Cycling freindly Regional towns.

[martinjs]

Wagga Wagga, lots of cycling events and have good cycling infrastructure with more in the development stages.

I visited the Wagga Wagga region last weekend to check out some of the TSRs and lagoons on the northern floodplains of the Murrumbidgee River as potential places to visit and camp when cycle touring this coming Autumn. Over the last two years I've cycled a fair bit along the Murrumbidgee River visiting the Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves, from the Frost Plains of the Northern Alps, across the Yass Plains and the SW Slopes and now into the Eastern Riverena. The TSRs north of Wagga were some of the most beautiful that I have visited especially at Eunony Lagoon/Broman Lagoon.






Using the unformed roads and the traditional campsites on the TSRs is a most underutilized resource for touring cyclists. I have The Long Paddock, the atlas and directory of the TSRs in NSW ... which is a big help to finding these not often visited places.

I liked the flat roads on the floodplains which was something I haven't experienced for many years ... and I liked it. I saw many roadies enjoying the back roads north of Wagga Wagga. More riders on a weekend than I would see in Canberra.

Warren.

Great photo's

Martin

[WarrenH]

Martin, thank you. I'm pleased that you like the shots. Wagga Wagga was vibrant and prosperous with a lot of people out and about. The place was a real treat.

Adaminaby. Adaminaby although not a large town it certainly is a focus for touring cyclists on their way to entering the Southern ACT, when they are coming up through the mountains. Adaminaby is well positioned for riders coming into NSW from Corryong/Kahncobnan or heading north from Jindabyne ... and smart enough to avoid the Monaro Highway.

Adaminaby has a small shopping centre with excellent facilities for resupplying. The Spot supermarket has a good camping section in the back of the store and they stock both Isopropane and Isopropane Butane for Kovea style burners. There is also an excellent take-away. If you can time visiting on a Thursday morning for resupplying, there is fresh meat in the supermarket ... but its gone by mid afternoon.

Accommodation is good. There is the Snow Goose Hotel and the Alpine Caravan Park, has cabins. The caravan park has good kitchen facilities under awnings for campers.

I like Adaminaby. For fisher cyclists the place is great for buying those regionally and seasonally appropriate flies.

These guys were walking down the main street heading towards the Adaminaby Bowling and Sports Club. Obviously the locals know where to head ... and you (not ewes) can get a good feed there as well.




Warren.

[Farmer Elvis]

The quiet roads around Coonabarabran west through the warrumbungle national park really take some beating

[silkishuge]

Warragul in west Gippsland has a great bike culture. I've written about before on BNA. Daily group rides catering for all different levels. Heaps of participation. They have a very good outdoor velodrome. Two very good LBS's and great roads to ride on. Every style of riding is catered for from flat to ultrasteep road riding, MTB trails and Track. Great culture and great people.

+1 for Gippsland. I spent almost a year there living in a small town called Coronet Bay not far from Philip Island. Lots of nice rides around, friendly group riding on Saturday at Inverloch. Few cars, good drivers and good roads.
Off to Orange in a week and will report on riding in the area in a few weeks. From what I can see, it seems pretty good too.

Jon

[silentbutdeadly]

The quiet roads around Coonabarabran west through the warrumbungle national park really take some beating

Amen. Coonabarabran to Tooraweenah is a lovely road. Another fav is the run from Cudal to Eugowra along the Escort Way via Nangar National Park.

As for cycling towns, it is plus one's for Clare, SA and Mildura, Vic. But Clare wins because you can head north from there all the way to Blinman via the Mawson Trail...aftre you've done the Riesling Trail. That said though there is an informal trail system running upstream from Mildura on the Victorian side which'll take you almost all the way along the river to Robinvale...must do that one day , week, month...

[silkishuge]

The quiet roads around Coonabarabran west through the warrumbungle national park really take some beating

Another fav is the run from Cudal to Eugowra along the Escort Way via Nangar National Park.

i should give this route a go since it is at my doorstep. thanks mate

jon

[Farmer Elvis]

The quiet roads around Coonabarabran west through the warrumbungle national park really take some beating

Another fav is the run from Cudal to Eugowra along the Escort Way via Nangar National Park.

i should give this route a go since it is at my doorstep. thanks mate

jon

Send me a PM Jon and I'll try and go with you

[Parrott]

+1 to Mildura and Bendigo, top fellas in the cycling club in Mildura. Lived in Mildura for 5 years and now moved to Bendigo. Loving Bendigo with its hills and strong cycling scene, they are friendly here also and some bloody fast cyclists here.

