Smithfield Mountain Bike Park Expansion Masterplan
Masterplan overview
The Smithfield Mountain Bike Park Expansion Masterplan is now complete, providing the roadmap for transforming Smithfield into a nationally significant mountain bike destination.
Developed through detailed planning, advanced LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) analysis, site investigations, and extensive stakeholder and community engagement, the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park Expansion Masterplan sets out a long-term vision for the growth of both the trail network and supporting visitor infrastructure. Shaped by on-ground knowledge and the expertise of leading local trail designers and builders World Trail and Contour Works, the Masterplan establishes a framework for delivering a sustainable, world-class mountain bike destination and precinct.
In addition to significantly expanding the trail network, the Masterplan proposes enhanced trailheads, access points, visitor facilities, wayfinding, shuttle access and event-ready infrastructure to improve rider experiences. These improvements will support growing participation and tourism, attract major events, and strengthen Cairns’ reputation as a leading adventure tourism destination, whilst protecting the area’s environmental and cultural values.
Community feedback played an important role in shaping the final Masterplan, which reflects strong support for an expanded trail network, improved rider progression, enhanced facilities and a wider range of riding experiences.
Key features of the expanded trail network
The Masterplan expands the trail network from 25km to more than 85km and delivers a range of riding styles and difficulty levels. The expanded network positions the region as a nationally significant mountain bike destination, offering a diverse and interconnected trail experience that enhances rider progression, attracts visitors, supports major events, and strengthens the region’s recreation and tourism appeal.
The proposed network provides opportunities for riders of varying skill levels, with a strong focus on intermediate riding experiences while maintaining a balance of beginner and advanced trails.
| Difficulty rating | Current km | Proposed km | Proposed % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green (Easy) | 8km | 16km | 19% |
| Blue (Intermediate) | 10km | 55km | 63% |
| Black and Double Black (Difficult and Extreme) | 7km | 16km | 18% |
Key features include:
- A Mountain Bike Park Precinct: Creates a connected mountain bike park precinct with a hierarchy of trailheads, diverse access opportunities, improved visitor orientation, major event-ready spaces and a staged framework for future infrastructure investment.
- Enhanced trail variety: The expanded network includes a wider range of trail types including (adventure, airflow, downhill, flow, and gravity and jump style trails) catering for riders of all skill levels and preferences.
| Trail style | Length (km) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure | 42km | 48% |
| Airflow | 4km | 5% |
| Blended Air | 1km | 1% |
| Downhill | 6km | 7% |
| Flow | 6km | 7% |
| Gravity | 28km | 32% |
| Total | 100% |
- Improved rider progression: The Masterplan introduces new climbing and descending trails that support rider development and clearer progression pathways for beginner and intermediate riders, while retaining Smithfield’s renowned technical riding experiences.
- Balanced trail design: The expanded network includes a balanced mix of descending trails (55%), climbing trails (21%), mixed trails (21%) and flat trails (2%) providing riders with a diverse range of experiences and improved opportunities to explore the broader trail network.
- New jump precinct: The expanded jump precinct in the Bowhunters area will provide progressive jump trails and skill-development opportunities for riders of varying abilities.
- Additional shuttle points: Four new shuttle drop-off points will improve access to the trail network via existing service roads.
- Event-friendly design: The network has been designed to support local, state, national and international mountain bike events while maintaining opportunities for public use across the broader trail network.
- Safety enhancements: The trail network has been designed with rider safety as a priority, incorporating predominantly single-use and single-direction trails, improved emergency access, and clearer signage. The project has been informed through engagement with emergency services and key stakeholders.
- Trail hubs and wayfinding: Trail hubs at key major junctions will feature maps, information, signage and seating to improve navigation, support rider decision-making and enhance the overall visitor experience.
Trailheads
The Masterplan identifies a future primary trailhead at the former Crankworx event site, creating a welcoming arrival experience for visitors and serving as the gateway to Smithfield Mountain Bike Park. As the park’s main orientation hub and gathering place for riders, this central precinct will provide direct access to the trail network, support future events and activities, and can accommodate essential facilities such as car parking, amenities and shuttle operations.
The existing McGregor Road trailhead will be retained and refreshed to improve rider access and visitor experience. The northern access point connecting users to the Northern Beaches will continue to operate as a ‘ride-in, ride-out’ access point, supported by existing street parking.
Concept designs for the future primary trailhead precinct are being developed through a complementary design process, with the flexibility to expand and enhance facilities over time as visitation and demand continue to grow.
