Two new tourist attractions developed with state government funding were launched yesterday by minister for the north coast Don Page.
A 2.5km mountain bike trail opened at Byron Bay Farmstay between Byron Bay and Bangalow, while Byron Eco Cruises and Kayaks launched their operations on the Brunswick River.
The money was made available as part of the government’s $5 million Regional Tourism Product Development Funding Program.
‘These tours and attractions are a great boost to the experiences on offer for visitors to the northern rivers,’ said Mr Page.
‘The NSW government is delighted to see funding cooperatively invested with tourism operators to help realise some very innovative projects.
‘The trail is the first and only mountain bike trail on private land in the northern rivers that will be open to the public,’ said Byron Bay Farmstay co-manager Ivan Holland.
‘It was designed and constructed with input from International Mountain Biking Australia, which gives it great credibility amongst mountain biking enthusiasts around the world.’
The trail complements the current farm accommodation operation on the property and has already been enthusiastically received by the newly formed local mountain bike club Northern Rivers Dirty Wheels.
Visitors and locals alike can now experience the natural beauty of Brunswick Heads through Byron Eco Cruises and Kayaks. The tours, which have been operating on a trial basis since mid year, are now operating daily.
‘Our tours are advanced eco-tourism certified and we believe the only form of sustainable tourism is ecotourism,’ said Byron Bay Eco Cruises and Kayaks proprietor Simon Freeden.
‘This is ‘jungle kayaking’ territory, yet an easy kayaking adventure for most people that is not tide affected and can be scheduled at a regular time each day.’
