Self Guide E Bike Tour – Husk Distillery, Rainforest & Rail Trail

The best part of this ride is the variety. You pedal from the old Moo Moo roadhouse at Mooball along a quiet rail trail, through a 524-metre tunnel, across farmland and into rainforest before finishing with a drink at Husk Farm Distillery. The route feels like several small adventures joined into one day.

I like the excellent e-bikes, which take the sting out of the climbs, and the freedom of a self-guided route. You can stop for coffee in Burringbar, lunch in Murwillumbah, or art at the Tweed Regional Gallery instead of being hurried along. The main catch is the distance. A full ride can approach 50 kilometres, and the saddle may feel hard by the end if you are not used to long days on a bike.

• A 25km car-free rail trail: Follow the Northern Rivers Rail Trail from Mooball toward Murwillumbah.
• A 524-metre tunnel: Ride through the Burringbar Tunnel, where glowworms and microbats may be visible.
• Real route variety: Expect old bridges, cane fields, rainforest lanes, hills and open views.
• A flexible self-guided format: Use the Ride with GPS app and set your own pace.
• A well-earned finish: Relax at Husk Farm Distillery while the team loads the bikes for your return to Mooball.
• A small-group setup: The maximum group size is 10 people, with Steve and Brett helping prepare the ride and pickup.

Why this Tweed hinterland ride is different

This is not simply a bike rental with a map. Beyond Byron E Bikes gives you a prepared route, a quality Focus or Kalkhoff e-bike, helmet, lights, lock, pannier or hi-vis backpack, and smartphone navigation. You start at 9:30 am in Mooball and finish at Husk, where a return transfer brings you and the bikes back to the starting point.

That arrangement matters. You get the freedom of independent cycling without having to solve the one-way transport problem. You can also pause at the towns, galleries and food stops that suit you. I like this balance far more than a tightly timed group ride, especially on a route with so many possible breaks.

The ride lasts about five to six hours, though your exact day depends on how long you stop. The full route includes the rail trail and the road section to Husk. One practical detail is easy to miss: bring your own filled water bottle and a fully charged phone with the Ride with GPS app installed.

Starting at Mooball with a ready-to-go e-bike

The meeting point is 5889 Tweed Valley Way, opposite the Moo Moo roadhouse in Mooball. Staff set up your e-bike, helmet, hi-vis backpack and phone navigation before you leave. Steve and Brett are named in the ride feedback as the people who make sure participants understand the bikes and route, so you are not expected to work out the controls on your own.

The first 20 minutes are mainly about getting comfortable. Use this time well. Check the saddle height, test the electric assistance and make sure your phone is mounted or stored where you can follow the route without stopping every few minutes.

The e-bikes are the key to the day. You still pedal, but the motor helps on the long rises and makes the route practical for people with moderate fitness rather than serious cycling experience. The supplied bikes have lights and locks, and you receive either a pannier or backpack for small personal items.

You must be over 155 centimetres tall and weigh under 120 kilograms. Most people can take part, but this is still a long ride. If you rarely cycle, padded bike shorts are a sensible extra. One rider specifically found the seats soft but still recommended bike pants for anyone unused to distance riding.

Mooball to Crabbes Creek and the first tunnel

You have the option to ride from Mooball toward Crabbes Creek, a particularly pleasant stretch of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. The path follows the old railway corridor, keeping cars away and giving you a quiet start through the Tweed hinterland.

The first tunnel is at Mills Road. Crabbes Creek also has a small general store, which gives you an early chance to buy a snack or take a short break. This is useful because the ride becomes longer and more varied after this point.

The rail trail is not just a straight cycling path. Old bridges, pieces of railway infrastructure and changing views keep the first section interesting. You can ride briskly, but I would not rush. The appeal is watching the scenery shift from village edges to open country, then to thicker bush.

Burringbar, coffee and the best village stop

Burringbar is one of the most useful stops on the route. Give yourself around 20 minutes here, or longer if you want a proper meal break. The Barn is suggested for coffee and food, while Brooklyn offers a wine tasting room. Heaths Antiquities adds a quirky browsing stop, packed with old objects and curiosities.

This is where the self-guided setup earns its keep. You do not have to choose one fixed stop or follow someone else’s schedule. You can grab a quick coffee and keep moving, or let Burringbar become the main break before the tunnel section.

I would carry a small snack even if you plan to eat in town. Shops and opening hours can change, and the total ride is long. Food and drinks are not included in the price, so budget for anything you want along the way.

The Burringbar Tunnel and Stokers Siding

Between Burringbar and Stokers Siding comes the most memorable section of the rail trail: the Burringbar Tunnel. At 524 metres, it is the longest tunnel on this route. Riding into a dark old railway tunnel is a simple thrill, and the possible glowworms and microbats add something you will not get on an ordinary bike path.

Keep your lights on and ride with care. The tunnel is an attraction, not a reason to speed through. You may want to pause outside rather than block the path inside, and a phone light is not a substitute for the bike lights provided.

Stokers Siding is included as a short stop of around 15 minutes. The village setting and tunnel make this portion feel like the heart of the rail trail. If you are taking photographs, allow more time than the suggested stop. The route rewards a slower pace, especially when old railway details and natural features appear together.

Dunbible Creek and the historic railway bridge

Before Dunbible, the route crosses the historic railway bridge at Dunbible Creek. It is a short stop, listed at about five minutes, but it is one of the best places for a photograph.

This is also a good reminder that the trail’s interest comes from more than scenery. The old railway line shapes the whole ride. Bridges, tunnels and track remnants show how the corridor once worked, while the new trail gives you access without traffic.

The rail trail offers a mostly easy way to cover distance, but the complete outing is not effortless. You still need stamina for several hours in the saddle, plus the later road climb toward Husk.