Environmental and cultural heritage protection
Trails have been carefully designed to minimise ecological impacts, avoid sensitive areas and support the long-term sustainability of Smithfield Conservation Park. Environmental investigations, targeted surveys and ongoing monitoring have informed the Masterplan and will continue to guide project delivery.
We acknowledge the Djabugay Nation as the recognised Cultural Heritage Party for the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park project area and are committed to working respectfully together to protect cultural heritage values through targeted surveys, monitoring and ongoing collaboration through project delivery.
Explore the Masterplan
Access the Masterplan and supporting resources to learn more about the future expansion of Smithfield Mountain Bike Park. Whether you're looking for a detailed understanding of the project or a quick overview, you can view the full Masterplan or download the Masterplan Snapshot document, which highlights the key features and outcomes of the proposed expansion.
View the full trail network maps or explore the interactive network map, which allow users to discover individual trails and their features, navigate key points of interest, and gain a better understanding of the proposed network. A series of frequently asked questions is also available to provide further information about the project, planning process and future delivery.
How the Masterplan was developed
The Smithfield Mountain Bike Park Expansion Masterplan has been developed through a comprehensive planning process involving technical investigations, environmental and cultural heritage considerations, detailed trail design and extensive engagement with stakeholders and the community.
The Masterplan was informed by:
- field investigations and site assessments
- trail design experts
- stakeholder engagement
- community consultation
- refinement and finalisation of the Masterplan.
Community consultation outcomes
What we did
Between 23 February and 13 March 2026, we invited the community to share feedback on the draft trail network design for the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park expansion. People could provide input through an online survey and by attending drop-in sessions.
Who we heard from
We received 106 responses, mostly from local residents and mountain bike users. Responses reflected a mix of riding experience levels and included people who visit the park alone, with friends, or with family.
What we heard
Overall, feedback was very positive for the draft trail network design, with respondents indicating:
- Strong support for the draft design: most respondents supported the new design (82%)
- More trail variety and progression: there was strong interest in introducing more intermediate and advanced trails, with clear progression pathways
- A better riding experience: the expanded network was widely seen as an opportunity to enhance overall enjoyment for riders (86%)
- Value for Cairns and the region: feedback recognised the park’s role in supporting recreation, tourism and Cairns’ reputation as a mountain biking destination.
What people suggested improving
Alongside their support for the design, respondents highlighted opportunities to strengthen the park by:
- providing more beginner‑friendly trails alongside high-quality intermediate and advanced options
- ensuring a clear, long-term plan for trail maintenance
- improving safety, wayfinding and emergency access, including clearer signage and location markers
- carefully managing environmental impacts such as erosion and wet season resilience
- considering how other users, such as walkers and dog owners, will be safely managed
- improving trailhead facilities, such as toilets, water, rest areas and bike wash stations.
How feedback influenced the Masterplan
Community feedback played an important role in refining the final Masterplan. Key themes raised during consultation are reflected in the final design and proposed infrastructure improvements, as outlined below:
| What we heard | How we responded |
|---|---|
More beginner-friendly trails and improved rider progression while maintaining high-quality intermediate and advanced riding experiences. | The Masterplan increases riding opportunities across all skill levels:
|
| Broader trail variety and more opportunities to explore the park | The Masterplan expands the trail network from 25 km to more than 85 km and introduces a wider mix of trail styles, including adventure, gravity, flow, downhill, airflow and jump trails. This will create a more diverse riding experience for people of all interests and abilities. |
| Improved safety, navigation, emergency access and signage. | The Masterplan includes enhanced wayfinding, trail hubs at major junctions, improved emergency access arrangements and predominantly single-use, single-direction trails to improve rider safety and navigation throughout the network. |
| Enhanced trailhead facilities and access to the trail network | The Masterplan includes upgrades to the McGregor Road trailhead, additional shuttle drop-off locations throughout the network, improved access arrangements and new trail hubs featuring maps, information, signage and seating. |
| Long-term sustainability (environment protection, wet-season resilience, trail maintenance and network management) | The Masterplan has been informed by environmental investigations, cultural heritage considerations and detailed site assessments. Trail alignments have been designed to minimise impacts on sensitive areas, avoid environmental constraints where possible and support the long-term sustainability of the network. Feedback relating to trail maintenance, operations and ongoing management has also been considered throughout project planning. Work is continuing to develop the future operating and maintenance model, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of the expanded trail network. |
What happens next
The project will now progress through environmental assessments, cultural heritage processes, planning approvals and detailed delivery planning. Subject to approvals, construction is expected to commence in 2027 through a staged approach, and the expanded trail network is anticipated to open in late 2028.