Wingello MTB

Overview

Wingello State Forest sits in the Southern Highlands of NSW, roughly 4 km south-east of the village of Wingello and about 90 minutes (~155 km) south of Sydney. For more than a decade it has been one of the best-known cross-country mountain biking destinations in NSW, built and maintained by volunteer trail crew working with Forestry Corporation of NSW on radiata pine plantation and native forest land.

Pre-2020 the network was best known for the Red Loop — a 22–23 km XC circuit (~500 m climbing) blending fire-trail with extended sections of singletrack. It was a regular venue for state-level XC events and the home of long-running Saturday morning club rides. The 2019–2020 Black Summer (Morton) bushfire devastated the network: roughly half of the original singletrack has been permanently closed due to ongoing falling-limb risk from fire-killed trees, and trail access was paused entirely for several years.

Highlands Trails Incorporated — the AusCycling-affiliated MTB club of the Southern Highlands — has progressively rehabilitated the network. As of 2026 there is ~6 km of restored, family-friendly singletrack forming a loop south of Forest Camp from Everglades to Princess's Revenge, accessed from a new gravel carpark trailhead off Gap Road. Two new pine-plantation trails (Radiata Runway climb + Denis' Descent flow descent) were also recently completed. The Blue Loop (7 km firetrail) and Yellow Loop (18 km firetrail) are partially closed pending reopening of the northern firetrail link. A larger Southern Villages Iconic Trail (SVIT) concept aims to link Wingello to Bundanoon, Exeter, Fitzroy Falls and Kangaroo Valley.

Location & Access

• Address: Forest Road / Caoura Road, Wingello State Forest, Wingello NSW 2579
• Current trailhead: Princess's Revenge carpark (gravel, off Gap Road; relocated from the historic Forest Camp / "HQ Camp" start). [1][2]
• Lat/Lon (DB): -34.7316857, 150.1932727
• Drive from Sydney: ~155 km, ~90 minutes via Hume Hwy (M31) → Tallong/Wingello exit.
• Drive from Canberra: ~145 km, ~95 minutes via Goulburn.
• Public transport: Wingello has a station on the Southern Highlands line (Sydney Trains), but the trailhead is ~4 km south-east of the station — road bikes / shuttle / lift typical. [5]
• Parking: Gravel parking at the Princess's Revenge trailhead; additional parking at Wingello Forest Recreation Area / HQ Camp on Caoura Rd. [4][8]

Best Season & Conditions

• Year-round in general — Southern Highlands sits at ~600–700 m elevation, cool summers, cold winters (frosts but rare snow).
• Wind warning: Do not ride when wind speeds exceed 30 km/h — the 2020 fire killed many trees that still drop limbs. This is the single most important safety rule for the network. [1][2]
• Wet weather: Native-soil sections get soft; restored network drains relatively well but riders should stay off if visibly muddy. Check Highlands Trails / Trailforks for closures.
• Fire danger: State Forest closes on Total Fire Ban days; campfires are only permitted when no fire ban is in place. [4]
• Summer: Hot but rideable; shaded singletrack in pine plantation. Watch for snakes.

Managing Body & Trail Builders

• Land manager: Forestry Corporation of NSW. Contact: 1300 655 687 / visit@fcnsw.com.au. [4]
• Trail management & builds: Highlands Trails Incorporated (AusCycling MTB club of the Southern Highlands; active since 2010, pioneering work from 2006). Email: hello@highlandstrails.com.au. [1][6]
• Working bees: monthly at Wingello (volunteer page on highlandstrails.com.au).
• Partnership for Recreation Area: Forestry Corp + Wingecarribee Shire Council + local businesses.
• Recent trail construction support: Wild Horizons (volunteers, partner since 2013); Keystone Trails (Sydney-based, building gravity descents at Welby as part of SVIT pipeline). [9]

