain bikers in the Riverina.
This park has 9 km of flowing mountain bike trails showcasing the beauty of the landscape with its burnt-orange dust, striking forests, natural water courses and occasional views of Wagga.
While 9 km of singletrack doesn’t sound that much, there are well over 40 km of fire trails to explore and you can easily spend a day out on the bike.
I’ve ridden out there many times and believe that the well-maintained park is one of the region’s best-kept secrets and well worth the short drive.
Despite its proximity to the Wagga Gun Club, the 200-hectare Livingstone National Park is remarkably tranquil when you get into the trees and is home to a variety of threatened woodland birds, such as the hooded robin.
Keep an eye out for the park’s abundant wildlife. Photo: Josef Winkler.
The trails offer something for everyone, from serious riders to novices. It’s e-bike and bushwalk-friendly, and you can camp if you want to spend the night – something I recommend!
This kind of area is best explored with a bunch of your mates, but whether you go overnight or just for a day trip, make sure you are self-sufficient as no managed water sources are available.
Trail-building group TrailScapes constructed the original shared-use trails in Livingstone National Park in 2012 and it was the first time that a mountain bike trail was formally built in a NSW national park.
The singletrack is in a figure-eight shape and can be ridden in either direction. Trailscapes has developed an extra 5 km on top of the original 4 km.
Like any trail, it becomes more challenging the quicker you go, but will suit all riding styles, even those with gravel bikes.
The park’s 9 km of singletrack was installed by TrailScapes. Photo: Supplied.
With the new section of trail, there are now two main climbs that are nice and gradual with nothing too technical to conquer, which is great as it allows you to focus on nature, which is why we get out and ride.
In reality, you’re not that far from town, but you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. You get to escape the bustling city vibe and focus on yourself, your bike and the people around you.
Exploring further, the Skyline trail gives great views from the top of the park. It might take a bit of effort to get there, but like anything, the hard work pays off and with that, you are certainly rewarded at the summit.
In addition to the singletrack, there are dozens of fire roads to explore. Photo: Josef Winkler.
Despite living in the Riverina my whole life, I have still not managed to ride throughout the entire park, just because of its sheer size and challenging steep fire roads.
It’s a great spot to explore right on our doorstep and has an easily accessible trailhead for every type of vehicle.
If you’re yet to make it to Livingstone, I suggest you give it a go!
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