A major new tourism initiative promoting Southern NSW as Australia's premier mountain biking destination has completely bypassed the Illawarra region, despite its significant investment in trail development.
What is the Great Southern Trails Initiative?
Destination Southern NSW (DSNSW) has launched the Great Southern Trails, a comprehensive tourism campaign connecting 10 mountain biking trail networks across the state's southern region. The initiative aims to position the area as Australia's top mountain biking destination, featuring more than 550 kilometres of dedicated trails spanning the south coast, alpine region, and the capital.
Tourism promoters highlight that the connected networks offer remarkably diverse experiences within a compact 225-kilometre diameter cluster. Riders can enjoy everything from rocky alpine loops and lakeside flow trails to forest descents, technical features, gravity-fed lines, and coastal singletrack.
For those seeking shorter adventures, the extensive network can be broken down into two, three, or four-day segments, making it accessible for riders with limited time.
Why Has Illawarra Been Overlooked?
The exclusion comes as a particular blow to the Illawarra region, where stage one of the $13.4 million Illawarra Escarpment trail network at Mount Kembla was completed in September 2025. The initial 20 kilometres of trails are planned to expand to 70 kilometres, catering to riders from novice to expert levels.
Rocky Trail Entertainment founder Juliane Wisata praised Southern NSW's mountain biking offerings, stating: "From the iconic Stromlo Forest Park to Thredbo Resort and the recently opened Mogo Trails, Gravity Eden, Narooma MTB, and Mount Tumbarumba, nowhere else in Australia comes close to the quality and diversity of MTB riding on offer in the region."
The omission appears to stem from administrative boundaries rather than trail quality. The Illawarra falls under Destination Sydney Surrounds South in the NSW government's tourism structure, while the new initiative focuses on Destination Southern NSW regions.
Future Expansion Possibilities
In some encouraging news, Destination Southern NSW general manager Richard Everson indicated that the Illawarra hasn't been permanently excluded. "As we learn more about rider preferences and behaviours, we'll be in a stronger position to consider opportunities for expansion," he said.
Everson specifically highlighted Mount Kembla as "a standout candidate" for future inclusion, praising the recent trail development as "a long-anticipated and welcome addition to the broader NSW MTB landscape."
The economic stakes are significant, with cycle tourism injecting an estimated $1 billion annually into Australia's visitor economy according to Tourism Research Australia. Everson emphasized that mountain biking represents one of the fastest-growing tourism segments in regional Australia, bringing riders to local cafes, pubs, accommodation, and other visitor attractions.
The Great Southern Trails initiative aims to inspire visitors to choose Southern NSW for their mountain biking trips, encouraging longer stays, higher visitor spending, and stronger year-round tourism visitation throughout the region.