[shann]

Wow, really surprised to see Mildura figuring so highly on this list - I guess that when I grew up there, I wasn't really looking at cycle paths. At least I know I'll have *something* to do when I go home next.

Karratha has some goodish MTB trails up in the hills behind it, and there is a local group who are building more. It's not much chop for road cycling at the moment though, with all the road works happening.

[Aushiker]

Karratha has some goodish MTB trails up in the hills behind it, and there is a local group who are building more. It's not much chop for road cycling at the moment though, with all the road works happening.

Sounds like I have made the right decision to skip it then on my Dreaming Tour. Have decided to turn at Port Hedland and head directly to Karijini now.

Andrew

[WyvernRH]

Well Dungog and Clarence Town are excellent places to cycle. They are in the Williams Valley just North of Newcastle in NSW.. Lots of small quiet back roads, mixture of rolling hills and valleys and great scenery. Nice cafes and pubs too! Also if you are more dirt inclined then there are the national parks and State Forests around Clarence Town and Dungog has a sigletrack MTB course set up on the Common (very not flat!) maintained and improved by the local MTB'ers.
Also of course Dungog hosts the 3-day Dungog Pedalfest annually on the first weekend September. Excellent organized rides, bushdance etc etc.
Cheers
Richard

[slowrider68]

The Barossa valley in south australia is becoming really good with new bike paths and lots of wineries and things to look at all in easy riding distances,and the network of mtb tracks appearing is not bad either.There is a few places to hire bikes from so no excuses about no wheels to look around on.It is reasonably flat going but there r a few hills to try if u like that sort of thing just watch the tour down under to see what i mean.The building of the latest bike track will take u from tanunda to lyndoch through the jacobs creek area and is very nice scenery wise with the chance to stop at a few wineries along the way.
cheers

[clackers]

The Barossa valley in south australia is becoming really good with new bike paths and lots of wineries and things to look at all in easy riding distances

Sounds good, Slowrider. My wife and I did some riding around McLaren Vale and the Fleuerieu Peninsula last year and that was great fun.

[WarrenH]

Here is a hint of commitment which could be viewed as being friendly in NSW ... http://www.bicycleinfo.nsw.gov.au/maps/cycleways.html

I notice that Oz's biggest country town Canberra, doesn't feature on this map ... including Canberra on this map would be embarrassing for all of NSW.

[Aushiker]

Carnamah supports cycling



and even puts on fireworks for visiting cycle tourists (photos taken from my campsite whilst I was in town)





G

Andrew

[DrJay]

The quiet roads around Coonabarabran west through the warrumbungle national park really take some beating

Another fav is the run from Cudal to Eugowra along the Escort Way via Nangar National Park.

i should give this route a go since it is at my doorstep. thanks mate

jon

Where are you at? I'm in Orange, but when I tried Cudal via Molong (nice ride) I terminally flatted on Peabody Road.

[silentbutdeadly]

Having just come back from Canowindra in Central West NSW...I am reminded how almost perfect this town is for cycling adventures. Centrally located in amongst a network of excellent sealed and unsealed roads with plenty of things to see and do and not much traffic to get in the way either. Lovely 50km loops in nearly every direction if you are prepared to hit some gravel - the run across Nanami Lane from the Long's Corner Road to the Nangar Road is a gravel highlight as is the run up the Kangarooby Valley from Gooloogong. Plenty of 100km loop potential such as Canowindra-Eugowra-Gooloogong-Canowindra and the Nangar Loop via Long's Corner Road, Escort Way and Eugowra/Nangar Road...and so many more.

The track up through Nangar NP is one for the gravel adventurers - it has just been re-graded and would be a hoot on fat tyres. Dead set hairy on the run back down. Great camping at the Terrara camp ground inside the park too.