Between November and February, Australia and New Zealand pack in more must-do cycling events than most places see in an entire year. We've got gruelling gravel epics and high-speed criteriums to massive pro events like the Santos Tour Down Under. Those living in the Antipodes are blessed with amazing summer weather and gorgeous cities and landscapes to ride through.

CycleHub has put together this guide for your summer of 2026 to 2027 because we don't want you to miss a thing.

November 2026

November brings prime conditions across the southern states: long daylight hours and warm mornings, but the days are more enjoyable because heat hasn't really ramped up yet. The following are some featured November events you probably won't want to miss:

MS Gong Ride (NSW): Early November

• Discipline: Road / Charity (82 km or 54 km)
• The Course: Departs Sydney, travels through the lush rainforest of the Royal National Park, and crosses the stunning Sea Cliff Bridge into Wollongong.
• Why Ride: This is a rite of passage for most NSW riders. It's truly a must-do. Just check your brakes first as there are a couple of long steep descents.

Ride Ballarat (VIC): 14 to 15 November 2026

• Discipline: Road only: 50 km and 100 km rides on Sunday 15 November, plus a Saturday cocktail party
• The Course: Rides start and finish at Mars Stadium Ballarat, 725 Creswick Road, Wendouree. The 50 km Short Macchiato is a scenic community ride through regional Victoria, while the 100 km Long Macchiato runs through the City of Ballarat, Moorabool Shire and Hepburn Shire and is billed as the ultimate test.
• Why Ride: Ride Ballarat is the new evolution of the Ballarat Cycle Classic. All proceeds support the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute (FECRI), which the organisers describe as Australia's only community-funded regional cancer research facility, and teams get a dedicated space at Mars Stadium with pre-ordered food and a finish celebration.

Great Vic Bike Ride (VIC): Late November to Early December

• Discipline: Multi-day Touring (Rolling festival)
• The Course: And now for something totally different! This week-long supported adventure through regional Victoria involves camping each night in country towns.
• Why Ride: How can you not want to enjoy Australia's ultimate community cycling holiday? Bring your spouse, your kids, your work mates, your old friends. It's great for groups and for solo riders, too.

Try These Local Clubs in November

Summer is starting and you may be looking for some new riding buddies. Try some of the great bike clubs that exist all over Australia. I am 100% sure there is one close to you.

Here are just a handful of clubs from CycleHub's Social Rides database.

• NSW: Join Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club (DHBC) or Sydney Cycling Club (SCC) for regular Centennial Park laps, structured pacelines, and weekend southern sorties down through the National Park.
• VIC: Tap into St Kilda Cycling Club (SKCC) or Brunswick Cycling Club for fast-paced Beach Road bunches and gravel scouting missions in the surrounding hills.

December 2026

Things start heating up in December. While we all struggle to fit some rides in around our holiday events, we also need them to burn off the extra calories we will be consuming by the plateful and glassful.

Here are some December events you'll want to squeeze into your calendar:

Thredbo Gravity Series #1: Specialized Sidewinder Showdown (NSW): 12 December 2026

• Discipline: Gravity Mountain Biking / Flow & Downhill
• The Course: Thredbo Mountain Bike Park hosts this fast alpine descent on its Sidewinder trail, which is packed with banked berms, smooth rollers, and sweeping views across the Snowy Mountains. It's the official season opener for the prestigious Thredbo Gravity Series.
• Why Ride: The course is both high-speed and accessible, so seasoned downhill racers and gravity newcomers are both welcome. And while you're there, enjoy the alpine festival atmosphere and have a few Kosciuszko brews.

The Rapha Festive 500 (Nationwide / Virtual): December 24 to 31

• Discipline: Road / Gravel / Indoor
• The Course: You can ride anywhere, indoors or out. Just log 500 km in Strava during the 8 days between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. A most excellent excuse to get out and ride during the silly season.
• Why Ride: This holiday tradition livens up the week between Christmas and New Year and keeps you cycling despite the disruptions that can throw our calendars into chaos during the silly season.

Local Clubs to Join in December

• ACT: Connect with the Canberra Cycling Club (CCC) for weekly criterium racing and summer bunch rides around Lake Burley Griffin.
• QLD: Hop into the morning training pelotons of the Brisbane Cycling Club (BCC) or University of Queensland Cycling Club (UQCC) for loops of River City and Mount Coot-tha before the midday humidity rises.

January 2027

Cycling fever peaks in January, which really is the biggest month. It is the pinnacle of the Australian and New Zealand road cycling calendar, especially if you like pro events. The whole world tunes into Australia for the opening of the UCI World Tour calendar, the Santos TDU.

Santos Tour Down Under: Challenge Tour (SA): Mid-January

• Discipline: Closed-Road Gran Fondo (Varying stage distances up to 130 km)
• The Course: The Challenge Tour is the mass-participation ride of the Santos Tour Down Under. You get to ride the official WorldTour stage route.
• Why Ride: Ride on fully closed roads with timing gantries and thousands of fans lining the climbs hours before the world's top professional peloton arrives.

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race: People's Ride (VIC): Late January

• Discipline: Gran Fondo / Recreational (35 km, 59 km, 113 km)
• The Course: Starts and finishes on Geelong's waterfront, traversing Barwon Heads, Torquay, and the steep spectator wall of Challambra Crescent.
• Why Ride: Ride shoulder-to-shoulder with Cadel Evans on a world-championship level course with full road safety closures.

AusCycling Road National Championships (VIC / Regional)

• Discipline: Road Race, Time Trial & Criterium
• Why Ride & Watch: Compete in national gran fondo categories or stand on the side of the road to watch Australia's best vie for the green-and-gold champion jersey.

