Thank you for joining us at the Mt Kembla Village Hotel last Thursday for our Ride Ready workshop. 

Delivered in partnership between Destination Sydney Surrounds South and Destination Wollongong, the session brought together operators, cycling advocates, clubs and industry specialists to explore how businesses can better position themselves to attract and service the fast-growing cycling and MTB tourism market.

With the launch of the Mt Kembla trails and the continued growth of the Bike Friendly Business Program, it was fantastic to see such strong engagement, collaboration and practical idea-sharing across the room. The feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive — thank you for contributing to such a valuable session.

Destination Wollongong: What Makes a Ride-Ready Destination Work
Josh Carlson and Samara Sheppard – Bike City Ambassadors

Wollongong’s success comes from being adaptive, accessible and community-led. Riders want to know they are welcomed, clear messaging that cyclists are accepted and supported is essential. Small details matter including secure bike storage or in-room bike access, bike wash stations, towels, mats, brushes and tool stands. “Bike-friendly rooms” are a real value-add that customers will pay for.

Social media visibility and platforms such as Flow MTB are critical to discovery. International cycling visitors stay longer, spend more and often travel in groups. Staff training is just as important as infrastructure — knowing where trails are and how to guide visitors confidently makes a big difference.

Community, Legacy and Partnerships

Samara Sheppard

Cycling infrastructure delivers long-term community and social benefits, not just tourism outcomes. Schools, clubs and local groups play a huge role in normalising riding. Riders rarely travel alone, which creates strong opportunities for partnership. Working collaboratively with nearby businesses builds stronger visitor experiences and shared benefit.

Working With Clubs and Trail Networks
Craig Morris – Wollongong Mountain Bike Club

Clubs are critical for trail advocacy, maintenance and visitor information. Trails require regular volunteer maintenance and community involvement. Trailforks and Ride with GPS are essential tools for route planning and visitor navigation. Repurposing existing infrastructure such as sheds, wash bays and café spaces near bike racks adds significant value quickly. Trail-side rest points with food, drink and seating naturally increase dwell time and spend.

From Trails to Hospitality
Daine Blackburn – Mt Kembla Village Hotel

Strong demand already exists for MTB-friendly hospitality offerings. Riders actively look for quality showers, food and coffee, bike-safe car parks and wash-down zones. The future includes e-bike and green transport charging, ride hubs and staged trail development linked directly to hospitality offerings.

Ride Events and Commercial Opportunities
Mark Upton – Mark Ashley Group Consulting

Events drive visitation, but early involvement is critical. Businesses that actively engage early see the greatest return. Hotels report clear uplift in food and beverage spend and group bookings. Experience-led design matters, including washable areas, lockable bike storage, flooring suitable for cleats and accessible food and beverage options.

Key Practical Actions for Businesses

• Create secure bike storage that is lockable, visible and accessible.
• Add basic bike wash facilities.
• Offer bike-friendly rooms or designated bike zones.
• Train staff on trail locations, trail difficulty and local ride etiquette.
• Partner with local bike clubs and nearby accommodation, food and transport providers.
• Leverage events and group travel opportunities.
• Actively promote your bike-friendly offering online.

• The Ride Guide website

• The Ride Guide - Latest version of the ride ready guide for tourism operators
• Ride Ready - Product Development Self Analysis tool - The Questions to ask when upgrading or creating a ride ready product in your business

• Tourism Research Australia – Cycling Tourism

• Sea Otter Australia

• Sea Otter Summit

• Trailforks Australia

• Ride with GPS

• Flow Mountain Bike

• Alpine Retreat MTB Case Study

• Destination Wollongong – Bike Friendly Businesses

Todd’s presentation from the session is attached for your reference, As delivered at the workshop including E-bike charging information that was discussed. 

Presentation link >>

Market Context

Tourism Research Australia has recently updated its national cycle tourism data, reinforcing strong growth in domestic cycling travel, event-driven visitation and high-yield, longer-stay visitor profiles.

Workshop Attendee List
For those looking to continue conversations and explore collaboration opportunities, you can view the list of businesses and organisations who attended the session here.

If you would like to explore becoming a ride friendly business, connect with local cycling clubs, develop cycling-based products or packages, or tap into future ride events and partnerships, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to support you in taking your next step into this growing market.