Cycling in the Caldera: The Volcanic Tweed Valley and Mount Warning 

The Tweed Valley on the far north coast of NSW is a spectacular place. Formed by the erosion of a massive prehistoric volcano, the ‘caldera’ area that remains today is the largest in the southern hemisphere. Volcanic soils have created an environment that is teeming with life, with the valleys filled with fields of sugarcane, banana farms, and fruit and nut orchards, and the slopes cloaked by rainforest — much of which is national park. It’s also a great area to explore by bike.    

While there are plenty of great places to stay on the nearby coast — in pretty coastal towns like Kingscliff, Cabarita Beach, or Tweed Heads — if you’re here to ride, the inland agricultural centre of Murwillumbah is also a solid option, located smack bang in the middle of the caldera and with a wide range of accommodation and dining options both in town and dotting the lush surrounding area. Starting from ‘Mur-bah’ (as the locals call it), riding options are plentiful, with punchy climbs, flat roads through the sugarcane fields, and rolling rainforest roads all ready and waiting, on surfaces both sealed and unsealed.

Arguably the biggest challenge for any visiting cyclist, however, is the road climb up Mount Warning, the uniquely-shaped peak dominating the skyline of the surrounding area and just asking to be tackled on two wheels. Known to the local Bundjalung people as Wollumbin, Mount Warning is the main remnant of the extinct volcano and a modern reminder of the area’s tumultuous geological history. 

While the road up Mount Warning stops short of the peak, the climb to the car park (4.5km at 7.8%) is still a cracker, rising nearly 350 metres through sweaty, dense rainforest. Adding to the challenge is that due to the high humidity, you’ll often find the road surface to be slick with moisture, making it borderline impossible to get out of the saddle unless you fancy losing rear wheel traction. 

Mount Warning was also where Aussie World Tour climber Jack Haig announced himself as a serious talent on the domestic scene, easily winning the first stage of the 2013 Battle of the Border National Road Series race (which finished at the top of the climb) and going on to win the tour overall, his undeniable climbing pedigree coming to the fore when things got steep. 

So if you’re looking to get away for a riding holiday this summer, chuck the Tweed Valley on your list: the scenery is amazing, the riding is great, and the nearby beaches (which we haven’t even mentioned!) are world class. Not a bad combo, if you ask us.