Maydena Bike Park | Tasmania’s Best Downhill
If you think you have to travel as far as Canada or Europe to find epic downhill mountain biking trails, you’re wrong.
There’s a little town in the middle of nowhere in a tiny island state that houses some of the best mountain biking Australia has to offer.
That not so little mountain bike park is the insane Downhill Masterpiece known as Maydena Bike Park.
For those who know Maydena, I’m positive they would back me on this. And for those who don’t…
You’re in for a wonderful surprise!
Overview of Maydena Bike Park
Difficulty
Intermediate / Advanced
Trail Style
Singletrack, Downhill
Distance
68 km
Time
2 full days (minimum)
Total Descent
6,638 m
Entrance Fee
A minimum of $15 a day is required to ride in Maydena Bike Park
Shuttle Pass
Maydena Bike Park Pass – Gravity Pass – $70 a day, Enduro Pass – $40 a day, Trail Pass – $15 a day.
Facilities
Trail Map, toilets, drinking water, food, beer, picnic area, bike wash stations, bike mechanics, lessons, bike hire
Recommended Gear
Full face helmet, Neck Brace, Body Armour, Downhill rated knee pads, Elbow Pads, Long sleeve jersey, Gravity pants, Gloves.
Maydena once was… who am I kidding, still is an extremely small country town located in the Derwent Valley in south-west Tasmania.
But the size of the town reflects nothing on Maydena Bike Park!
With a summit sitting at 1089 m above sea level and with none of Thredbo’s national park limitations, it’s a no-brainer for what you can expect from this mountain bike park.
GNARLY DESCENTS!!
Maydena Bike Park has been constructed flawlessly thanks to the professional trail builders known as Dirt Art. The massive network of 62 trails has been created with the idea of cutting the mountain into sections. Each section consists of not only a large number of trails but also a wide variety, ensuring every rider has a run to choose.
As you can see from the trail map, groups of runs branch out from a single point and all funnel back together at the end.
Trail map signs are located at each junction and because of this, it’s extremely easy to find your way around Maydena.
Maydena Bike Park Trails
If I haven’t made it clear – Maydena Bike Park is epic!
This gravity focused mountain biking mecca ticks all the boxes when it comes to downhill riding, and ensures an adrenaline-fueled dash down the mountain.
Maydena’s main traits include but aren’t limited to; super steep lines, rough and raw tracks, vastly changing surfaces, tight single track, loose off-camber sections, huge jumps, large berms and colossal features.
What I’m trying to say is…
Maydena Bike Park is a downhill masterpiece!
The trails may have been built on the grounds of an advanced gravity bike park, however, the founders have gone above and beyond in making this trail network as beginner-friendly as possible.
Ok, maybe not a complete beginner! If you’re just finding out about the world of mountain biking, Derby may be a better fit for you.
In conjunction with beginner runs, an outstanding trail grading system – covering far greater detail than most bike parks – has been implemented.
In accordance with the standard green, blue, black and double black grading system, the trails are also split into tech and flow. Making it tremendously easy to find your style of mountain biking.
I just want to make one thing absolutely clear. Maydena is a gravity Bike Park and the trails resemble that rough nature. While there are easy ways down the mountain, they are likely to be steeper than what you’re expecting… I’m speaking from experience.
My best advice – Take each trail grade and step it up by one.
Beginner Flow Trails
Maydena Bike Parks idea of green trails can be somewhat laughable, and compared with most Australian Bike Parks, they should be rated blue. However, under the circumstances of the mountain, a green rating fits these trails perfectly.
The green trails only come under the category of Flow and are Maydena’s easiest routes down the mountain. Generally, these trails are slightly wider and support even, unchanging terrain with no sudden surprises.
Just remember, this is Maydena and some sections may become quite steep for novice riders!
Our Favourites
Pandani
Pandani is located at the peak and branches down the eastern side of the mountain. Focused toward the technical side of beginner runs, expect to find forgiving rock gardens and small features on a gentle gradient.
Spirit Quest
A short sharp journey into an enchanted forest of dense, wet dirt. Overgrown tree ferns line the edge of this smooth undulating trail, so make sure you pay attention or a slap is what you’ll receive.
Evergreen
The best example of a beginner flow trail. Large berms and fast straights allow you to let loose and shred the entire wide berth from top to bottom.
Intermediate Flow Trails
Following on with the same wide trail build as the beginner runs, Maydena’s Blue Flow Trails are suited to almost every mountain biker.
These intermediate lines begin to step it up a notch through steeper slopes and larger features. All the while, maintaining a rather smooth surface and awesome machine built berms.
Our Favourites
Marriotts
Marriotts is one of the smoother flow trails found on the Maydena Mountain and feels like a never-ending row of berms. Occasionally this run turns quite steep, but awesome grip and sweeping corners mitigate that effect.
This is one of the longest and best runs in Maydena Bike Park.
