Ever wanted to take your bike riding to the next level? The Thredbo Valley Track (TVT), in Kosciuszko National Park, is the perfect intro into the thrill of mountain biking.
Novice or advanced, it’s just about unmatched when it comes to mountain biking fun through some of Australia’s highest terrain.
We all know the Snowies have a rep for snow sports, but amongst those in the know it’s always been a hotspot for mountain bike riding; especially in November when its time to dust off the bike, grab your crew and hit the tracks for first laps of the season.
Got a mountain bike? Perfect. If not, bike, gear and helmet hire is available from Thredbo Resort. Lake Crackenback Resort is another option to get you geared up, and you’ll find places in Jindabyne like Sacred ride and Gravity Jindabyne that rent gear too.
To find the bike track, head to Thredbo village, five hours drive from Sydney or 30 minutes from Jindabyne. The Thredbo Valley Track starts from Friday Drive, in Thredbo, on your right, before the roundabout.
The full track weaves 37 km (one-way) mostly downhill through the incredible sub-alpine landscape, between huge granite boulders, snowgum woodland and towering eucalyptus forest.
Starting at the top, you’ll spend most of the ride curving down the sides of the valley, rolling down hills, zig-zagging your way to the Old Ranger station and passing through Ngarigo and Thredbo Diggings campgrounds (pro tip: they make great pit stops). Riding the hard-packed rocky path will test your thighs and backside (saddle soreness is real), but the gravel offers a great surface to test your mad skills, and custom-built suspension bridges (spoiler: there’s six) will take you over the river running below you.
How you tackle the track is completely up to you and your crew. With shorter, easier ride or adventurous, technical ride options the track can be completed in sections that suit your (or crew’s) level of experience.
Just remember it’s a shared use track, so take care and expect to pass the occasional trout-carrying fisherman, enthusiastic hiker or riders coming the other way.
Fancy yourself a gravity junkie? Get your fix on Thredbo Mountain Bike Park’s gravity trails.
Eager for thrills? The 18.4km (one-way) Gaden Trout Hatchery downstream from Bullocks Flat was made for you. This challenging section, is packed with technical parts (incl. high berms, rocky surfaces, and steep parts) as it follows the river down through remote sub-alpine landscapes. Yewww!
The lower Thredbo Valley Track is recommended only for physically fit, experienced and well-equipped riders. This section of the track is remote, there are no exit points or facilities until you reach the Gaden Trout hatchery, off Kosciuszko Road.
Coming downstream from Bullocks flat to Gaden Trout Hatchery? The final stretch of the Thredbo Valley Track is a short (30mins – 1hr) and 1.5km (one-way) easy ride. Continue straight (don’t cross the Gaden Bridge on your right) then it’s a gentle climb through snowgum woodland; you’ll be treated to sounds of local birdlife and views of the Thredbo River as you make the final descent through tall eucalypt forest to the Thredbo River Picnic area.
The Thredbo Valley Track offers options for riders of all levels, to start your journey from zero to hero.