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

The best part of this ride is its changing scenery. You pedal from the Moo Moo Roadhouse in Mooball along a traffic-free rail trail, through a 524-metre tunnel, past old bridges and into rainforest before finishing at Husk Farm Distillery. The Northern Rivers Rail Trail gives you easy navigation and plenty to see, while the electric motor takes the sting out of the hills.

I like the freedom of setting your own pace, and I like the thoughtful finish: a cold drink or meal at Husk, followed by a return transfer with the bikes. The main consideration is distance. With the full route and detours, you may ride close to 50 kilometres, so even with an e-bike, a padded cycling short and a good water bottle are sensible.

Key points to know

• A 25-kilometre traffic-free rail trail: Ride the old railway route toward Murwillumbah, with bridges, countryside views and two tunnels.
• The 524-metre Burringbar Tunnel: Expect darkness, glowworms and microbats, with a memorable change of pace from the open trail.
• A self-guided format: Your RidewithGPS smartphone route lets you stop for coffee, lunch, art or photos without keeping up with a group.
• Electric help on the rainforest climb: The motor matters once the route leaves the flat rail trail and heads toward Bilambil.
• A very good final stop: Husk Farm Distillery offers food, rum cocktails and the signature Ink Gin and Tonic before your ride back to Mooball.
• A small-group setup: The tour accepts up to 10 people, with bikes, helmets, lights, locks and a pannier or hi-viz backpack included.

From Mooball to the old railway line

Your morning begins at 9:30 am opposite the Moo Moo Roadhouse in Mooball. This is more than a parking spot: it gives you an easy place to get a coffee or something small before setting off, although food and drinks are not included in the tour.

The team arrives with your Focus or Kalkhoff e-bike, helmet, lights, lock and pannier or hi-viz backpack. You also need your own fully charged smartphone, with the RidewithGPS app installed. Steve and Brett are named as part of the team that gets riders prepared, explains the equipment and checks the navigation before you leave.

That setup matters on a self-guided ride. You are not following a guide from corner to corner, so the route on your phone is your main safety net. Take a few minutes at the start to make sure the app is open, the phone is secure and you understand how the motor assistance works.

From Mooball, you can choose the rail trail section toward Crabbes Creek. This early part is a gentle introduction to the day, with the old railway corridor carrying you away from busy roads. Crabbes Creek has a small general store and the first tunnel at Mills Road, making it a useful early stop if you want a snack or a short break.

The exact length of your ride depends on which detours and stops you take. The full day can approach 50 kilometres, so do not treat the flat opening as proof that the entire route will feel easy. The e-bike helps, but it does not remove the need to pedal.

Burringbar brings the best rail trail stops

Burringbar is one of the most appealing pauses along the route. This small village has several places worth building into your timing, including The Barn for coffee and food, Brooklyn for wine tasting, and Heaths Antiquities for a browse through old objects.

You can make this a quick 20-minute stop, but that would miss some of the charm. The self-guided format works well here because you can decide if you want a proper coffee break or simply a look around before returning to the trail.

Burringbar also marks a useful point in the ride. The route still feels relaxed, but you are moving into the section with more memorable engineering and scenery. If you are riding with children or a mixed-ability group, this is a good place to check your remaining energy before continuing.

Food stops are purchased separately, and opening hours are not provided, so plan with some flexibility. Bring water from the start rather than relying on each village stop. Water bottles are not included, and the combination of distance, warm weather and open farmland can catch you out.

The Burringbar Tunnel is the ride’s big moment

Between Burringbar and Stokers Siding, the route reaches the Burringbar Tunnel. At 524 metres, it is the longest tunnel on this section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, and it changes the ride from a pleasant cycle into a small adventure.

Inside, you may see glowworms and microbats. The tunnel is also a reminder of the route’s railway past, with the cycling path following the old line rather than simply using a random country road. Your lights are included with the bike, but use care and keep your phone and navigation secure before entering.

The tunnel is not the place to rush. Stop beforehand if you need to adjust your helmet, check your motor setting or put away loose items. Once inside, the cool, dark passage makes a sharp contrast with the sunlit farmland and forest outside.

Stokers Siding follows as another point of interest on the rail trail. The supplied timing allows about 15 minutes in this area, which is enough for a breather and a few photos. You can take longer if your schedule allows, but remember that the rainforest road and Husk finish are still ahead.

Bridges, art and Murwillumbah

Near Dunbible, you cross the historic railway bridge over Dunbible Creek. It is a brief stop, listed at about five minutes, but it makes a fine photo point. The bridge also gives you a sense of how the old rail corridor shaped movement through the Tweed hinterland.

A detour leads to the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre. This is a worthwhile choice if you like art, gardens and a slower lunch stop rather than treating the day as a continuous physical challenge. The gallery is set in an attractive location, and Apex restaurant gives you a place to eat.

Allow around 30 minutes for the gallery stop if you want only a quick look. Art lovers may want longer, but the tour is not built around an extended museum visit. The detour is best for people who enjoy mixing cycling with culture and do not mind adjusting their arrival time at Husk.

Murwillumbah marks the end of the rail trail and offers the most useful lunch break. Suggested options include Wild Thyme, Ju Jus, Relish, the Imperial Hotel and the award-winning gelato bar next door. Food is not included, so lunch here becomes part of your own budget.

The M|Arts Precinct adds another optional stop. Artists and creative businesses share the space, and you can browse, eat at Bistro Livi, pick up something from Ben’s patisserie or visit the cheese shop. The precinct is a good fit if you prefer local creative spaces to a quick roadside pause.