Flight School
Flight School is the perfect passage of small tabletops. An outstanding run for intermediate riders wanting to progress their jumping skill on singletrack lines amongst trees.
Super Funk
Speaking of progression, when you’re finished carving Flight School and scrubbing the smaller table tops, Super Funk is where it’s at!
The run follows a winding route down the mountain. And with the integration of step-ups and larger kickers, great cornering technique is required to succeed in this neck of the woods.
Intermediate Technical Trails
Moving away from machine built berms and wide-open trails, here we can start to see what Maydena is really about!
Yes, these runs are still blue, however, a technical descent awaits. A mixture of steep and mellow gradients with frequently occurring ‘tame’ rock gardens are to be expected.
But don’t stress too much, no massive features are waiting on these intermediate lines.
These are the perfect step-up for novices looking to test their skills.
Our Favourites
Beef Chief
Beginning tight and straight with small gaps in the closely lined trees, a gentle gradient may give the wrong first impression of Beef Chief. Quickly, this run shifts to a steep, rough line through dense forest. An absolute pearler!
Eastside
Bordering the edge of blissful flow, Eastside is a great introduction to tech. A combination of smooth berms interlaced with rough sections and poppy jumps leads riders from the Midline down to the lower portion of the Mountain.
Waratah
Waratah is part of the intermediate flow trail family, but due to its steep nature, I’m overwriting Maydena’s decision.
Beginning steep – steeper than one would expect from a blue trail – Waratah is fast and excitingly dangerous. Rock gardens lined throughout tight berms continues with Maydena Bike Park’s downhill theme and provides mountain bikers with an intermediately advanced technical run.
Advanced Technical Trails
Ok, a mountain can only get so steep… and this is it.
Maydena’s Black Diamond runs reach the gnarliest gradients in the bike park, and trust me…
They are f***ing STEEP!
Throughout the advanced trails expect to find a combination of narrow singletrack, advanced rock gardens, off-camber sections, large jumps, tight berms and some ridiculously steep mountain biking.
While the single black diamond runs don’t throw any major surprises your way, these lines are definitely worth scoping before blindly sending it down.
Our Favourites
Old Mate Cobber
This would be the tamest of the advanced lines at Maydena. While Old Mate Cobber is steep and rocky, a direct route and solid breaking sections make this a great progression trail.
And what a name!
King Brown
If you liked the sound of Marriotts, you’ll love King Brown. More of an advanced flow trail in my opinion, expect to be vertical when riding through this awesome series of incredibly tight switchbacks.
Funky Cold Maydena
Funky Cold Maydena encompasses the best of both of the above trails. Steep raw terrain mixed with epic flowing berms.
Insane Technical Trails
You may be a little confused… I just said the advance trails were the steepest.
And trust me, they are!
So how can the double black diamonds be worse?
Well, take everything you just learned from the single black diamond runs and add in some massive features! Expect to find blind drops, intense chutes and treacherous rock gardens.
I’ll say it again…
Maydena Bike Park provides insane downhill tracks!
Our Favourites
Express Lane
Beginning steep and sandy, the series of rock gardens you’ll face are daunting to say the least. Very poor braking ability and loose surfaces make this run as tricky as it is scary.
Thrash Horse
A short and sharp concluding run with a huge margin for error. Tight berms quickly turn into a huge rock roller before sending you off a massive step down in tight trees. One slight mistake could leave you flying into the abyss!
From these massive features, Thrash Horse settles right back down and follows a mellow gradient incorporating large, yet great gaps.
Styx & Stones / Wicked Styx
These runs begin mild and increase in intensity as you make it further down the mountain. Steep, tight rock gardens create a tremendous task in keeping both wheels on-line.
Entering the woods onto Wicked Styx, the same steep gradient continues but large rock drops and off-camber sections will come as a surprise and require you to work especially hard.
The slippery nature of this beast adds to the challenge, causing me to fall on both attempts at this intense run.
Maydena 1 – Dylan 0
Pro – Line Trails
Maydena’s description – “These Trails feature large gap jumps and drops, extremely steep terrain and highly variable surfaces. These trails are only suitable for professional riders.”
This quote is an understatement!
Once upon a time, I thought it would be easy to become a downhill racer…
So I decided to try my hand at one of these bad boys… pretty well just for bragging rights.
Boy, was that a mistake.
I found myself atop a feature on Maxed Out actually fearing for my life. I couldn’t even walk down it! Needless to say, I survived to tell the story… only just.
Our Favourites
Are you kidding, there are no favourites here! Just pain.
But if I had to choose…
Zen Garden
A similar run to the first junction as Styx and Stones, but from there, this run takes an almighty leap and demonstrates what a Pro-Line looks like.
Rock chutes that will leave your grips shredded as you drop blindly from meters in the air, before suddenly slamming the breaks for a hairpin and then attempting to generate speed for a rock gap… Yeah, I walked.
Maxed Out
Have you ever been stuck at the top of a rock garden and thought to yourself…
I can’t even walk down this?
