Move over NZ, we have our own extreme sport capital

I'm on a bicycle hurtling down a steep and winding hill in the middle of a rainforest, heart pumping and mouth dry as I narrowly avoid roaring Mack trucks and sudden cliff drops.

Ever the huge wuss, my hands linger on the brakes, but I'm going fast enough that the shadows of the tall trees flicker like strobe lights as I whiz past waterfalls, rock faces and thick bushland.

This is what a real adrenaline rush feels like and you don't have to cross the Tasman to the extreme sports capital of Queenstown to experience it.

With beaches, rivers and rainforests the NSW Coffs Coast is Australia's own place to get plenty of action and adventure.

I'm doing the Dorrigo Free Fall bike ride which winds down Waterfall Way in Dorrigo National Park, near Bellingen, from 746 metres above sea level.

It takes less than half an hour to reach just five metres above sea level, but about two hours for my heart rate to return to normal.

This downhill mountain bike ride was created by Gary Eagles, who was inspired by a similar bike tour he discovered while travelling in Maui, Hawaii.

Gary, a burly and enthusiastic man who has lived and travelled in Antarctica, Asia, Europe and in the outback, humbly describes his thrillseeker level as "slight".

But I'm not sure I believe him as he leads the ride, barely touching the brakes.

His swift headstart doesn't mean other riders have to rush though, with Gary encouraging me and my travel companions to ride at our own pace - and to avoid looking at the steep ledges on the left.

A ute follows the pack of bicycles down the hill to ensure cars stay well away, allowing for thrills without any spills.