Walking and Cycling

Walking Trails

Click here to find out more about walking and bushwalking in our region

Kamilaroi Walking Track - Victoria Park, East Tamworth

The Kamilaroi Walking Track is a popular bushwalk which takes approximately 2 hours to complete (return). The Kamilaroi Walking Track is so named for the Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi people who are the traditional custodians of this land.

The track winds its way through the bushland of Oxley Park linking the Botanic Garden, Marsupial Park, Oxley Scenic Lookout and Flagstaff Mountain over a distance of several kilometres. The main track to the top of Flagstaff Mountain is 5 kilometres return at a moderate gradient with some steep sections. From the top, at an elevation of approximately 826 metres above sea level, you can look out over the Peel Valley towards the Moonbi Ranges, and the villages of Moonbi and Kootingal.

Before heading home, stop and enjoy the view at the Oxley Scenic Lookout, or if you have time, enjoy a native animal experience at the Tamworth Marsupial Park and Adventure Playground.

Download a map of the track to assist you on your walk available here (PDF 3.8MB).

 

Cycling

The Tamworth region has a variety of shared paths, footpaths and on-road cycleways which can be used for cycling:

  • 34km of shared path which is able to be used by cyclists of all ages and pedestrians
  • 116km of footpaths which are able to be used by cyclists up to 16 years of age and by pedestrians
  • 2km of on-road cycleways

View our interactive transport map which includes shared paths, footpaths, cycleways and common cycling routes throughout the Tamworth region here.

Click here to download a PDF our Cycling Shared Path Map (PDF 1.8MB)


Benefits of cycling in our region

Health

Regardless of age, gender, weight or fitness level, those who participate in active transport receive numerous health benefits. With almost 41% of adults living in the Tamworth region being obese (via Australian Health Policy Collaboration (2017)) and physical inactivity costing the Australian healthcare system an estimated $13.8 billion per year (National Heart Foundation of Australia 2014), active transport can play a major role in reducing  both figures. 

Economical

  • In Regional NSW, it is estimated that private vehicles cost $250 per week to run (Budget Direct 2018). In comparison, the cost of buying and maintaining a bicycle is estimated as 1% of this cost – with walking lower again. With the median weekly household income for the Tamworth region estimated at $1,180 (Census 2016), running a private vehicle represents 20% of this figure – a significant cost which can be reduced through utilising active transport means.
  • With metered public parking located in the Tamworth CBD, cycling and walking avoid any end-of-trip costs unlike private vehicle use – with a full-time worker in the CBD spending up to $700 per year on parking. 

Traffic Congestion

  • It is estimated that the avoidable cost of traffic congestion will reach $20.4 billion by 2020 (via Australian Government Major Cities Unit 2010). Particularly for short trips, utilising active transport significantly assists in reducing traffic congestion on the local road network, with cyclists taking up much less space on the roads and pedestrians being removed from the road network altogether (for the most part).
  • The Australian Government spends an average of $27 million per day maintaining the road network (via Department of Transport and Main Roads Queensland 2018). Active transport results in little to no damage to the road network, extending the life of road pavements and wearing courses.  

Environmental

Compared to motorised transport, active transport produces no air pollution or noise pollution. Private vehicles are the greatest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and with almost 95% of trips to work in Tamworth completed in private vehicles, replacing some of these trips with active transport will greatly improve the amenity of urban centres and the health of those within these centres.