Well if you ride down Maxed Out, that’s what is going to happen.
Massive boulders flood the way with no clear exit point. The A-Line boast a massive drop of about 2 m and the B-Line is no small feat at half the size.
That’s not the worst part…
An instant 90-degree turn is required after both of these lines and honestly, I couldn’t pinpoint how riders make it.
Out of curiosity, I asked several of the staff members and found out that none had even attempted it…
Freeride
Freeride is a term given to the best jump lines in Maydena. These trails are all machine built, offering a wide playing field of different kickers and long sweeping berms.
These trails are categorized by the size of the jumps and come in intermediate, advanced and pro ratings. Everything from small table-tops to humongous gaps ensures there is a jump suitable for every level of mountain biker in Maydena.
Our Favourites
Supercross
Supercross is an advanced jump line providing nothing but large tabletops. Beginner riders are warned to stay away but if you’re too curious, the entire trail is rollable.
Just make sure to stay out of the way of other riders flying by!
Dirt-Church
The largest of the machine built forest jump lines. More focused to the advanced rider with a nature of gaps and step-ups, Beginners should steer clear of this one.
Colour Blind
Colour Blind is similar to Flight School but offers a wider variety of jumps. Intermediate mountain bikers will flourish over the small hips, gaps and tabletops.
Maydena Hits / Big Hips
The largest of all the jump lines are saved for last. Both are located at the base of the mountain and feature jumps stretching 15 plus metres. Definitely not for the casual rider.
Maydena Bike Park Shuttles
Access to Maydena bike park is not free and the only way to reach the summit is via Maydena’s Shuttle service. The shuttle leads you up a whopping 820 m vertical elevation over a rough dirt road before dropping you off at the chilly peak.
There are two options for shuttle passes to ride Maydena:
Gravity Pass – $75
The most expensive pass you can secure but the only option if you want to lap the epic downhill trails all day.
We managed an average of 6 shuttles per day and were absolutely wreck after the 3rd.
Enduro Pass – $40
The Enduro Pass only includes a single uplift to grant you access to the entire gravity network.
I don’t know about you, but the value is in the Gravity Pass!
Trail Pass – $15
For mountain bikers not looking to reach the peak, an all-access pass is available.
But there is a catch…
You must pedal your way up the climbing tracks and the highest point you can access is the Midline.
Still, 38 gravity trails are available from the Midline. So if you’re operating on a budget or you aren’t looking for the most insane downhill experience, this is a great option.
Maydena Bike Park Workshop
At the base of the mountain and part of the Maydena Complex, you’ll find a fully equipped workshop capable of performing repairs on the go and providing spare parts in the event of a component failure.
They also have a retail shop that supplies top brand gear if you are looking to upgrade your apparel or riding gear.
My experience with the bike shop is nothing but positive, I had recently added a new dent to my rear wheel – a result from the Atlas Trail in Blue Derby – and was having issues with loose spokes.
I asked to borrow a spoke spanner in order to tighten and the champion of an employee grabbed my wheel and not only tightened it, but he also went to the added trouble of getting it as true as possible. Completely free of charge.
What a legend! Hopefully I don’t get you guys in trouble for sharing this…
Maydena Bike Park Ride School
It doesn’t matter what level of mountain biker you are. If you want to learn and progress your skills, the advanced team of instructors will have a course designed and ready for you.
As well as the basic training programs, Maydena provides seasonal sessions designed to push the limits of individual riders. While these sessions are all about you, they are a group class intended to increase the social aspect of mountain biking as well.
For a list of prices check out Maydena’s Bike School.
Where to Stay in Maydena
Maydena is a tiny little town of 225 people… That’s all. From such a small town don’t expect to find luxurious hotels and an endless supply of places to stay.
The best source to find the right accommodation is through Airbnb or Maydena’s Website.
If you love camping there are several campsites in the Mount Field National Park that are all equally beautiful. Using WikiCamps, you’ll have no trouble finding a campsite to suit.
We stayed at the Mount Field National Park Campground, a perfect little spot on the Tyenna river bank.
Where to Eat in Maydena
Again, don’t expect to find fancy restaurants this far West. Actually don’t expect to find any at all. Maydena is somewhat lacking in the food department, providing just a small general store. I would suggest stocking up before arriving and cooking your own meals.
Luckily there is a nice fully licenced Bar and Cafe at the base of Maydena Bike Park that is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner year-round. And in the summer months, offers a sunset BBQ.
Getting to Maydena
Maydena is located in an optimal position for locals and travellers alike. A short 85 km (1 hr 20 min) drive west of Hobart will have you knocking on the door, making Maydena easily accessible for day trips.
Using Google maps you will have no issues finding Maydena and the Bike Park is located on the main street.
Aren’t you glad you stuck around to hear of the hectic side of Maydena? Now it’s time to book that holiday and get on your bike! Let us know in the comments below what you think of the Maydena Bike Park. And of course, if you’ve got any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
Happy riding.
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