Bicycling Australia

[billy&clyde]

We are looking for a short tour from Sydney. We have approx 10 days. Wondering if we should go up or down the coast or do a loop. Any suggestions. This is a last minute change to our New Zealand trip so any quick info would be appreciated. Thanks

[Westinghouse]

I have considered doing a perimeter tour of Austraila, but I doubt I ever will. I did do some research on it though. It has been a long time since I looked into it. I think going north along the east coast highway would be alright. there is a book out about a guy who had gotten a divorce and did the perimeter by bicycle. I don't remember the name of the book. I read a good part of it.

[alfonso]

There’s a Lonely Planet guide to biking in Australia that sets out some suggested rides (http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Cycling-Australia-Guides/dp/1864501669/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233706802&sr=1-2), if you have time to get hold of it (and can afford its startlingly high price). I don’t know if you’re planning to camp or are looking for accommodation on the road; you will probably find tourist campsites in most places.

1. You can go north to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, a very well-known wine-making area and popular tourist area. Great food, great wine, pretty easy cycling. Easy(ish) to get out of Sydney along the Old Prince’s Highway and side roads through national parks.
2. You can go west from Sydney to the Blue Mountains. You can either take the train to Katoomba or Lithgow, an easy hour or so that will avoid a steep climb, or take Bell’s Line of Road to Katoomba. After that, go to places like Bathurst, Sofala, Kandos, Rylstone, Mudgee (great wine and food, excellent cycling), Gulgong. Stunning scenery. I recently did a supported tour in this area, loved it and would love to go back to do it in a more leisurely way.
3. You can go south-west through the Southern Highlands through Bowral, Moss Vale, Mittagong and Goulburn to Canberra – great scenery, wine and food; perhaps use Canberra or environs as a base for some day trips before returning – perhaps along the South Coast.
4. You can go south to Wollongong and beyond along the coast – stunning scenery and food. Going through the Royal National Park is a great start – unequalled scenery along the coast road. A short train trip will get you to the start, though the suburban riding is not too agonising. Possibly a bit tricky after Wollongong as the main road is a narrow heavily used highway – seeking out side roads might be worthwhile but will take some planning and navigation.

You can combine options 2 and 3 or 4 and 3. Good luck; let me know if I can help in other ways.

[rabbitoh]

My recommendation would be to do a loop to the south of Sydney, taking in the Royal National Park and the coast road as far as Wollongong and then onto Bombaderry, across through Kangaroo Valley, and then from the southern tablelands back up north to Sydney. Some climbing up out of Kangaroo Valley, but this ride offers a great variety of scenery. Time of year should not be too problematic, although it can get quite cold in the southern highlands in winter.

Of course, this loop can be done in the opposite direction, although there is substantially steeper climbing along Lawrence Hargraves Drive if you ride north out of Wollongong to Sydney.

As the previous poster has already advised, you can always take a short train ride to get you into or out of the centre of Sydney, which is the option I generally choose; and likewise, I would be only too happy to help out with further advice if you like.

[janetanorth]

i agree with alfonso-train up to katoomba in blue mtns, and tour vicinity. great wild camping in parks, breath-taking scenery, wonderful wildlife. prepare for intense sun and hungry bugs.