Posts Tagged ‘Australia’

Day 3. 90km. Tarana – Newbridge

Posted: October 14, 2020 in Australia, Cycling, NSW
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It was a cycle through the dark, and then up the very well maintained stairs in the first morning light to the jumble of massive boulders on the top. Lots of gaps and holes to crawl through. Lots to explore next time.

Evans Crown

Evans Crown


Matt the cyclist I met in Leura gave me a tip. While in Tarana, go to Evans Crown at sunrise. I watched the sun poke above the opposite hill as I sat on one of the boulders perched above the valley. Spectacular.

Evans Crown

Evans Crown

Evans Crown

Evans Crown


At 8:30 I finally left Tarana and followed a creek and the train line, climbing up over hills where there train line skirted around the edge. It was a beautiful, peaceful road, super lush and green. Peaceful except for the magpies that squarked and swooped. Nothing like yesterday’s attempt at my eyes though.

The road to Bathurst

The road to Bathurst

The road to Bathurst

The road to Bathurst

The road to Bathurst

The road to Bathurst


The pub in Newbridge is being renovated. No rooms. No food. They have beer though. Had a nice chat with Bob. I’m cycling through a massive volcano crater that stretches from Parkes to Bathurst, apparently. Learn something new every day. 🙂

The pub at Newbridge

The pub at Newbridge

Day 2. 77km. Leura – Tarana

Posted: October 13, 2020 in Australia, Cycling, NSW
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When I hear a snap I know its another magpie crashing into my helmet. One even tried his best to get behind my sunglasses brushing my face with a ruffle of feathers. Today was a hilly affair through some beautiful county.

One of the hills

One of the hills

It was goodbye to my friends in Leura this morning as I headed off into adventure. Its always great spending a weekend with them chatting and sitting in front of their beautiful outside fireplace.

Leaving Leura

Leaving Leura

I had gone all of 1km when I ran into 2 cyclists on racing bikes. Being locals, they know the lay of the land, and what was before me. They warned that it was steep and hilly, and it was. I rushed down the hill to Hartley Vale and rolled through the rich green fields. You can tell that it has rained a lot and everything looks so vibrant. The local pub in Hartley Vale looked rustic and well maintained, but closed. The climb out to Lithgow was a killer for my untrained legs.

Hartley Vale

Hartley Vale

Hartley Vale

Hartley Vale

I’m camping in the little village of Tarana and having a huge meal in the pub. These hills make you hungry.

Spot my tent

Spot my tent

Sunset at Tarana

Sunset at Tarana

Day 1. 105km. Wolli Creek – Leura

Posted: October 12, 2020 in Australia, Cycling, NSW
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Kookaburras and cicadas. Starting a cycle tour from my front door rather than catching a plane to a faraway destination means the sounds are familiar. Kookaburras laughed all through the day. The cicadas chirped.

The cicadas chirped

The cicadas chirped

Today I cheated. I pulled myself and my bike up to 900m altitude. My partner took my luggage in the car. My new COVID body isn’t what it was. I don’t cycle to work every day and I didn’t want the day 1 muscle cramp I always get make me abort day 1. So I cheated.

Today was an early start, along the beautiful Cooks River bike trail in the dark, through the Rookwood Cemetery at dawn, and past the impressive Auburn mosque in the early morning light.

Cooks River in the dark

Cooks River in the dark

Rookwood Cemetry

Rookwood Cemetry

Auburn Mosque

Auburn Mosque

Then it was the main road to the bottom of the Blue Mountains, and mostly sides streets up to Leura where I spent the afternoon with friends in their beautiful garden, bursting with colour in the glorious sun. Thanks Stephen, Felix and Aaron for the wonderful end to day 1 of ‘Route de NSW’. Now the hard part starts – with luggage.

A burst of colour

A burst of colour

Thanks for the great evening!

Thanks for the great evening!

 

Outback New South Wales – Touring cycling during COVID-19

Posted: August 21, 2020 in Australia, Cycling
Tags: ,
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Touring cycling in 2020 is not the same. Thanks to COVID-19 much of the world has closed its borders, and few countries as extreme as Australia. Australians are not allowed to leave the country without an exemption from the Government, and most of the state borders are closed. Yearning for my favourite landscapes of bleak nothingness, this year I am staying close to home. This year I’ll be exploring the back blocks of outback New South Wales.

I have put together a rough itinerary based on a few things I have found in the internet. All comments and suggestions are welcome.

  • Aussievelo. Like the Eurovelo long-distance cycle touring network, I found a naissant Australian version of it. I am planning to follow Aussievelo 4 from Sydney to Adelaide as far as Broken Hill.
  • Lake Mungo and the Great Wall of China. Surreal desert rock formations.
  • Menindee Lakes: Visited by famous Australian explorers Burke and Wills.
  • Red Hill Hotel: While googling outback NSW I found this hotel that’s not a hotel in a secret location. Let’s see if I can find it.
  • Cameron Corner: To top-left corner of NSW, where it borders South Australia and Queensland. There’s a little pub in Queensland there.
  • The Cut Line: As remote as it gets in NSW – a dirt track through endless nothingness. Perfect!
  • Bourke: Never been there. Hearing the name brings up images of the outback.

Desert shadow

Desert shadow

The final test – everything works!

Posted: August 18, 2019 in Australia, Cycling
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It was a camping expedition – not so much of a cycle. Train to Lithgow. Short cycle. Test the drone. Test the stove. Test the tent. Test the sleeping bag.

Lost city is spectacular and it was a beautiful evening. The equipment works – although I rushed home to buy a warmer down jacket. 🙂 Now I am ready for Chile and Bolivia.

Bikes and Canyons #3: Grand Canyon

Posted: July 13, 2019 in Australia, Canyoning, Cycling
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The Grand Canyon walk in the Blue Mountains is a very popular 3-4 hour walk. What fewer people know are the little side trips deep into the gorge, away from the hoards and into the bosom of nature.

The start of the trip is a short cycle from Blackheath station in the Blue Mountains.

Start: Blackheath Station
End: Blackheath Station
Total distance: 20km
Strava link

At the start of the Grand Canyon walk

At the start of the Grand Canyon walk

The main path drops down into the valley. At two points, rather than following the sign to the canyon walk, go in the opposite direction upstream. It is beautiful.

Upstream in the Grand Canyon

Upstream in the Grand Canyon

The light penetrates into the Grand Canyon

The light penetrates into the Grand Canyon

A bit of scrambling over logs

A bit of scrambling over logs

You can only get so far going upstream until a swim is required. Being a bloody cold day, I made this the end of my little foray.

A cold dip

A cold dip

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

Bikes and Hikes #3: Jump Rock and Clover Falls

Posted: June 20, 2019 in Australia, Cycling, Hiking
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The days are getting very short and winter is setting in. Jump Rock was on the menu today – a beautiful spot on the Macquarie Creek where the water tumbles over some rocks into a little pool – ideal for jumping in the summer. Then I cycled further up the creek past Clover Hill to a series of waterfalls, ending in Clover Falls.

Start: Albion Park Station
End: Albion Park Station
Total distance: 50km
Strava link

A short ride from Albion Park station up towards the Macquarie Pass.

The road to Macquarie Pass

The road to Macquarie Pass

Then a little hiking trail following the Macquarie Creek up towards Jump Rock.

Towards Jump Rock

Towards Jump Rock

Jump Rock

Jump Rock

Jump Rock

Jump Rock

Then, a little further upstream, is the path that passes an old clearing and an abandoned house on Clover Hill.

Towards Clover Hill

Towards Clover Hill

Towards Clover Hill

Towards Clover Hill

Clover Hill

Clover Hill

From the ruin at Clover Hill

From the ruin at Clover Hill

After Clover Hill the path returns to the Macquarie Creek and past a few waterfalls. The last one – Clover Falls – takes a bit of scrambling to reach. Well worth it though.

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls

Clover Falls

Clover Falls

Bikes and Hikes #2: Mermaids Pool

Posted: June 4, 2019 in Australia, Cycling, Hiking
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With the Blue Mountains trains not running due to track works, I decided to venture south again, cycle 6km from Tahmoor station and spend the day walking to Mermaids Pool and through the Bargo Gorge. Catching the first train in the morning meant that I had the whole beautiful gorge to myself.

Start: Tahmoor Station
End: Tahmoor Station
Total distance: 20km
Strava link

It is a fairly easy walk along the valley, and sometimes above it, to the beautiful Mermaids Pool. The fresh cool water slips over flat slabs of rock and over a waterfall down to the pool below.

The Bargo River just after sunrise

The Bargo River just after sunrise

Sink hole

Sink hole

Rocks in the sun

Rocks in the sun

Don't jump

Don’t jump

Mermaids Pool

Mermaids Pool

Mermaids Pool

Mermaids Pool

After the pool there is a loop path that ventures further downstream through the Bargo River Gorge. With vertical cliffs on either side, beautiful flat rocks and clear water slipping through the gorge, it was a beautiful walk in the early morning light.

Bargo Gorge

Bargo Gorge

Bargo Gorge

Bargo Gorge

There was no chance of getting lost or slipping on a descent. There were guide ropes at any slight downhill section, and there were blue ribbons galore on every second tree marking the way.

After a few kilometres the path climbs to the top of the gorge and treats the walker to views from above.

A walk well worth doing!

Bikes and Hikes #1: Victoria Falls

Posted: May 30, 2019 in Australia, Cycling, Hiking
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With winter coming, long bike trips are being replaced by shorter hikes near train stations. Victoria Falls is only 6km from Mount Victoria station, but, at 8am there is no-one there. A little side track leads to the beautiful Asgard and Thor Heads which look out over the amazing Gross Valley.

Start: Mt Victoria Station
End: Mt Victoria Station
Total distance: 30km
Strava link

It is always beautiful cycling in the crisp morning sun when everyone else is still asleep. The soft orange glow makes the bush vibrate with morning freshness – eager for the day to begin.

The road to Victoria Falls

The road to Victoria Falls

At the end of the road is a path that winds its way down to the cascades, and then the top and bottom of Victoria Falls.

The path to Victoria Falls

The path to Victoria Falls

The cascades

The cascades

The top of Victoria Falls

The top of Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

A little side track lead to Asgard Head.

The side track to Asgard Head

The side track to Asgard Head

Asgard Head

Asgard Head

Asgard Head

Asgard Head

Near Asgard Head is the deserted Asgard mine. Coal was never mined there, but there is a cool little tunnel into the side of the cliff face.

Asgard Mine

Asgard Mine

Asgard Mine

Asgard Mine

Asgard Mine

Asgard Mine

Thor Head is just around the corner and as impressive as Asgard Head.

Thor Head

Thor Head

Bikes and Canyons #2: Dry Canyon

Posted: May 21, 2019 in Australia, Canyoning, Cycling
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A second in the series of Bikes and Canyons, this time, a pleasant cycle from Lithgow towards the Glowworm Tunnel and down a dry, dark canyon to burst out to a beautiful place with an amazing view over the Wolgan Valley.

Start: Lithgow Station
End: Lithgow Station
Total distance: 70km
Strava link

Canyoning usually involves abseiling down cliffs and waterfalls, scrambling over slippery rocks and logs and wading and swimming in narrow, beautiful canyons surrounded by tall walls of rock on either side. As much as all of this is very appealing, I chose Dry Canyon on this cold day as a winter trip one I could do without getting too cold and wet, and one I could safely navigate by myself.

The trip to the canyon is a 35km jaunt along a beautiful dirt track from Lithgow over the Newnes Plateau.

Newnes Plateau

Newnes Plateau

Newnes Plateau

Newnes Plateau

Newnes Plateau

Newnes Plateau

The path from the car park to the canyon and through the canyon is flat with no challenges at all. You are just left to concentrate on the beauty of your surroundings.

The path to the canyon

The path to the canyon

Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

The canyon ends and a quick scramble brings you to a rock sitting over an amazing view over the Wolgan Valley, staring at the beautiful Donkey Mountain.

Wolgan Valley

Wolgan Valley

Seeing this canyon should be classified as bushwalking rather than canyoning. It remains beautiful!

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