Adventures in Paradise By Earth and Ocean
An abundance of natural assets has spawned a genius idea for more accessible – and of course fun – adventure tourism, enthuses Helen Flanagan.
By Earth and Ocean offers anyone – yes, anyone – the opportunity to paddle calm waterways, ride scenic coastal trails and enjoy an amazing yet accessible outdoor experience.
The multi-award-winning, family-owned business is run by the affable and profoundly enthusiastic Ben de Vaus and Matt Watts. Their range includes southern Noosa Everglades kayaking for first-timers, easy cycling adventures and more rigorous full or multi-day rides.
Ben’s passion for mountain bike (MTB)coaching opened his eyes to the wealth of cycling options on his doorstep, especially in the Hinterland, which he says is totally different from the traditional bike park.
“It has an incredible network of trails, gravel roads, forests, farmland and small towns all connected for a genuine experience,” he says. “No riding laps or chasing technical trails, just more about adventure and exploration.”
Private tours are led by experienced MTB coaches, who tailor distance, terrain and difficulty to the group. Surfaces, scenery and enjoyment are all considered – because the experience should never feel like a survival exercise.
It is ideal for families, mixed-ability groups and those keen to explore without the confidence to head into unfamiliar trails alone. Experiences can be stepped up with longer distances, more technical terrain and bigger days.
For independent explorers, self-guided options include maps with GPS directions and spoken instructions can be loaded onto riders’ phones. Routes cater for mountain bikers and gravel riders, with transfers meaning you do not have to finish where you started.
A premium multi-day cycling experience covers more than 120km across two or three days that is tailored to the rider’s ability and can include accommodation options include Kin Kin Hotel, Mayan Farm and Pomona Eco Retreat, with luggage transfers available. All-star add-ons include a farm-to-plate degustation, massages, saunas, distillery visits and picnics. Ben is continually surprised and impressed by the hinterland.
“Variety abounds beyond the coast, from national parks, villages, rainforest, waterways, quiet back roads and trails, to wildlife, hills, and lookouts,” he says. “On a bike you cover enough distance to see the landscape change, however you’re still travelling slowly enough to notice nature. You will also see parts of the region you probably wouldn’t discover otherwise.
“It’s not about turning everyone into a hardcore mountain biker,” Ben says. “It’s more about making the region accessible to a wider range of people, from a family looking for an achievable adventure to independent explorers, high-end adventurers, or experienced riders looking for a new challenge. Above all it’s about matching the experience.”
Love to ‘ride’ on water too? Explore parts of the Noosa Everglades in stable, easy-to-use kayaks – perfect for wildlife spotting, calm-water paddling and discovering one of Australia’s unique natural landscapes.
