CENTRAL WEST CYCLING TRAIL TOUR - AllTrails Bicycle Tours
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CENTRAL WEST CYCLING TRAIL TOUR T h e w oo d la n d s an d w h ea t l a nd s o f C e n t r a l W e s t N S W 4 – 12 Sep 2021 The Central West This newly established 400km cycle loop that meanders through the backroads of Central West NSW is bound to be a popular addition to the cycle tourist’s bucket list. It takes in well-known historic towns like Mudgee, Gulgong, Wellington and Dubbo, as well as many smaller hamlets along the way. This diverse region is known for wheat, wool and wine and was also part of the 19th century gold rush. The route has been designed to be a peaceful journey through the varied countryside on sealed and unsealed backroads. The locals, who have enthusiastically embraced the trail, are proudly welcoming cyclists to the region with old-fashioned hospitality. They have diversified their culinary offerings to cater to the new visitor group and menus now include healthy ‘cyclist food’ alongside traditional country pub-grub, wines and craft beers. We’ll make sure we don’t miss any of the off-bike attractions that the region is known for including visits to Western Plains Zoo, Old Dubbo Gaol, Royal Flying Doctor Visitor Experience and Wellington Caves. The Tour at a Glance Dates: 4-12 Sept 2021 (8 nights) Difficulty Rating: 5/10 Start: Mudgee Finish: Mudgee Distance: 406km approx Average Daily: 51km Bike Type: Hybrid, Touring or Gravel bike E-bike: Welcome. A great ride for an e-bike Group Size: Small group tour, approx 15-20 Accom: Quality Motels Meals: 8 breakfasts, 6 dinners Weather: September monthly avg approx 20 deg C Surface: Flat to undulating terrain. Sealed & unsealed roads, trails & bike paths. Roads (when applic): Quiet, local, bike-friendly backroads with very little traffic. One 16km Hwy section (optional). Don’t have a bike? No problem – we can source a hire bike for you (including pickup and return). Who is this tour for? Cyclists looking for a relaxing experience with low-traffic riding, great country scenery and time to enjoy other non-cycling highlights of the regions visited. Let us take care of everything so you can relax, ride and soak up the beauty of the surroundings.
Highlights • A cycling experience with full comfort & support • Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo • Serene landscapes and quiet roads • Royal Flying Doctor Visitor Experience & Old Gaol • Comfortable country accommodation • Wellington Caves Visit • Hearty country food, drink & hospitality • Homemade morning teas at Mayfield Homestead & • Optional Rest Day in Dubbo Wongarbon Post Office • Multiple night stays (minimal packing) • Small group camaraderie Join AllTrails in 2021 on NSW’s newest cycling route For those who prefer the quiet life, this 9-day tour will provide plenty of opportunity to immerse yourself in the countryside and enjoy the wildflowers and birdsong. You will cycle through pasture lands, treed nature-trails and the open plains. The ride criss-crosses waterways including the Macquarie River, Cudgegong River, Slap Dash Creek and other small tributaries over all manner of bridges. Take a step back in time as you roll through the small villages contrasted by 4 nights in the big smoke of Dubbo with all its attractions. A day’s cycling through the grounds of the Western Plains Zoo is sure to be a tour highlight! The tour loop will start and finish in Mudgee and to ensure suitable and best accommodation on some daily sections, the AllTrails crew will transfer cyclists to and from our start/finish points when required. We make the experience as smooth as possible, allowing cyclists to enjoy the scenery and charming townships by day, with quality food and accommodation by night.