This middle section can easily stretch the day. The advertised duration is about five to six hours, but the route includes several suggested stops rather than a fixed guided schedule. If you want a long lunch, a full gallery visit and a relaxed drink at Husk, keep an eye on the clock.

The rainforest climb shows why the e-bike matters

After Murwillumbah, the ride leaves the old rail line and heads toward Husk Distillery. This is where the electric assistance becomes most useful. The route climbs through rainforest on winding roads, then opens to views across cane fields toward Mount Wollumbin.

The motor does most of the hard work on the uphill sections, but you still need to manage your battery assistance and pace. The tour is not described as a technical mountain-bike ride, yet the terrain changes once you leave the flat rail trail. Riders who are not used to longer distances should take the climb steadily.

I like this contrast. The rail trail gives you a calm, mostly car-free ride, while the rainforest section adds bends, hills and wider views. You are no longer simply following a straight former railway route. The day becomes a proper point-to-point ride through different parts of the Tweed hinterland.

The descent toward Husk is a welcome reward after the climb. Take care on the road, even with the e-bike’s easy handling, and do not let the promise of a drink make you hurry. You are still responsible for following the app and riding within your comfort level.

Husk Distillery is a well-chosen finish

The tour ends at Husk Farm Distillery in Tumbulgum, at 1152 Dulguigan Road. The grounds provide a pleasant place to stop, eat and recover after the ride. You can order a signature Squid Ink gin and tonic, choose a Husk Rum cocktail or take a distillery tour if time allows.

The Ink Gin and Tonic is the obvious reward built into this route, but you pay for food, drinks and any distillery tour yourself. The finish works because it feels like a destination, not simply a bike drop-off point. You have crossed the rail trail, ridden through forest and arrived somewhere suited to a long break.

The return transfer is included. The team loads the bikes and takes you back to Mooball, which removes the need to cycle back along the same route or arrange a second vehicle. After a ride that may approach 50 kilometres, this is one of the tour’s most valuable features.

What the $128.39 price gets you

At $128.39 per person, this is not just an hourly bike rental. The price covers the Focus or Kalkhoff e-bike, helmet, lights, lock, pannier or backpack, route navigation and the return transfer from Husk to Mooball.

That package is good value if you plan to ride the full route. A standard bike rental would make the rainforest climb and total distance more demanding, while arranging your own one-way transport would add work and cost. The included pickup also means you can finish with a drink without worrying about riding back.

Your extra costs are important. Bring your own water, pay for any coffee, lunch, gelato, cocktails, gin and tonic or gallery food, and make sure your phone is charged. The tour price is easier to justify when you treat the food and drink stops as optional additions rather than expecting an all-inclusive day.

The group limit is 10 people. That is small enough to keep the start practical, though the experience remains self-guided rather than a personal escorted tour. You choose your breaks and speed, which is ideal for independent riders but less suitable if you want a guide explaining every stop.

Who should book this ride?

I would choose this tour if you want active sightseeing without committing to a difficult conventional bike ride. The electric motor helps on the hills, the rail trail removes much of the traffic stress, and the route gives you history, nature, food and a distillery in one day.

It also suits couples, families and small groups with different riding speeds. You can pause at Burringbar, take a gallery detour or stop in Murwillumbah rather than keeping a tight group formation. The self-guided app gives you room to make the day your own.

You should think twice if you dislike long rides, have trouble sitting on a bike for several hours or want a fully guided cultural tour. The bike seats are described as soft, but riders who are not used to distance may still want padded cycling shorts. You must weigh under 120 kilograms and be over 155 centimetres tall.

The tour depends on good weather and may be moved or refunded if conditions are poor. You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time. A minimum number of participants also applies, so the operator may offer another date or a refund if that minimum is not reached.

Should you book the Husk e-bike tour?

Book it if you want a full day of movement and variety, and if you like choosing your own stops. The strongest reasons are the traffic-free rail trail, the Burringbar Tunnel, the easy hill assistance, the views toward Mount Wollumbin and the included return transfer from Husk.

Plan carefully if you want to fit in the gallery, lunch, M|Arts and a long distillery visit. The route can be relaxed, but it is not short. Bring water, charge your phone, allow room for a proper break and consider padded shorts.

For independent riders who want to see more of the Tweed hinterland than a standard bike hire allows, this is a well-priced, well-planned outing. For anyone seeking a short, effortless spin with no preparation, it may feel like too much road, too much distance and too many tempting stops.

FAQ

Where does the e-bike tour start?

It starts at the Moo Moo Roadhouse, opposite 5889 Tweed Valley Way, Mooball, New South Wales 2483. The 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. The bikes are loaded and you are transferred back to Mooball.

How long does the tour take?

Allow approximately five to six hours. The total time depends on how long you spend at the villages, gallery, Murwillumbah, M|Arts and Husk Distillery.

Is the tour guided?

It is self-guided. You receive a custom smartphone route through the RidewithGPS app and ride at your own pace.

What equipment is included?

The tour includes a Focus or Kalkhoff e-bike, helmet, pannier or backpack, lights and lock. A hi-viz backpack is also provided as part of the setup.

Do I need to bring my own phone and water?

Yes. Bring your own fully charged smartphone with RidewithGPS installed, as well as your own water bottle. Food and drinks at the stops are not included.

Is the full rail trail traffic-free?

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail section is described as having no cars. After Murwillumbah, the route continues onto rainforest roads and other roads toward Husk Distillery.

Who can take part?

Most people can participate, but riders must be over 155 centimetres tall and weigh under 120 kilograms. The tour has a maximum of 10 participants.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund.