Recreate and Relax in the Australian Alps
Mt. Buller, one of Australia’s most popular mountain resorts, is a must-visit destination in the heart of the Australian Alps. Around 3 hours' drive from Melbourne, Mt. Buller offers stunning alpine scenery, fresh air, and an extensive range of summer and winter recreation.
High in the cool mountain climate, the resort allows visitors to escape from the summer heat and experience plenty of green season activities, including mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. In winter, visitors enjoy skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and more.
Wildflowers frame one of the many beautiful trails at Mt. Buller. Photo credit: Matt Rousu Photography Bike Buller
Mt. Buller’s alpine village provides shopping, entertainment, and dining at a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars. The village also features a range of accommodation options, from budget-friendly lodges to luxury hotels where you can enjoy the resorts’ mountain hospitality. The latest attraction in the village center is Mt. Buller’s brand-new pumptrack.
The New Pumptrack at Mt. Buller
Mt. Buller recently installed a new PARKITECT modular pumptrack in the heart of the village next door to the Kooroora Hotel.
The new modular pumptrack is:
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Easily set up for summer and stored away in winter
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Enjoyed by all ages, abilities, and types of wheels
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Used for races and events
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A draw for visitors to the village center to recreate, socialize, and relax
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A complement to the surrounding bike park
Everyone, from Mt. Buller staff to village business owners to resort visitors, is buzzing about the new track.
“The pumptrack brings life and fun to the village all summer season and is a well-used and appreciated amenity to our summer village experience,” says Rhylla Morgan, Mt. Buller PR and communications specialist. “It’s enjoyed by kids and adults alike, and being positioned next to the village pub (the Kooroora), it’s an ideal location for kids to keep busy while parents enjoy a quiet meal and a cool drink on the deck.”
Shops, hotels, and restaurants in the village appreciate the traffic created by the pumptrack and cater to the needs of those who use it. Bike shops, rentals, guides, and lesson providers have customers try out bikes and warm up for trail rides on the track.
Ashley Gray, operations manager at All Terrain Cycles bike hire says, “We do love having the pumptrack outside our store. The pumptrack creates a great vibe in the village square. It makes this location the epicenter of biking at Mt Buller.”
The new modular pumptrack in Mt. Buller’s village square. Photo credit: Bike Buller
And of course, riders of all ages have a great time on the pumptrack. Riders take laps on the track with push bikes, pedal bikes, scooters, or even skateboards. Beginners can start slow and flow over the rollercoaster-like track. Experienced riders can dial in their pumping, jumping, and cornering skills; compete in track challenges; or just ride for fitness and fun. The pumptrack is free to use and open to the public.
“The new track is fabulous,” says Mark Bennetts, chief operating officer at Mt. Buller. “Its orange fiberglass surface is eye-catching and robust, while the model we chose allows different configurations or even a small second track on its own. Kids of all ages have been enjoying it with their bikes, scooters, and even skateboards.”
Quick and Easy Installation
Easy installation is another bonus of the track. As the video below shows, the prefabricated track was installed in one day.
Video credits: Mt. Buller, filmed by Colin Clarke, on Instagram @mt_buller @colintahoe
Almost like a giant Lego set, the track can be reconfigured in several different ways, including into two smaller tracks, to provide a fresh new course whenever needed. It can also be disassembled and moved or stored during the winter. This feature was a draw for the resort since they set up the pumptrack for the green season and take it down during the snowy season to make room for winter activities.
These giant building blocks lock together to become a pumptrack and can be disassembled and stored. Photo credit: Mt. Buller
Shaun Leicester, from PARKITECT Australia, explains, “Everything about the modular pumptrack system is engineered for simplicity. It’s about creating fun for all wheels, all ages, in the easiest way possible.”
Modular pumptracks are low cost, easy to maintain, safe, and professionally designed. Victoria’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund helped bring the new pumptrack to Mt. Buller, seeing it as a valuable investment for the resort and the region. Recent studies show that pumptracks attract diverse users, promote active lifestyles, and build community.
Kids enjoy the new pumptrack. Photo credit: Mt. Buller
Make It a Party
The opening of the pumptrack was celebrated during Mt. Buller’s green season launch, the Summer Shred Sesh. The community gathered for festivities that included a Pumptrack Challenge with a prize giveaway, music, refreshments, snow and bike terrain park riding, a trampoline and bike airbag, and demonstrations by local bike pros.
Women gather in the village for a fun women's-only bike session. Credit: Bike Buller
The Hub of the Bike Park
Ed Steenbergen, project manager at Mt. Buller, says, “The pumptrack is a complement to the kilometers of gravity and cross-country mountain bike trails on the mountain. Riding the track is great practice for body movement over bumps and using berms.”
Whether pumptrack riders realize it or not, they are honing their skills to take on the bike park’s more advanced trails. And Mt. Buller offers a ton of other biking options for whatever kind of riding visitors are into.
All Kinds of Biking at Buller
Along with the village pumptrack, Mt. Buller offers all the bike activities a rider could want. The resort is a leader in Aussie bike parks, incorporating Australia’s first modular pumptrack and first flow trail, as well as the Southern Hemisphere’s first and only IMBA Epic Trail, the infamous 46-km descending cross-country trail, the Australian Alpine Epic, widely touted as one of the world’s greatest mountain bike rides. The trail network of over 120 kilometers has been built with high excitement and low environmental impact in mind. Following a major $1.2 million refurbishment program in 2021, the bike facilities are better than ever.
Flying downhill on Buller’s gravity trails. Photo credit: Bike Buller
For the downhillers, the resort offers lift-serviced and shuttle rides to the top of the trails. All types of bikes, including e-bikes and kids’ bikes can be accommodated. Shuttle rides cost a fee, or for those who want to ride to the top, access to the trails is free. The fierce and flowy downhill trails are professionally designed with berms, jumps, ramps, and other technical features.
The cross-country trails guarantee incredible views, challenging climbs and descents, and natural obstacles in the resort’s beautiful, wild landscape. Intermediate and advanced riders will find plenty of trails to suit their tastes, and newcomers and kids will enjoy the friendly beginner trails.
Rentals, repairs, and everything else you need for a great bike adventure. Photo credit: Bike Buller
The village furnishes a full spectrum of bike amenities, from bike gear and repair shops to rental outfitters and guides. A variety of lessons, tours, camps, clinics, and skills sessions for all levels and types of riders are offered. The village even includes a bike wash and bike-friendly accommodations with secure bike storage.
Races, Events, and Other Festivities
Along with the Summer Shred Sesh, the pumptrack plays a part in many of Mt. Buller’s festivals, races, and events, drawing crowds of seasoned pumptrack enthusiasts and newbies who are interested to see what it’s all about.
The resort hosts a downhill MTB series, the Bike Buller Festival, the Australian MTB Film Fest, Mind Body Bike Weekends, and the Blue Dirt Blow Out closing weekend celebrations, among others. Hundreds of visitors flock to these events to compete in or watch pro races, participate in group rides, or just to enjoy the festival atmosphere.
A rider gets some air during a Mt. Buller mountain bike race. Photo credit: Mt. Buller
If you’re interested in learning more about why pumptracks make a great recreational offering for mountain resorts and bike parks, we encourage you to check out the posts below or just head over to our blog to view our past posts. 👀
Client Profile: Pumptrack du Centre, Les Gets, France
The ROI of a Modular Pumptrack
How to Get a Pumptrack in Your Park
How Much Does a Pumptrack Cost?