Pricing AUD Until 31 Jan 2020 Until 30 Jun 2021 After 30 Jun 2021 Twin share $3350 pp $3450 pp $3550 pp Single room $3990 $4090 $4190 Included • All accommodation (8 nights) • Rider Pack: jersey, bottle, day-bag • Meals: 8 breakfasts, 6 dinners • Entry to Dubbo Western Plains Zoo - 2 day ticket • Snacks, water and fruit on the trails • Entry to Royal Flying Doctor Service Experience • Bike mechanical assistance • Entry to Dundullimal Homestead • Transfers to/from each days ride • Entry to Old Dubbo Gaol • Support & safety vehicles • Entry to Wellington Caves • Daily maps & directions • Morning Teas Mayfield Homestead & Wongarbon PO Payment Schedule • Deposit on booking ($400) • Progress Payment 30 days after deposit but not before Feb 2021 (40% of package cost, less deposit paid) • Balance 4 July 2021 (2 months before tour) Travelling on your own We often have cyclists come on our rides who are travelling alone. If so, you may pay the Single Supplement price to have your own room, or you can put your name on our ‘Twin Share Request List’ and we will pair you with another solo traveller of the same gender in twin share accommodation (if we have another similar request). There is a good chance that we will be able to partner you up with somebody else. If not, the single supp price will apply which will give you your own room for the entire tour. Contact us anytime to have a chat and check twin share availability – we may already have a match for you. Travelling with friends $50 pp discount for groups of 3 or more cyclists. Optional Extras Bike hire: We can arrange bike hire including collection and return (refer our separate Bike Hire FAQ). Pricing: Hybrid $390; E-Hybrid $390 Bike packaging carriage: Most cyclists travelling on a plane generally bring their bike in a cardboard bike carton. If you have a soft bike bag or hard case, we can carry them in our vehicles for the duration of the tour for the following fees: • Collapsible cardboard carton $0 • Soft foldable bike bag ($3/day) $24 • Hard case or unfoldable bag/carton ($5/day) $40 Transport from Sydney to Mudgee: In the AllTrails minibus, Sat 4 Sep & Sun 12 Sep. $50 each way. Long Term Parking – Mudgee: Free public car park behind the Mid Western Regional Council building (Short St) at owners risk.
Getting to and from the tour
Getting there
If utilising the AllTrails minibus from Sydney, our meeting place is Sydney Central Station on Sat 4 Sept,
departing early at 7:00am. We suggest arriving in Sydney on Fri 3 Sep if you can. For those wishing to drive to
Mudgee and spend some extra time in the region either before or after the tour, our Mudgee meeting place
is the free car park behind the Mid Western Regional Council building on Short St at 11:00am.
Going Home
The tour will officially disband on Sun 12 Sep after breakfast. The AllTrails minibus will depart Mudgee at
9:00am, arriving back at Sydney Central Station at approx. 1:00pm. If flying out of Sydney that day we suggest
flights after 4:00pm (and we recommend travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances).
Training for the tour
This is a moderate tour that is suitable for semi-regular cyclists with a reasonable level of fitness. You will not
necessarily need to be a fast rider, but consistent. A Hybrid, Touring or Gravel bike is considered the most
suitable style of bike for this tour and you will need to be comfortable riding on gravel surfaces. We do
suggest that road-centric cyclists try to get some off-road cycling exposure.
For training, cycling local roads (sealed and unsealed) and bike trails are good, or try to get out to a rail trail if
you have one nearby (or make a day trip of it). Aim to build your kilometres in training to be on the bike for
two days straight, covering approximately 50-60km each day.
We have a training schedule specific to this tour which we will send to you after you place your deposit,
however we are more than happy to send this to you earlier when you are considering the tour – just ask us
for a copy and we will get it out to you straight away.
Photo: Destination NSW
Photo: Amber Hooper
Photo: Destination NSW Photo: Destination NSW
Photo: Amber Hooper Photo: Destination NSW
Itinerary Daily distances are set out below. Shorter distances and support vehicle also available. Meals and Accommodation inclusions. Breakfast = B, Lunch = L, Dinner = D, Accommodation = A Cycling Location Distance Date Overnight B L D A Mudgee to Gulgong 30km Sat 4 Sep 2021 Gulgong - - D A Gulgong to Dunedoo 58km Sun 5 Sep 2021 Gulgong B - D A Dunedoo to Mendooran (opt short route 34km) 52km (or less) Mon 6 Sep 2021 Dubbo B - D A Mendooran to Ballimore 53km Tue 7 Sep 2021 Dubbo B - - A Dubbo Loop (optional rest day) 20km (opt) Wed 8 Sep 2021 Dubbo B - D A Ballimore to Dubbo 51km Thu 9 Sep 2021 Dubbo B - - A Dubbo to Wellington 64km Fri 10 Sep 2021 Wellington B - D A Wellington to Gulgong 78km Sat 11 Sep 2021 Mudgee B - D A Transfer to Sydney (optional extra) NA Sun 12 Sep 2021 Total Distance Cycled 406km 7 0 6 8 Average Daily Distance 51km Itinerary Details Pre-tour – Fri 3 Sep 2021 Day 0. If taking the AllTrails minibus transport from Sydney, we suggest arriving in Sydney the day before the tour departs to be ready for an early transfer the following morning. Mudgee to Gulgong - 30km - Sat 4 Sep 2021 - overnight Gulgong Day 1. This morning we will meet riders at Sydney Central Station and transfer by vehicle to Mudgee to rendezvous with those who have driven direct. After welcome, bike setup and lunch, we will ease our way into the tour with a leisurely ride to Gulgong (whose name is derived from the Wiradjuri word for deep waterhole). We will soon find ourselves on quiet roads meandering through pastoral lands as we follow the Cudgegong River. After crossing the Wilbetree Bridge, we’ll get our first taste of gravel, soon followed by gold mining landscapes as we close in on Gulgong which was founded in 1870 during the gold rush era. The town still features much of its 19th century character and you can spend the late afternoon strolling the town and perhaps visiting the Henry Lawson Museum, the Prince of Wales Opera House, the Pioneer Museum or check out the UNESCO listed gold rush photo collection at the Holtermann Museum. No need to rush to fit it all in though as today is only day 1 of our 2 night stay here. Tonight, we celebrate our first day on tour with a group dinner together. Gulgong to Dunedoo - 58km - Sun 5 Sep 2021 - overnight Gulgong Day 2. Ahh, bless your mess and head for the door this morning as there is no need to pack bags on a two-night stay! After a wholesome, cyclists’ breakfast we will roll out of town on quiet sealed roads for 15km before it turns to gravel on a lonely route which no longer carries traffic. This section follows the course of Slap Dash Creek and will require some caution as we navigate some occasional sandy surfaces, but we will be rewarded with a lovely trail that has several creek crossings and should offer some wildlife spotting opportunities. We will stop at Mayfield Homestead in Birriwa where the hosts will serve up a well-deserved morning tea of homemade treats (scones, yum!!). The remainder of today’s ride will be undulating terrain affording us some good long-distance rural views. There are plenty of options for lunch in the small village of Dunedoo (Aboriginal for swan), with various cafes to choose from as well as a bakery, a pie shop and a traditional country pub. We will transfer back to Gulgong (both physically and in time) for another night in this historical town. Dunedoo to Mendooran - 52km (optional short route 34km) - Mon 6 Sep 2021 - overnight Dubbo Day 3. After breakfast this morning we transfer back to Dunedoo to take up where we left off yesterday. Today’s route takes in more pastoral landscapes as well as some areas of denser bushland and there will be more pretty creek crossings to enjoy on our way to morning tea at the sleepy hollow of Wongoni. Our short route option will finish here for those who wish to save their legs and for those who may not wish to ride the next 16km of Highway to the edge of the small town of Mendooran, the oldest settlement on the Castlereagh River. There are many murals on the town’s buildings depicting the lives of the early settlers to the region. Once again there is a great choice for lunch and while the local Distillery may not serve food, we’re sure you’ll find something there you’ll like. From Mendooran, we will transfer to our home for the next 4 nights in Dubbo, the biggest city of our tour, where we will take an afternoon trip to the Royal Flying Doctor Visitor Experience to see how this amazing organisation does its vital work.
Itinerary Details cont.
