TWO leading mountain biking journalists have given their ticks of approval for Hollybank's new bike park, due to be opened early next month.
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Chris Southwood and Mick Ross, founders of Flow Mountain Bike, were given special access to the 20-kilometre stretch yesterday after flying in from Sydney.
The track features three trails, all with their own difficulty rating, throughout Hollybank's cool climate forest.
Mr Southwood and Mr Ross, who have ridden and critiqued mountain bike tracks across the globe called the facility "world class" and touted the state's North for a mountain biking boom in the coming months.
"This place has a lot going for it," Mr Southwood said.
"It's proximity to Launceston is a big plus and the surrounding facilities means it is going to be really friendly for families as well - not just people coming for the riding."
Around $800,000 has gone into the development and Mr Southwood said it had been money and time well spent for the Northern Tasmanian community.
"With what is going on here and what is going on in the whole north-east corner with mountain biking, I think Tassie and this north-east corner are going to be the next big things for mountain biking in Australia."
"It 100 per cent has tourism potential.
"People won't just come here, they will come to ride all over Tassie as well - this is one piece of a puzzle. But because it is so close to Launceston, it will likely be the first cab off the rank for people when they come to the state."
The Hollybank Bike Park will officially be opened to the public on Saturday, October 4.