Destinations
Discover Sian A'Hern's favourite places to go mountain biking in Australia
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For part three of our Travel Around Australia with Boost Mobile series, we caught up with Boost Mobile Athlete and professional mountain biker Sian A'Hern. Sian is a downhill and enduro athlete based out of Canberra but spends a lot of time travelling around her homeland and worldwide with Boost Mobile tagging along for the ride to ensure she stays connected. When you think of action sports in Australia, surfing, ocean-based, and beachside sports automatically spring to mind. But what about our friends making tracks in the lush forests, carving desert tracks, and cranking down alpine ridgelines?
Mountain biking has been around since the late '80s when a collection of trails slid into Queensland's northern tablelands. Today the mountain bike scene is thriving, especially in the eastern high country, where you will find single-track networks maintained by local MTB enthusiasts. So whether you are in the market for a cruisy afternoon mission or adrenaline-fuelled downhill sesh, there is a track for you scattered across this vast land.
Sian is an Aussie champ with over five years of professional experience. She holds Oceania championships, a junior downhill world cup win, and national championships. Sian turned pro in 2016 at the age of 17 and continues to smash the female downhill mountain bike scene.
We caught up with Sian about her life on the road and her favourite places to explore on two wheels here in Australia.
What are your top 3 favourite destinations to go mountain biking in Australia and why?
1.Thredbo Resort
Featuring the country's only lift-accessed gravity trails. This premium resort has some of the best and longest tracks in the country. 35 km of mountain bike trails for all abilities, to be exact. I raced my first ever MTB race in Thredbo, and shortly after that, it became my family's go-to travel location for camping and exploring the great outdoors.
2. **Bright in Victoria **
This location takes a strong second, with community-run bike parks and some of the best rides in the country. Bright in Victoria is home to my first-ever national title win. Also, the town is beautiful and packed with things to see and do.
3. Maydena Bike Park
This park is located in Tasmania and is also an incredible place to ride. Maydena in Tasmania brought home my second national title, and it's an incredible place to ride. The park surroundings are very picturesque, and Tasmania is a land of activity. So much to do when visiting.
What advice would you give someone just starting mountain biking or wanting to get into it?
Time is key. Take your time, don't rush it, and enjoy every moment. Learning how to mountain bike is an incredible journey, and it will take you to new heights both emotionally and physically. Slow down, take it all in and soak up the learning process. Half of the excitement comes from learning and finding new things and expanding your skills.
Where would you head if you could jump in a Camplify van for the ultimate MTB road trip?
Ooo, that's a tough one. It's pretty hard just to pick one location! Honestly, though, I would probably road trip around Tasmania. So many different riding places to visit, insane tracks, beautiful views, and tourist locations to see. Tasmania is a little island off the south coast of Australia, and road tripping around is still high on my Australian bucket list.
If you are looking for other epic places to pump down some tracks in the land down under, check out the cream of Western Australia’s MTB trails, including Margaret River Pine and Dwellingup. If you are heading north, don't miss the dusty tracks in the MacDonnell Ranges around Alice Springs, slip in some cultural history experiences while there and soak up the best desert trails on the planet.
Stay connected while hitting the MTB trails of Australia with Boost Mobileand Sian A'Hern. Don't forget to snap away on your trail adventures and tag us on socials so we can share the stoke.
Travel Around Australia with Boost Mobile series
The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.