Mendooran to Ballimore - 53km - Tue 7 Sep 2021 - overnight Dubbo
Day 4. There will be no bag packing this morning as we return to Dubbo this afternoon. Much of today’s ride will be remote, as we take
you through the Goonoo State Forest with its reward of eucalypts, cypress and casuarina providing habitat for mallee fowl, black
cockatoos and lizards. A great opportunity to lose yourself in nature and serenity (figuratively, not physically). Have some lunch on
arrival in Ballimore at the ‘Hair of the Dog Inn’ before we transfer back to Dubbo in the afternoon and pay a visit to the Heritage listed
Old Dubbo Gaol. Dinner is on your own tonight, so have a wander and see where your nose leads you.
Dubbo Loop (optional rest day) - 20km - Wed 8 Sep 2021 - overnight Dubbo
Day 5. Have a bit of a sleep in and an extra coffee this morning as today is a very relaxed day. We will be riding a lovely loop of Dubbo
which meanders along a bike path close to the Macquarie River. We will make a stop at Dundullimal Homestead which was established
by squatters before Dubbo even existed. Continue a further 1.5km to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo where you can cycle, walk or take
a safari cart at your leisure through the grounds of this open range sanctuary. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to spend as you
like. Shopping, dining, exploring or just relaxing. Today is also an opportunity to take a rest day from the bike altogether if you wish and
make your own plans.
Ballimore to Dubbo - 51km - Thu 9 Sep 2021 - overnight Dubbo
Day 6. This morning we will transfer back to Ballimore to complete the route from there into Dubbo. We will pass through Wongarbon
in the morning where we will stop for another homemade morning tea at the Wongarbon Post Office, which is becoming known
among passing cyclists for its perfect scones (yum, yum, more scones!!). After completing the ride to Dubbo you may wish to take
advantage of your 2-day Taronga Western Plains Zoo pass for some more time in this excellent facility. Dinner will be on your own again
tonight which provides a great last opportunity to visit anything you may have missed in Dubbo before our 4-night stay comes to an
end.
Dubbo to Wellington - 64km - Fri 10 Sep 2021 – overnight Wellington
Day 7. Pack your bags this morning, we’re moving out! We will re-trace our steps back to Wongarbon this morning before continuing
on towards Wellington. A climb up Red Hill Road will be rewarded with magnificent views across the western plains before we descend
into the village of Geurie to regroup at morning tea. The second leg into Wellington will take us across the Macquarie River via an old
timber truss bridge. On arrival in Wellington we will transfer by vehicle to visit the stunning Wellington Caves, where megafauna fossils
(including a giant kangaroo) were unearthed in 1830, attracting the attention of Charles Darwin.
Wellington to Gulgong - 78km - Sat 11 Sep 2021 - overnight Mudgee
Day 8. Your final ride today will be the longest, but you will be so fit by now you won’t even notice! The final section of the loop will
pass through small villages at Goolma and Beryl, along the Cudgegong River and a large solar farm. Our finish in Gulgong will be a return
to familiar surrounds, so you will have no problems in knowing where the locals go for the best lunch in town. We will transfer to the
larger centre of Mudgee, for our final night of accommodation and our very special farewell group dinner (tip – wear loose pants).
Transfer to Sydney - Sun 12 Sep 2021
Day 9. After our last breakfast as a group, we say our goodbyes… parting is such sweet sorrow. Those on the AllTrails minibus will
depart at 9am for arrival at Sydney Central Station at approx. 1pm. For anyone with a car in Mudgee you can of course wave goodbye
from your dreams as you have a sleep in and continue to enjoy the attractions of the stunning Central West.
Photo: Destination NSW
Frequently asked Questions Feel free to contact us at any time through our website ‘Contact Us’ page, phone or email if your question is not answered here. What about COVID-19? Please see our separate website page and our temporary Coronavirus Terms & Conditions document for the latest on this. What sort of bike do I need? Just a regular hybrid, touring or gravel bike is best for this tour. As there is a mix of sealed and unsealed roads, tyre selection will be important and we strongly recommend good semi off-road tyres. Tubeless tyres with puncture sealant would be particularly useful (against Three Corner Jacks) or alternatively for those with tubular tyres, the use of ‘Slime’ tubes will be a very wise choice. A hardtail MTB could be ridden but will be slow and heavy on sealed roads. Again, tyre selection will be important if considering a MTB and we would definitely not recommend use of full off-road tyres. There is no terrain where full suspension is required. Do I need to be an experienced off-road rider? You don’t need to be an off-road specialist or have any MTB experience, although you will need to be comfortable riding on uneven gravel surfaces. We do suggest that road-centric cyclists make an effort to do some training off-road (see ‘training’ information). There are small variations of difficulty from day to day, however the vast majority are an easy grade. Anything perceived otherwise is always optional. Sharing rooms – how does it work On your entry form you can nominate any travelling companions who you would like to share a room with or be accommodated near-by, and also request a double bed or twin (separate) beds. If you are travelling alone like many of our customers, a Single Supplement price is available for those who would like their own room for the whole trip. On some tours you can also choose to ‘twin share’ where single customers are paired with others of the same gender (often changed during the tour to allow solo travellers to meet other solo travellers). On other tours you may need to put your name down on a Twin Share Request List and we will try to match you up. Twin share travellers will share a room with one other solo twin share cyclist or crew member, however in some cases we may have larger rooms (eg. two- bedroom apartment or a B&B/house with multiple bathrooms) where we may have 3 or more solo twin share travellers together. If you are a snorer or have other habits that may affect a roommate, we ask that you book your own room at the Single Supplement price. Snorers can enjoy their own room If you are a chronic snorer, early riser or have other habits that may affect your fellow roommates we suggest booking your own room (single supplement cost). This is not just a courtesy to your fellow travelling companions but will also give you the space and privacy you need to enjoy your sleep after a long day on the bike. Carrying personal items on the bike We suggest you carry a spare tube, a full water bottle and your own personal goods such as phone, money and rain gear, on your bike with you. We transport your luggage, drawstring day bags, food & extra water. A more detailed list of things to bring and not bring is on our ‘Tour Preparation Guide’ which is sent out to you before the ride. Meals and food Always a big part of any cycling holiday! Check tour details for meal inclusions on your ride. Our emphasis is on fresh food and balanced diet with plenty of carbohydrates, proteins, fruit and vegies catering for a cycling holiday. We successfully cater to most dietary requirements, however feel free to contact us with any questions. Some meals are included as part of this tour; however you will be required to purchase some meals. Speak to a past client We are happy to give you the names and telephone numbers of people who have participated in the ride or a similar ride to the one which you are considering. Where possible we will provide you with the details of someone within your state. Another good place to look is our ‘Testimonials’ page. Changing or cancelling a tour Should you wish to change your booking with AllTrails to a different tour, there will be a very reasonable service charge. We try to keep this figure as low as possible to allow flexibility where we can as we want to make sure that you get on the right tour for you. If you need to cancel your tour, a travel insurance policy will cover cancellation fees due to most unforeseen events. This is why we provide links to travel insurance options and highly recommend that you investigate and purchase travel insurance for all our rides (including Australian domestic tours) at the time of deposit and ensure that it includes coverage for cancellation fees if for some reason you are not able to travel (see Travel Insurance FAQ). For our international tours we require all participants to have Travel Insurance to assist you in the event of a medical emergency, lost baggage, personal liability, cancelled tour or other trip-related issues. For cancellation and refund policies for your tour click the ‘Book This Tour’ button on the relevant tour page of our website. What sorts of people join our tours? People from all parts of Australia and some overseas guests. Ages generally range from 35-85 with the average age about 50-65 years old. Adventurous cyclists usually about 40% women & 60% men with a mix of singles, friends and couples. Non-riding partners and part-time cyclists We realise that often our riders want to spend their holidays with loved ones who may not be a keen cyclist as they are - we are happy to accommodate non-riding partners and part-timers who only want to ride part of each day, or only certain days. We will generally try to allocate pickup points along the route every day. The entry price will be the same for part-time riders, while non-rider prices will be dependent on their tour plan.
Frequently asked Questions cont.
