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

A great ride needs a good finish. This self-guided e-bike trip links the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, rainforest roads, cane fields, and Husk Farm Distillery in one long, rewarding day. I especially like the easy-to-follow RidewithGPS route and the included pickup from Husk, which saves you from riding back after a possible 50-kilometre outing.

I also like the variety: tunnels, old railway bridges, village cafes, art, forest views, and a well-earned gin and tonic. The main drawback is simple: this is a long ride, not a casual bike rental. You need to be comfortable spending five to six hours in the saddle, and you must bring your own water bottle and charged smartphone.

The ride in five useful points

• A 25-kilometre rail trail: Follow the old railway route toward Murwillumbah, with no cars, historic bridges, and two tunnels.
• The 524-metre Burringbar Tunnel: Ride through the longest tunnel on the route, where glowworms and microbats may be present.
• Electric help for the hills: Focus or Kalkhoff e-bikes take much of the sting out of the rainforest climb.
• Flexible stops: Pause at Burringbar, the Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah, or the M|Arts precinct.
• A smart finish: End at Husk Farm Distillery, then ride back in the included transfer with the bikes.
• Small-group feel: The maximum group size is 10, and the route is self-guided rather than led from the front.

Starting at Moo Moo Roadhouse in Mooball

Your morning begins at 9:30 am opposite the Moo Moo roadhouse in Mooball. This is where the Beyond Byron E Bikes team sets you up with your bike, helmet, hi-viz backpack or pannier, lights, lock, and navigation app.

Steve and Brett are named in the feedback as friendly, careful hosts who take time to explain the equipment and get the route working on your phone. That matters here. You are not simply handed a bicycle and pointed down the road. You receive a prepared e-bike and a digital route designed to guide you through several different sections of the Tweed hinterland.

The bikes are Focus or Kalkhoff models. Electric assistance is especially useful later, when the route leaves the flat rail trail and climbs through rainforest roads toward Bilambil. Riders who are not used to long distances will still need to pedal, but the motor helps with the hills.

Bring a fully charged smartphone with the RidewithGPS app installed. Also bring your own water bottle. Water is not included, and five to six hours of cycling in northern New South Wales can make that omission important.

Mooball to Crabbes Creek: the optional opening ride

From Mooball, you have the option to cycle toward Crabbes Creek on a pleasant section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. This gives you a gentle introduction to the route before the day grows longer.

The first tunnel is at Mills Road. Crabbes Creek also has a small general store, a useful place for a snack or quick drink. Since the tour is self-guided, you have more control over the pace than on a traditional group ride. You can stop for photographs, browse locally, or simply keep moving if you want to reach Murwillumbah earlier.

This flexibility is one of the strongest parts of the trip. It also means you need to watch the time yourself. A slow morning with long cafe stops can make the final rainforest section feel rushed.

Burringbar brings the rail trail to life

Burringbar is one of the best places to pause. The village offers several distinct stop options rather than a single standard cafe break.

The Barn is recommended for coffee and food. Brooklyn provides a wine tasting room, while Heaths Antiquities sells old and unusual items. These stops give the ride some local character and make Burringbar more than a place to refill your bottle.

I would keep this stop purposeful. A coffee and short look around should fit comfortably, but a long lunch here may reduce the time available later. The route has more worthwhile stops ahead, especially if you want to visit the art gallery or eat in Murwillumbah.

Riding through Burringbar Tunnel

The Burringbar Tunnel is the big rail trail feature. At 524 metres, it is the longest tunnel on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, and riding through it changes the feel of the trip.

Inside, you may see glowworms and microbats. The tunnel is also a reminder that this route follows an old railway corridor rather than a purpose-built cycling track with nothing to see. Old bridges, remaining railway features, and changing views make the ride feel like a journey through a former transport route.

Your bike includes lights, but do not treat the tunnel as a place to race through. Keep your attention on the path and other riders. This is one of the sections where the e-bike is fun, but the setting deserves a slower pace.

Dunbible Creek and the old railway bridge

Before reaching Dunbible, you cross the historic railway bridge at Dunbible Creek. It is a short stop, but a good one for photographs.

The bridge helps break up the longer rail trail section and gives you a chance to look back at the route you have covered. You will be riding for hours, so small pauses are useful. They let you stretch, check the app, and make sure the group is still together without turning every stop into a major detour.

The Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre

The Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre requires a slight detour from the rail trail. For anyone who wants more than scenery, it is one of the most worthwhile additions to the day.

The gallery sits in an attractive location and includes art displays along with the Apex restaurant. A 30-minute stop is listed, though your available time depends on how quickly you have ridden earlier. If you are keen on art, you may want to allow more time and shorten one of the other village stops.

This detour also gives the day a better balance. The ride is not only about physical distance. You get rail heritage, rural views, local food, and a cultural stop before reaching Murwillumbah.

Murwillumbah: lunch, gelato, and a choice of stops

Murwillumbah marks the end of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and is the main place to plan a proper meal. Suggested options include Wild Thyme, Ju Jus, Relish, and the Imperial Hotel. Relish is described as a simpler cafe option, while the Imperial Hotel has an award-winning gelato bar next door.

You can also visit the M|Arts precinct, where artists and creative businesses share one location. Bistro Livi, Ben’s patisserie, and a cheese shop are among the food choices there.

This part of the day is flexible but important. A proper lunch can help you manage the remaining road section, yet Murwillumbah is also where you may be tempted to linger. Keep an eye on the clock. The final ride to Husk is not just a short transfer between attractions.

