A Year on the Trails
As the year rolls toward the finish line, it feels like the perfect time to pause and look back on what has been a huge twelve months for Finch Hatton MTB. From fresh new trails to community votes and major events, 2025 has delivered in all the best ways.
This year has been defined by strong momentum on the ground and a growing sense of community around the trails. Since January alone, there have been more than 20,000 rides recorded across the network, a huge milestone that speaks to just how much Finch Hatton MTB is being embraced by locals and visitors alike. Behind the scenes, the Mackay Regional Council team on the ground, alongside Jobe and Mark, have worked daily to maintain, improve and keep the trails in top condition.
Community connection was also a big highlight this year. The Ultimate Finch Hatton MTB Day Out Competition brought the good vibes, thanks to support from some of our favourite local legends:
• Bike hire for two from Corry Cycles Finch Hatton
• A one hundred dollar meal voucher to The Criterion Hotel
• Shuttle laps from Off Camber MTB
• As well as Finch Hatton MTB merch packs from us
Congratulations once again to our winners! They looked like they had a great time! 🤘
We also handed the power over to the riders when it came time to vote for your favourite trail. With so many epic options, it was never going to be easy. In the end, three clear favourites stood out:
• Tasty Fig taking the top spot for fast, flowy fun.
• Pando’s Alright proving it punches well above its weight.
• No Drama Cane Farmer delivering laidback rainforest riding and sweeping valley views.
June brought a massive buzz to the valley with the arrival of the Fox Superflow and Pump and Flow competitions, drawing riders of all ages and abilities together for a weekend of racing, flow and community atmosphere. The calendar also expanded beyond bikes with the 2025 Finch Hatton Trail Run delivered by Activ8, welcoming runners to experience the trails and surrounding landscape from a whole new perspective.
We also saw the launch of a bold new trail with KOOKIE, bringing the network to 17 open trails, named after the kookaburra that followed our FHMTB’s Recreation Trails Leading Hand around. Kookie was built with plenty of personality and green bypasses for every feature, it has quickly earned its place as a new favourite for riders keen to test their skills.
One of the true highlights of the year was welcoming Olympic aerial skier Danielle Scott and content creator Teigan Nash to Finch Hatton.
Just when you thought you’d ridden everywhere in Australia, there’s a hidden gem with world class trails waiting to be explored. I never imagined myself mountain biking in tropical North Queensland, but that’s exactly what I heard was on offer at Australia’s newest mountain biking destination. My riding gear was packed before I even finished hearing about it, and I set off for what I knew would be an epic adventure.
