Maria Island makes for a great overnight cycling trip, allowing you a chance to not only explore the more commonly visited sites on the Northern Island, but also a chance to head down to the much less visited Southern Island.

The route described below sets aside the first day for a leisurely exploration of the Southern end of the Island on the first day, overnight camping at Encampment Cove, and then a walk up Mt Maria and exploration of the more visited Northern end of the Island on the second day.  However, once on the Island, you can mix and match the rides to your own liking and unless you're really keen to get away from it all, it might make more sense to base yourself at Darlington and just do day trips (see route options).

Maria Island has an amazing abundance of wildlife, so it can be worth taking a good torch for a bit of a night time look around.

If you're heading over to the West Coast, then this would have to be the number one ride on your agenda.  The route follows an old railway line through some beautiful forests to the 114m Montezuma Falls.  The route can be broken into a number of sections from a short (11km) out and back ride along a gentle, easy to ride trail from the Northern end of the track though to a 55km out and back epic starting and ending in Zeehan.

The core of the ride is the 14km section (each way) from Melba Flats to Montezuma Falls where you'll get to play in the mud, race 4WD's, plunge through deep washouts and really get some serious mountain biking in.  Finally, for the well prepared and adventurous the final 8kms from Melba Flats to Zeehan crosses through button grass plains providing expansive views which you'll have plenty of time to enjoy as you push, bash and swim your bike along what was once a railway line.

I'm breaking the rules on this one and listing a track provided by Forestry Tasmania that I haven't ridden.  What I can tell you is this circuit is legal, that it appears to be mainly on gravel roads and fire trails and that it circumnavigates Mount Cameron in the North East of the State.  The recommended starting point on the map provided by Forestry Tasmania is the Scottsdale High School Mount Cameron Field Study Centre (or more specifically the Field Centre Gate) but I could also recommend starting at Little Blue Lake just north of Pioneer on Gladstone Road (B52) for those who don't want to do the extra driving to the Field Centre.

Mt Stronach is a great ride for cyclists with reasonable technical riding skills who enjoy their climbing and descending. You'll gain and lose up to 340 metres in altitude (or 280 metres if you only go to the end of the 4WD track rather than the trig point), but if you're confident on your bike it is worth every pedal stroke, even if you have to push your bike up the first section.  It's really fun riding with a pretty nice view (and rock play area) at the top to make it all worthwhile. Having said that I'm slow and not that good a rider, and I still really enjoyed this trail, it just took me a lot longer.

There are big plans for this area in the future, but this ride just describes what's there today.

The Mount George Mountain Bike Trail Network currently consists of about 16kms of trails (March 2022), but these trails consist of a compact series of loops with two main climing trails (Keystone and Roca Del Vista) and then 6 or 7 descending trails (depending on how you count them).  The climbs are scenic and pretty easy, the descents are usually pretty fun and short.  With the option of a shuttle from the main trail head on Mount George Road to the Mount George Lookout, this is a fun place for all fitness levels and aspirations.

This 26km rail trail follows an abandoned railway line between Scottsdale and Billycock Hill weaving its way through lovely farmland and a bit of Scottsdale industry for the first 10kms and then some amazing cuttings and forests as it winds its way up Billycock Hill for the final 16km. With occasional glimpses out over the valley below, and a bit of well interpreted history lying on the side of the track this trail makes a great ride from those just looking to do a few kilometres with the kids through to those willing to tackle the full length out and back.

This MTB park was built by the Cradle Coast Mountain Bike Club who have the lease over the site.  There's only a few kilometres of singletrail in the park, but the trails are now being expanded up Mt Montgomery and the combination of an expanding trail network, and park features will draw you here and make you want to stay.  There is also a new skills park above the race track and some impressive jumps inside the old speedway.  There is something for the beginner through to advanced rider.