Munda Biddi Trail, Mundaring to Albany

I give this trail a 4 for trail quality, but a solid 5 for experience!

Where else in the world can you cycle through ever changing ecosystems on a designated mountain bike trail for over 1,000km? The south west corner of Western Australia is truly exceptional and a wonder to behold. The fauna, flora, geology, topography and wonderful people you meet along the way make this an adventure to remember! It is challenging, exhilarating, exhausting, beautiful, bumpy, smooth, fast, slow, flow, technical, sandy, climbing, descending, wet, dry, windy and sunny. You will experience everything, including many ups and downs, both physically and mentally. This is what adventure seekers set out to experience though, no? The shelters are fantastic. The availability of water (season dependant) is plentiful. Go as light as you can, without neglecting the essentials, it can get very remote if you are travelling alone and if there is not at least one section you need to push your bike up a hill you are officially the fittest person on the planet. You will never be able to pick the perfect bike for the whole trail, so go with what you are most comfortable on and just push through the challenges and enjoy the days that you are cruising. Even if you get to the end and hated it, I can assure you, once the aches and pains (in the butt) have eased you will be reminiscing, regaling tales and planning when you will be visiting the Munda Biddi again.

Happy peddling!

Top tip: Wildflower season is the perfect time to cycle the trail. The flowers are spectacular and they are the perfect distraction on the climbs.

After walking the Bibbulmun Track I had to ride the Munda Biddi. The Southern Western Australian bush is fantastic. Hubby & I rode in Sept 2016 and loved every minute. It was challenging in parts and pushed our bodies to the limits at times. I loved the fact that we rode thru a town every couple of days and could support the local pubs along the way. Also no need to carry 8 days or so of food. Would do it all again tomorrow.

We did the Munda Biddi from Donnelly River to Manjimup, 1 night on the trail. Definitely an experience like no other and not only physically challenging however mentally too. Absolutely beautiful dense forest through this section - karri and jarrah trees. We completed it in August and although it didn't rain it was cold, however, we didn't feel it at all. The crisp air was pleasant during the cycle. The trail zig zags up a hill to the Karta Burnu hut and the view is amazing, I think we climbed 100 metres maybe. We walked a lot of the uphill sections, the trailers struggled with the sharp turns. The evening spent in the middle of the forest was definitely a highlight - the silence and darkness - incredible. From the hut to Manjimup the trail is much easier passing alongside fruit orchards and through forest sections. It's definitely an adventure, really is. Go at your own pace and be happy with it. Bring wet weather gear. The forest in this part of WA is best enjoyed in winter!

The ADVENTURE of a lifetime!
Summing up the Munda Biddi Trail, if you had to choose one word ''adventure'' would do it, I agree with Paul.

I had the best time conquering the Trail, Mundaring to Albany 9-24th August 2014 with my trail buddy Mark. Not my idea of fun (says my husband Bill), riding 1054 kilometres in 16 days. Ideally take three to four weeks and have a holiday; taking the time along the way to explore the many regional towns that the Trail passes through and also ride it at a leisurely pace and allow yourself time to enjoy and appreciate the vast areas of unspoilt forests and bushland that surrounds the Munda Biddi Trail.

This was the third time that I had cycled the Munda Biddi Trail; Nannup to Mundaring over two weeks in September 2010 and again two weeks cycling Nannup to Albany in October 2014. On these two occasions it was a HOLIDAY, where I scheduled time to explore the towns and enjoy the scenery. On our allocated rest days apart from exploring I enjoyed a massage, serviced the bike, did the obligatory washing and stocked up on food for the next camp site stay.
My recent MBT ride was a planned personal CHALLENGE, and so it was with no rest days and unsupported. Each of us were carrying two rear panniers and a hydration back pack adding an extra 15-20 kilograms to the bike, depending on the amount of food we were carrying.

It was a memorable ADVENTURE with many challenges along the way, especially from Mundaring to Dandalup as you negotiate pea gravel (marble size pebbles) and climb in and out of several river crossings and dams. Remember after every uphill comes a downhill, ride carefully and don't be too proud to get off and walk.

My favourite section (if I had to choose) is Jinung Beigaup Camp Site (one of 12 purpose built camp sites) to Denmark. Heading south you get great views of the Southern Ocean as you descend a fast downhill bitumen section into William Bay National Park, arriving at Greens Pool which is a great spot for a swim to wash off the dust. I love this area as the Trail follows undulating, winding single track and quite country back roads which provide coastal and river views most of the way into Denmark.

My advice is to prepare and plan. Make sure you and your bike are fit (and up to the challenge) and avoid riding alone, find a friend to ride with!

This is a major challenge for anyone. 1000km can be as hard as you want by just reducing the number of day you take. Trail conditions vary significantly day by day from rocky technical riding to free flowing fire roads thru forests, sand, coastal runs etc. Lots of pubs on the way ensure a plentiful and fun way to break up the days. Bucket list for anyone that cannot and will not fail to satisfy. One word to sum this up is "Adventure"