Optional art and food in Murwillumbah

A short detour takes you to the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre. The gallery sits in a scenic location and includes the Apex restaurant. Allow about 30 minutes if you want a quick cultural stop, or longer if art and lunch are a priority.

This is a smart optional addition for anyone who wants more than a cycling day. It breaks up the ride and gives you an indoor stop before the final sections. The route information specifically recommends the gallery for culture lovers, and it can also work well for a group with mixed interests.

Murwillumbah marks the end of the rail trail and offers the most choice for lunch. Wild Thyme and Ju Jus suit a more substantial meal, while Relish is suggested for a simpler cafe stop. The Imperial Hotel and the award-winning gelato bar next door give you another easy pairing.

Plan this break carefully. A full restaurant lunch may push the day beyond five hours, but rushing past Murwillumbah can leave you hungry during the climb to Husk. The self-guided format lets you make that tradeoff yourself.

M|Arts Precinct for a creative pause

The M|Arts Precinct in Murwillumbah gathers artists and creative businesses under one roof. You can browse studios and shops, then stop at Bistro Livi, Ben’s patisserie or the cheese shop.

The precinct makes a good alternative to the gallery, especially if you prefer small creative businesses to a formal art collection. It is also a useful place to rest before leaving the rail trail.

You probably will not have time for every suggested stop in one day. That is not a flaw, but it does mean you should choose your priorities before setting off. A coffee in Burringbar, the tunnel, the gallery, lunch and M|Arts can easily turn the ride into a very full day.

Leaving the rail trail for rainforest roads

The road from Murwillumbah to Husk changes the mood. You leave the flat rail corridor and follow winding lanes up through rainforest, with views across cane fields toward Mount Wollumbin. The e-bike assistance matters most here, helping you manage the hills without turning the day into a fitness test.

The road section adds the adventure that a rail trail alone cannot provide. You get forest air, open views and a sense of moving through the wider Tweed Valley rather than simply following one old railway line.

It also deserves respect. The trail section is the more relaxed part of the ride, while the rainforest route includes climbs and descents. Stay alert, follow the app and use the provided lights and lock as needed. The route is self-guided, so you are responsible for keeping track of where you are.

Finishing at Husk Farm Distillery

Husk Farm Distillery is the reward at the end of the ride. The property has broad grounds where you can sit down, eat something and order a signature cocktail or Ink Gin and Tonic. The tour ends at 1152 Dulguigan Road, North Tumbulgum.

The finish works because it is more than a quick roadside pickup. You have reached a destination with food, drinks and the option of taking a distillery tour. The suggested stop is about 30 minutes, but you may want extra time if you plan to relax properly.

Once you are finished, the team loads the bikes and drives you back to Mooball. That return transfer is one of the strongest practical features of the package. You can complete a one-way route without arranging a second vehicle or retracing the same 50-kilometre ride.

What the $128.39 price gets you

At $128.39 per person, the value depends on how much of the route you use. The fee covers a quality e-bike, helmet, lights, lock, pannier or backpack, navigation app and return transfer. You are also paying for the convenience of a prepared one-way route, bike fitting and support at the start.

Food, drinks and the Husk distillery experience itself are extra. You need to bring your own water bottle and smartphone, so this is not an all-inclusive day out.

Still, the price is reasonable if you would otherwise need to hire bikes, arrange a shuttle and plan the route yourself. It is less attractive if you only want a short casual cycle, since the value comes from using the full route and taking advantage of the transfer.

The maximum group size is 10. That keeps the setup smaller than a large coach-style activity, while the self-guided design means you are not tied to a guide’s pace.

Who should book this ride?

I would choose this for confident beginners, couples, families with suitable older children, and anyone staying around Byron Bay who wants to reach the hinterland without joining a standard bus excursion. The electric assistance makes hills manageable, and the rail trail is much more inviting than a long ride beside busy roads.

It suits people who enjoy choices. You can stop for coffee, art, lunch, antiques, a tunnel or a drink at Husk. It is less suitable if you want a fully guided history tour, a short ride, or a completely flat route.

Check the weather before you go. The activity requires good conditions, and poor weather can lead to a new date or full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 9:30 am start, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Final verdict: a strong full-day cycling choice

Book this tour if you want a day with real variety and do not mind spending several hours on a bike. The car-free rail trail, long tunnel, rainforest climbs and Husk finish create a much fuller outing than a basic e-bike hire.

Skip it if you are not comfortable with distance, dislike self-guided navigation or want every meal and attraction included. For everyone else, bring water, charge your phone, wear comfortable cycling clothes and save some energy for the ride to Husk. The return transfer makes the long route practical, and the combination of old railway features, country views and a distillery finish gives the day a clear sense of purpose.

FAQ

Where does the e-bike tour start?

It starts at the Moo Moo roadhouse in Mooball, at 5889 Tweed Valley Way, Mooball NSW 2483. The start time is 9:30 am.

Where does the ride finish?

The ride finishes at Husk Farm Distillery, 1152 Dulguigan Road, North Tumbulgum NSW 2490. The team then returns you and the bikes to Mooball.

How long does the experience take?

The tour lasts approximately five to six hours. Your timing depends on how long you spend at the villages, gallery, food stops and Husk Distillery.

Is the Northern Rivers Rail Trail included?

Yes. The route follows the full length of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail toward Murwillumbah, a route of about 25 kilometres.

Do I need to bring my own phone?

Yes. Bring a fully charged smartphone with the Ride with GPS app installed. Custom smartphone navigation is included, but the phone itself is not.

Is water included?

No. You must bring your own water bottle. Food and drinks purchased along the route are also not included.

Are there participant size requirements?

Participants must be over 155 centimetres tall and weigh under 120 kilograms. Most people can participate.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The activity requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.