The short answer
- Better By Bike’s three-hour evening tour picks you up, rides 5 km at dusk and walks the 520-metre Burringbar Range tunnel by glow-worm light. See the tour →
- Ages 8 and up. You need to manage an e-bike. See who it suits →
- Prefer daylight? The same operator rides the same tunnel on a distillery lunch tour. See the daytime version →
What happens on the tour
Better By Bike collects you from your accommodation by shuttle and drives about 25 minutes north of Byron to Burringbar. You are fitted to an e-bike, given operating instructions, and set off along the trail at dusk. The bikes have mounted lights, gel seats and suspension, and panniers for your things; helmets are supplied.
The ride to the tunnel is 5 km through hinterland and native temperate rainforest, with a chance of nocturnal wildlife along the trail edges. At the tunnel it is lights out. You walk the whole 520 metres to the far end with only the glow worms to see by, while the guide explains the life of a glow worm, the microbats that live in the tunnel, and the tunnel’s railway history.
You walk back through the tunnel, ride a gentle downhill run to the vehicle, and are dropped back at your accommodation. The whole tour takes three hours. Food and drinks are not included.
Evening glow-worm e-bike tour
Check the pickup time (it is set by sunset), the minimum age of 8, and wear closed-toe shoes.
See itinerary and dates on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Who it suits
The listing sets a minimum age of 8. You ride an e-bike, so you need to be comfortable on a bike; the return leg is a gentle downhill. The tunnel walk is in near darkness for about a kilometre in total, there and back, which is worth knowing for anyone uneasy in the dark or in enclosed spaces.
It works well as an evening after a day at the beach, and it is one of the few tours here that runs after dark. For families with children under 8, the Brunswick River sunset kayak takes ages 3 and up.
What to bring
The listing asks for water and closed-toe shoes. Bring a light jacket for the evening, and leave the phone torch off in the tunnel; the guide will ask for lights out so the glow worms can be seen. Insect repellent is sensible on a rainforest trail at dusk.
The daytime version
Better By Bike also runs a seven-hour day on the same rail trail: a van transfer to Murwillumbah, a two-hour self-guided e-bike ride through hinterland and rainforest and through the tunnel (its listing gives 524 metres) to Burringbar, then Husk Farm Distillery for a welcome drink, a seven-spirit guided tasting, a behind-the-scenes tour and a three-course lunch with views of Mount Wollumbin.
Transfers come from Gold Coast, Byron Bay and Tweed Coast accommodation within about 15 km. It is adults-only (18 and over), and you must be able to ride a bike. You will pass through the tunnel in daylight, so this is the rail trail and lunch rather than a glow-worm tour.
Rail-trail e-bike ride, Husk Distillery tasting and lunch
Adults only. Check your pickup is within the transfer area and that you are confident on a bike.
See itinerary and dates on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Our brewery and distillery tours guide compares it with a brewery day.
Other evenings out
For something calmer after dark, adults can take the M.V. Jasmine sunset cruise on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab) on the Brunswick River. Couples should see ideas for couples.
Questions people ask
Are the glow worms there every night?
The listing describes thousands of glow worms in the tunnel and does not mention a season. Ask the operator if your date matters.
Can you take photos of glow worms?
The listing does not say. Expect the guide to ask for lights off in the tunnel, which rules out flash.
Is it a hard ride?
It is 5 km each way on an e-bike, with a downhill return. Ask the operator if anyone has not ridden in a while.
Where else should I go in the hinterland?
Before you book: the glow-worm checklist
- Is everyone 8 or older?
- Is everyone comfortable on an e-bike?
- Is anyone uneasy in the dark or in a tunnel?
- Do you have closed-toe shoes, water and a light jacket?
- Have you confirmed the pickup time and place?
Your shortlist
Open a listing in a new tab and check its itinerary, suitability and inclusions against the checklist above.
- Evening, glow worms, 8 and up: Glow-worm e-bike tour on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- Daytime ride and distillery lunch, adults: E-bike and Husk Distillery on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- Calmer evening, adults: M.V. Jasmine sunset cruise on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)