Local Cycling Clubs to Try in January

• SA: Heading to Adelaide for the TDU? Join group rides with the Norwood Cycling Club or Skinny Lattes Cycling Club to explore iconic climbs like Norton Summit, Corkscrew, and Mount Lofty.
• WA: For riders on the west coast, connect with South Perth Rouleurs (SPR) or Roues Chaudes CC for fast, early morning coastal runs along Kings Park and Cottesloe Beach.

February 2027

As the summer reaches its final month, riders migrate toward higher elevation in the Victorian High Country and NSW Snowy Mountains to escape coastal heat, while track and endurance calendars hit full stride.

You probably don't want to miss these February cycling events:

L'Étape Australia by Tour de France / High Country Sportives (VIC / NSW)

• Discipline: Mountain Gran Fondo
• The Course: Punishing alpine ascents featuring steep HC (Hors Catégorie) climbs and breathtaking high-plains scenery.
• Why Ride: Experience Tour de France-style mountain stages right here in Australia with timed King of the Mountains (KOM) segments.

Otway Odyssey MTB & Great Otway Gravel Grind (GOGG): Late February (VIC)

• Discipline: Mountain Bike & Gravel (100 km, 50 km, 30 km)
• The Course: Based out of Forrest, Victoria, tackling singletrack networks and unpaved rainforest trails.
• Why Ride: Australia's premier off-road weekend, combining technical singletrack for MTB purists with gravel grinds through the Otway timber country.

The Graveler (Hanmer Springs, NZ): 13 February 2027

• Discipline: Gravel Racing / Endurance Adventure (132 km | 1,724 m elevation gain)
• The Course: A true epic that is ridden 99.7% on gravel, starting above Hanmer Springs and cutting straight through the remote, high-country terrain of Molesworth Station.
• Why Ride: Wow. This is a rare bucket-list journey across New Zealand's largest working farm. You ride on rugged backcountry tracks that would normally get you booked for trespassing. It's unforgiving, yes. But the Southern Alps landscapes make it the ultimate for serious gravel, hardtail MTB, and e-bike riders.

Some Local Cycling Clubs to Connect with in February

• VIC: Before tackling the high peaks, join Hawthorn Cycling Club or the Melbourne Cycling League for weekend climbing training trips to the Dandenong Ranges (the 1 in 20) and Kinglake.
• NSW: For mountain goats preparing for Snowy Mountains challenges, join Manly Warringah Cycling Club (MWCC) or Northern Sydney Cycling Club to tackle West Head, Akuna Bay, and Bobbin Head repeats.

Summer Riding Tips: How to Survive & Thrive in the Heat

How can we do an entire article about the best summer bike rides without posting a few tips on how to survive and thrive in the heat? Long rides in the Australian and New Zealand summer heat are safer and more enjoyable with a plan. Eat solid food early, switch to gels when the heat builds, and never start a ride over 60 minutes on plain water. Plan water refills about every 40 km and ride early to avoid the midday peak.

• How to Eat Enough: I found this insight from Team Sky's Luke Rowe to be invaluable. He was speaking during a Tour Down Under stage that hit 45°C. He says the best riders have a big plate of pasta the night before since the body burns more carbohydrates in the heat. He also likes to get a solid food down early in the race. Then later switches to gels, because they're easier to take when it's really hot.
• Double Bottles & Electrolytes: Never start a ride over 60 minutes with just plain water alone. Use carbohydrate and electrolyte mixes in both bidons to preserve sodium levels and prevent cramping. Rowe said riders on his team were drinking one 500 ml bottle every 15 minutes on the hottest days. That adds up to 15-16 bottles per day, or seven to eight litres in less than three and a half hours. He had a support call with extra bottles. The rest of us just have to make sure we fill our bottles mid-ride.
• Know Your Water Refill Stations: When mapping out routes on RideWithGPS or Strava, identify dependable water stops (surf life saving clubs, country town parks, and petrol stations) every 40 km. This is your secret to getting enough water. Bring extra electrolytes to put in your bottles as you refill them.
• Electrolytes are more important on long, hot rides: A strong electrolyte drink before long, hot rides can significantly improve your performance. Of course, it may also mean you need an extra pee stop. Remember that heat can cut your appetite, so liquids and semi-solids like energy gels can be easier to manage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which summer ride is best for a first-timer?

The MS Gong Ride in early November offers 54 km or 82 km options, running from Sydney through the Royal National Park to Wollongong. The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race People's Ride in late January offers 35 km, 59 km or 113 km (for a longer day out). These are great options to start with.

Can recreational riders ride the Tour Down Under route?

Yes. The Santos Tour Down Under Challenge Tour is a closed-road gran fondo that follows the official WorldTour stage route, with stage distances of up to 130 km.

How do I stay hydrated on a long summer ride?

Start with a strong electrolyte drink, never begin a ride over 60 minutes on plain water alone, and plan water refills about every 40 km along your route.

When is the Rapha Festive 500?

It runs from December 24 to 31. Log 500 km on Strava during those eight days, indoors or out.

Where can I find more events near me?

Browse the CycleHub Australian Cycling Race Calendar, filtered by state, date and discipline.

Find Every Upcoming Event Near You

We hope you have found our summer cycling event and club guide to be useful. Don't let summer slip by without pinning on a number, or you'll regret it when the weather turns cold and wet again.

Explore our complete, searchable directory filtered by state, date, and discipline on the CycleHub Australian Cycling Race Calendar.