Cycling in Australia
AusPlay participation figures for cycling, and 3,068 cycle routes and trails to find by suburb, postcode or state.
- people aged 15+ went cycling in 2025
- 1.88m
- of people aged 15+
- 8.3%
- participants since 2024within the margin of error
- −29k
Find cycle routes near you
3,068 cycle routes and trails listed
Cycle Routes by State and Territory
3,068 cycle routes and trails listed across 8 states and territories
Cycling Participation in Australia
- people aged 15 and over went cycling in 2025Margin of error about 69,000 either way
- 1.88million
- of people aged 15 and over, at least once in the 12 months
- 8.3%
- children aged 0 to 14 in organised cycling outside school hours1.7% of children aged 0 to 14
- 80,000
- people aged 15 and over took part through a club, centre or other organiser1.0% of people aged 15 and over
- 221,000
2024 to 2025, aged 15 and over
- 2024
- 1.91 million participants, 8.6% of people aged 15 and over
- 2025
- 1.88 million participants, 8.3% of people aged 15 and over
The 2025 estimate is 29,000 lower than 2024. The difference is within the combined margin of error of the two estimates.
By age, the rate was highest among people aged 55 to 64 (11.9%). By state, the highest published rate was Australian Capital Territory (14.0%). State estimates have wider margins of error than the national estimate.
By state and territory, 2025
| State | Aged 15+ rate | PeopleAged 15+ participants | Children 0 to 14 (organised) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 7.0% | 492,000 | 25,000 (1.6%) |
| Victoria | 9.0% | 526,000 | 21,000 (1.7%) |
| Queensland | 7.6% | 352,000 | 14,000 (1.4%) |
| Western Australia | 10.3% | 255,000 | 7,900 (1.5%)* |
| South Australia | 8.4% | 132,000 | 7,100 (2.3%)* |
| Tasmania | 9.1% | 44,000 | Not published |
| Australian Capital Territory | 14.0% | 56,000 | 1,900 (2.2%)* |
| Northern Territory | 9.9% | 21,000 | 2,300 (4.3%)* |
Who organised it, aged 15 and over
- Gym / fitness club / sports / leisure centre43,000
- Sports club or association41,000
- Recreation club or association32,000
- Individual personal trainer or coach21,000
- Private or commercial business21,000
- Educational institution11,000
Source: Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay, January to December 2025, released 30 April 2026. Category: Cycling. * Flagged for caution by AusPlay. A person can take part through more than one type of organiser. About the data
Calories Burned Cycling
| Activity | MET | 30 min at 70 kg | 60 min at 70 kg | 60 min at 85 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cycling (leisure, <16 km/h) | 4 | 586 kJ | 1,172 kJ | 1,423 kJ |
| Cycling (moderate, 16-19 km/h) | 6.8 | 996 kJ | 1,992 kJ | 2,418 kJ |
| Cycling (vigorous, 19-22 km/h) | 8 | 1,172 kJ | 2,343 kJ | 2,845 kJ |
383 calories (kcal)
Cycling (moderate, 16-19 km/h), 75 kg, 45 minutes
Find Cycle Routes Around Australia
- Cycle Routes in Sydney466
- Cycle Routes in Newcastle60
- Cycle Routes in Wollongong21
- Other areas117
- Cycle Routes in Melbourne282
- Cycle Routes in Geelong10
- Cycle Routes in Bendigo9
- Other areas244
- Cycle Routes in Brisbane388
- Cycle Routes in Sunshine Coast43
- Cycle Routes in Gold Coast39
- Other areas102
- Cycle Routes in Darwin106
- Regional NT2
Related Activities
Cycling: Questions and Figures
How many Australians go cycling?
An estimated 1.88 million people aged 15 and over went cycling at least once in 2025, which is 8.3% of that age group. Source: Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay, released 30 April 2026.
Which state has the highest cycling participation rate?
In AusPlay 2025, Australian Capital Territory had the highest published rate for Cycling among people aged 15 and over, at 14.0%. State estimates have wider margins of error than the national estimate.
How many calories does cycling burn?
Using the MET formula (MET x body weight in kg x hours), a 75 kg person doing "Cycling (moderate, 16-19 km/h)" (MET 6.8) for 60 minutes uses about 2,134 kJ (510 calories). The figure changes with body weight, intensity and time.
About the Data
- Participation source
- Australian Sports Commission, AusPlay, a national survey. AusPlay method
- Reference period
- January to December 2025, released 30 April 2026.
- Who is counted
- People aged 15 and over who took part at least once in the 12 months. Children aged 0 to 14 are counted for organised activity outside school hours only.
- Reporting category
- Cycling.
Figures are survey estimates and are shown rounded. * marks an estimate AusPlay flags for caution (relative margin of error between 50% and 100%). Estimates AusPlay marks as too unreliable to use are not published here. AusPlay moved from telephone to online collection in July 2023. The Australian Sports Commission states that results from July 2023 are not directly comparable with earlier results. These pages use the online series only, and year-on-year figures come from the release's own comparison table. Energy figures use MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities: energy (kJ) = MET x body weight (kg) x hours x 4.184. They are averages for an activity, so a person's own figure varies with fitness and effort.