From Murwillumbah into rainforest and cane country

After Murwillumbah, the character of the route changes. You leave the old railway line and follow roads toward Husk Farm Distillery.

The ride climbs through rainforest, with views across flat cane fields toward Mount Wollumbin. The e-bike earns its keep here. The motor assistance helps you manage the uphill sections without turning the day into a test of athletic ability.

This is also the section where road awareness matters most. The rail trail has no cars, but the route beyond it uses roads and lanes. Follow the phone navigation closely and ride at a pace that suits your group.

The scenery shifts several times: rainforest air, open cane fields, winding lanes, and broad mountain views. That variety is why the ride feels larger than a simple out-and-back trail. You are not repeating the same surface all day.

Arriving at Husk Farm Distillery

The final stop is Husk Farm Distillery in Tumbulgum. The grounds provide a relaxed place to finish, especially after the longer road section.

You can order food or settle in with one of Husk’s signature drinks, including an Ink Gin and tonic or a Husk Rum cocktail. The suggested drink in the tour description is a gin and tonic, which makes a fitting reward after the ride.

Husk is not merely a place to park the bikes. You can choose to relax in the grounds or take a distillery tour. Keep in mind that your available time may depend on the pace of the earlier ride. The included return transfer collects you and the bikes at Husk and takes you back to Mooball, so you do not need to cycle the full route in reverse.

That pickup is one of the best practical features. One rider described completing a 50-kilometre day and being especially pleased not to ride back. The exact distance will vary with optional sections, detours, and how you move between stops.

How difficult is the ride?

The e-bike makes the route approachable, but it does not make the distance disappear. You could spend five to six hours moving between the start, rail trail, villages, gallery, Murwillumbah, rainforest roads, and Husk.

The flat rail trail is the easiest part. The later climb toward Bilambil is where the electric assistance becomes most useful. Several riders found the bikes easy to use and said the motor did most of the work on the hills, but that should not be confused with a completely effortless outing.

The saddle is described as soft, though bike shorts are recommended if you are not used to riding long distances. That is sensible advice. Comfort often becomes more important than fitness on a half-day ride.

You must weigh under 120 kilograms and be over 155 centimetres tall. Most people can participate, but you should be honest about your comfort with distance, hills, and several hours outside.

What you receive for $128.39

At $128.39 per person, this costs more than simply hiring a bicycle for a few hours. The value comes from the complete setup: a good e-bike, helmet, lights, pannier or backpack, lock, navigation app, route planning, and return transport from Husk.

You also get a carefully linked day rather than a single trail section. The price covers access to a route that combines the rail trail, tunnel, villages, rainforest roads, gallery area, Murwillumbah, and distillery.

Food and drinks are not included. You pay separately at cafes, restaurants, the gallery restaurant, and Husk. That lets you control your spending, but you should budget for lunch, snacks, and your final drink.

The maximum group size is 10. Since the tour is self-guided, you are not paying for a guide riding beside you throughout the day. If you prefer constant commentary and a fixed group pace, this may not be the right format. If you like independence with the security of prepared equipment and a return pickup, the price is easier to justify.

Who should book this ride?

I would recommend it to couples, friends, and families with older children who can manage a long cycle. It is also a good choice if you are based around Byron Bay and want to see more of the hinterland without spending the day in a car.

It suits riders who enjoy choosing their own pace. You can stop for coffee, art, lunch, photographs, or local browsing instead of following a guide’s strict schedule.

It is less suitable if you want a short, gentle activity, dislike phone navigation, or are uncomfortable riding on roads after the rail trail. The self-guided format offers freedom, but you must pay attention to the route and manage your own timing.

Book early if your dates are fixed. This experience is commonly booked about 25 days ahead, and it depends on suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Poor weather or an unmet minimum can lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

My verdict on the full Mooball to Husk route

Book this tour if you want an active day with real variety and a satisfying finish. The strongest parts are the well-prepared e-bikes, the simple phone navigation, the tunnel, and the return transfer from Husk.

I would plan the day around three priorities: bring plenty of water, leave enough time for the final rainforest section, and avoid turning every early stop into a long break. If you do that, you get a memorable mix of railway history, rural roads, forest, art, food, and gin without needing to organize the route yourself.

Skip it if you are looking for a short rental or a fully guided ride. For confident casual cyclists who want to explore beyond the coast, this is a smart and enjoyable use of half a day.

FAQ

Where does the e-bike tour start?

The tour starts at 5889 Tweed Valley Way, Mooball, New South Wales 2483, opposite the Moo Moo roadhouse. The scheduled start time is 9:30 am.

Where does the tour finish?

The ride finishes at Husk Farm Distillery, 1152 Dulguigan Road, North Tumbulgum, New South Wales 2490. A return transfer takes you and the bikes back to Mooball.

Is the route guided?

No. It is self-guided. You receive a custom smartphone route using the RidewithGPS app and ride at your own pace.

What is included with the e-bike?

The package includes a Focus or Kalkhoff e-bike, helmet, pannier or backpack, lights, lock, and custom smartphone navigation.

What do I need to bring?

Bring your own fully charged smartphone with the RidewithGPS app installed, plus a water bottle. Food and drinks at the stops are not included.

Are there participation requirements?

You must weigh under 120 kilograms and be over 155 centimetres tall. Most people can participate, and the maximum group size is 10.