History & Background

• 2006: Pioneering trail-building work begins in Wingello State Forest.
• 2010: Highlands Trails Inc forms as the AusCycling-affiliated MTB club.
• 2013: Formal partnership with Forestry Corporation NSW; Wild Horizons begins volunteering.
• Pre-2020: Network reaches ~50+ km combined trail (Red 23 km / Yellow 18 km / Blue 7 km plus ~10 km singletrack). Recognised as a premier XC venue, regular host of races and club rides; "best-kept secret" in the Sydney MTB scene.
• Dec 2019 – Feb 2020: Morton bushfire (Black Summer) burns through Wingello State Forest. Much of the singletrack is destroyed and trees throughout are killed.
• 2020–2023: Recovery delayed by COVID and repeated wet-weather events.
• August 2023: First stage of rebuilt singletrack opens — ~6 km loop south of Forest Camp from Everglades to Princess's Revenge; new trailhead opened. Half of the original singletrack permanently closed. [1][6]
• 2024–2026: Two new pine-plantation trails completed (Radiata Runway climb, Denis' Descent flow). Southern Villages Iconic Trail (SVIT) concept announced — proposed multi-day route linking Wingello → Welby → Penrose → Bundanoon → Fitzroy Falls → Kangaroo Valley. Welby Tip Capping gravity-trail project progressing (two gravity descents + jump line). [9]

Recent News & Updates

• Mar 2026: Welby Tip Capping project still a work in progress; ETA for initiation up in the air (per Flow MTB feature). Gravity descents and jump line are the planned product. [9]
• 2025–2026: Two pine-trail builds completed at Wingello (Radiata Runway / Denis' Descent), led by Highlands Trails committee members Kurt and Nelly Moore. [9]
• Ongoing: Monthly working bees continue. Blue / Yellow firetrail loops still partial; northern firetrail link still closed as of last verifiable update (Aug 2023). [1]

Sources

1. Highlands Trails — Wingello Forest Trails. https://www.highlandstrails.com.au/wingello (accessed 2026-05-19)
2. The Fold (Southern Highlands) — "Explore Wingello State Forest Mountain Biking Trails." https://thefold.com.au/nsw/southern-highlands-region/outdoor-adventure/articles/explore-wingello-state-forest-mountain-biking-single-trail-southern-highlands-nsw/ (accessed 2026-05-19)
3. Trailforks — Wingello State Forest region. https://www.trailforks.com/region/wingello-state-forest/ (accessed 2026-05-19; 403 to bot fetch, URL only)
4. Forestry Corporation of NSW — Wingello State Forest. https://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit/forests/wingello-state-forest (accessed 2026-05-19; 403 to bot fetch — facts via Destination NSW and Visit NSW listings sourced from FCNSW)
5. NoBMoB — Wingello State Forest ride notes. https://nobmob.com/rides/wingellostateforest (accessed 2026-05-19)
6. Highlands Trails — homepage / about. https://www.highlandstrails.com.au/ (accessed 2026-05-19)
7. Destination Southern Highlands — Wingello MTB Trail Information. https://www.visitsouthernhighlands.com.au/operator/wingello-mountain-bike-trail-information/ (accessed 2026-05-19)
8. Visit NSW — Wingello Forest Campground. https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/southern-highlands/attractions/wingello-forest-campground (accessed 2026-05-19)
9. Flow Mountain Bike — "The Highlands Reborn: Rebuilding Wingello and Welby and the proposed Southern Villages Iconic Trail." https://flowmountainbike.com/features/wingello-and-welby-the-southern-villages-iconic-trail/ (accessed 2026-05-19 via search; full page 403 to bot fetch)
10. The Fold / Yelp / Tripadvisor — Wingello Village Store ("The Un Named Cafe"), Railway Pde Wingello. https://www.facebook.com/TheWingelloVillageStore/ (accessed 2026-05-19)
11. Highlands Trails — Wingello trailhead map PDF. https://highlandstrails.com.au/s/Wingello-Trailhead.pdf (accessed 2026-05-19)