Support vehicle
Our support vehicle is there to support the tour and to pick up riders who need to jump in for any reason. The bus is also sometimes used for part-time
riders who only ride certain sections of each day. Note that on this tour there could be times when the support vehicle cannot get to a cyclist (for
example if the cyclists is on a rail trail section with no vehicle access). We won’t leave you stranded though! We’ll work out the closest point to meet
you and even ride in on a bike to meet you if required.
Bike mechanical assistance provided
A staff member with good bike mechanical knowledge will be part of our crew and will have a stand pump for different valves. We will have limited
parts available for replacement which will be charged at shop prices. Labour is free for the first fifteen minutes, there after costs may be incurred at the
mechanic’s discretion. Cyclists with rare or different bikes are asked to contact us at AllTrails as parts can often be difficult to obtain. We also ask that all
cyclists have a maintenance check done on their bike at a bike shop before the tour. In particular because not all cycling routes will have vehicle access
for our mechanic to attend breakdowns. Do whatever you can to reduce the chance of mechanical failure on tour. A stitch in time…
Packing tips
We recommend you bring a soft bag or backpack if possible, rather than a suitcase which can be bulky, difficult to stow on board vehicles and heavy.
You may be required to lift or carry your own luggage from time to time, e.g. into accommodation. We expect your bag to be no heavier than 15kg,
making it easy to manage for you and the staff. Any excess luggage may need to be stored or forwarded on to your destination at your own expense.
Information about what to pack is included as part of your pre-departure information. Generally, we advise that you pack as light as possible.
Weather
We can’t control the weather, however our tours are scheduled taking into consideration the best times of year to travel to tour destinations. This
considers the temperate range, possible rainfall, and the prevailing winds. For more specific weather and climate information visit the bureau of
meteorology or for our international tours visit world weather.
IMPORTANT - Insurance
Obtaining appropriate insurance is your (very important) responsibility.
Travel Insurance, even for trips within Australia
• When you consider the cost of cancelling your tour if something goes wrong before or during your travel, insurance is good protection.
• International travellers should always have a comprehensive travel insurance.
• You should also have travel insurance for domestic travel - usually considerably cheaper than international.
• Purchase your travel insurance as soon as you have booked your tour and your travel – don’t wait until just before you go.
• Some credit card travel insurances do not apply to domestic Australian travel – check with your provider.
• There are lots of travel insurance providers – cyclists should do their own research to ensure they are covered adequately.
• Some travel insurance providers are currently not issuing new policies due to COVID-19 however some are. Here are a couple of starting points for
your research:
travelwithkit.com
comparethemarket.com.au
Cyclist insurance for accidents and medical
Cyclist Insurance is different to Travel Insurance and is often included as part of cycling memberships such as Bicycle Network or Bicycle Queensland or
can be bought separately. Cycling can be a dangerous activity and you should be prepared for the worst. If you have an accident in training for the tour
or on the tour itself cyclist insurance can help with medical, income protection and third-party coverage.
Terms and Conditions
Full terms and conditions for each ride are available by clicking the ‘Book This Tour’ button on our website page for
this tour. These terms and conditions will also be sent to you with your confirmation email after booking.
Why book with us?
We only run 10-15 tours per year, always adding fresh destinations each year. This makes every tour as
special to us as it is to you because we are not operating the same rides repeatedly week-in week-out and
we are just as excited to be there as you. On most occasions the owner-operators of the business will be on
tour with you and the reassurance that comes with that is one of many great reasons to have confidence in
booking your cycling holiday with us.
We are a proud Australian-owned company, with the privilege of taking cyclists to the small towns and
communities all over the country, supporting regional economies and offering cyclists the opportunity to
experience the hospitality of Australia outside the big cities. We have earned a top reputation in the cycle
tour industry through hard work, dedication and genuine care for every person on every tour. Our
longevity in the industry and large community of loyal AllTrails clients who keep coming back year after
year are testament to the high standard of tours that we provide. We consider ourselves the best in the
business and we always make sure that our tours represent a high-quality product at a fair price.
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