Bike tour plan for Toowoomba region

Abstract

[Abstract]: The aim of this project was to investigate the feasibility of a recreational cycle route suitable for bike touring for the Toowoomba Region. The route in particular would be from Toowoomba to Crows Nest, tailored to one type of cycling and designed to attract tourists to the region. Mountain Biking was the type of cycling chosen as it caters to a wide range of people and is an established tourism generator in many other areas of the world. A survey was conducted to establish the riding habits and demand for cycle routes from residents of the Toowoomba Region. The results from this survey were analysed and used to form criteria for the analysis of the preliminary routes that were chosen. In total six preliminary routes were chosen and the two best in terms of analysis were combined to form one route that is to be recommended to the Toowoomba Regional Council. The chosen route starts in at Queens Park, Toowoomba, passes to the western side of Mt Kynoch, through Highfields, to Cooby Dam, over Pepper Mountain and through to Crows Nest. The trail provides for all rider difficulty levels and incorporates other recreational opportunities in the Cooby Dam area. The trail is recommended to the Toowoomba Regional Council with the view to expand Cooby Dam into a Mountain Biking Park and to link the trail into the Lockyer Forest Trails. This strategy will attract cycling tourists to the Toowoomba Region and boost the local economy.