This guide breaks down the rules from the Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan (2016) and current Transport Victoria legislation focusing on e-bike use, closed gates and cycling access behind seasonal barriers.
What counts as a legal e-bike in Victoria?
Not every electric bike sold in Australia is legal to use on public roads or in national parks. In Victoria, e-bikes must meet specific requirements to be classed as a bicycle under transport law.
Legal e-bikes (what is allowed)
A legal e-bike in Victoria is known as a power-assisted bicycle and must meet all of the following conditions:
✅ Maximum motor power of 250 watts (Electrically Power Assisted Cycle).
✅ Pedal-assist only; the motor provides assistance only while you are pedalling.
✅ Motor assistance cuts out at 25 km/h.
✅ No throttle capable of powering the bike above 6 km/h (a low-speed walk-assist is permitted).
✅ Operates as a bicycle; no registration, licence or insurance required.
If an e-bike meets these criteria, it is treated the same as a conventional bicycle under Victorian road rules and Parks Victoria regulations.
Illegal e-bikes (what is not allowed)
The following do not qualify as bicycles in Victoria:
🚫 Motors exceeding 250 watts.
🚫 Throttle-controlled e-bikes that can propel the bike without pedalling (other than walk-assist).
🚫 Motor assistance beyond 25 km/h.
🚫 Modified or de-restricted e-bikes, including aftermarket kits that exceed legal limits.
These are considered unregistered motor vehicles, meaning they cannot be legally used on public roads, management vehicle tracks, or within national parks, even if they look like a bicycle.
Why this matters for hunters
Using a non-compliant e-bike can lead to fines, defect notices, or seizure of equipment. More importantly, illegal e-bike use risks damaging park values and drawing unwanted scrutiny that could threaten future access for hunters.
For full definitions and current guidance, visit:
Transport Victoria – Electric Bikes
https://transport.vic.gov.au/road-and-active-transport/active-transport/bicycles/electric-bikes
Where you can ride
Under the management plan, cycling (including compliant e-bikes) is permitted:
✅ On all open public roads.
✅ On Management Vehicle Only (MVO) tracks — except those in Wilderness and Reference Areas.
🚫 Not on off-track routes, or in Wilderness or Reference Areas.
⚠️ Subject to seasonal closures (usually June – October).
“Cycling is permitted on MVO tracks except those in Wilderness Areas and Reference Areas. Seasonal closures may apply to MVOs. Cycling is not permitted on seasonally closed tracks except as specified… Access is subject to no impact on park values and may be withdrawn without notice.”
— Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan, Parks Victoria (2016)
If a seasonal or temporary closure is in place, assume it’s closed to cycling — unless that track is specifically listed below.
Seasonal and MVO closures
Seasonal and management closures protect fragile alpine soils, prevent erosion and safeguard visitor safety. The plan allows some exceptions for cycling on certain closed tracks — detailed in Appendix 3.
“Cycling is permitted on selected seasonally closed tracks (Appendix 3) subject to protection of park values. … Withdraw access where impact on park values is noted.”
— Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan, p. 113
Appendix 3 – Cycling Access on Closed Roads
(Reproduced from the Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan, 2016)
• Cycling is permitted on open roads.
• Cycling is permitted on MVO tracks except those in Wilderness Areas and Reference Areas.
This access may be subject to seasonal closures applying to cycling on nearby tracks.
• Cycling is not permitted on seasonally closed tracks except as specified below.
Users should note that track suitability during closure periods cannot be guaranteed.
• Access is subject to no impact on park values and may be withdrawn without notice.
Area
Road / Track
Type of Closure
Permitted Cycle Access
Alpine NP – Mt Bogong
Mountain Creek Rd
Seasonal closure
All year
Alpine NP – Southern Alps
Howitt Road (from Gorge carpark to Howitt carpark)
Seasonal closure
All year
Wonnangatta Track (Dargo approach)
Seasonal closure
All year
Wonnangatta Track (Myrtleford approach)
Seasonal closure
All year
Alpine NP – Tingaringy
Tingaringy Track, Brown Break Track, Allan Track, Cameron Track, Rosendale Track, Laurie Track, Ingram Track, Boundary Track, Armstrong Track, Blackguard Gully Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Alpine – Buffalo Valley
West Buffalo Road
Seasonal closure
All year
Razor Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Harry Shepherds Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Penny Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Humffray River Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Whites Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Wonnangatta Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Rileys Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Alpine – Buckland Valley
Dingo Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Twins Jeep Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Mount Selwyn Summit Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Mount Murray North Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Rileys Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Water Spur Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Alpine – Ovens Valley
Twins Jeep Track (Mt St Bernard)
Seasonal closure
All year
Dinner Plain Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Mount Sugarloaf Track (Buckland Gap)
Seasonal closure
All year
Mount Sugarloaf Track (Gunns Track)
Seasonal closure
All year
Coach Road
Seasonal closure
All year
Stoney Tops Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Errinundra NP
Greens Road
Seasonal closure
All year
Errinundra Road
Seasonal closure
All year
BA Road
Seasonal closure
All year
Hensleigh Creek Road
Seasonal closure
All year
Goonmirk Rocks Road
Seasonal closure
All year
Mt Buffalo NP
Reservoir Road
Seasonal closure
All year
Lake Catani Campground Road
Seasonal closure
All year
Snowy River NP
Reeds Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Warbisco Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Deddick Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Rich Knob Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Waratah Flat Road
Seasonal closure
All year
B W Link
Seasonal closure
All year
Bowen Track
Seasonal closure
All year
Cycling is not permitted on other seasonally closed tracks.
— Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan, Appendix 3
Looking for more riding options?
Appendix 2 of the management plan lists shared walking and cycling tracks across the Greater Alpine National Parks network. It’s a useful reference for riders looking for additional legal, low-impact routes.
Key takeaways
For up-to-date information visit Parks Victoria’s seasonal road closures page:
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/get-into-nature/safety-in-nature/seasonal-road-closures
References
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