Central West Cycling Trail in Mudgee, New South Wales | Bike trail

Central West Cycling Trail

Locality: Mudgee, New South Wales

Phone: +61 408 726 038

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24.01.2022 Here is an example of a bicycle lane made on a busy 100kmh road at Angourie, north coast of NSW. Have seen families with kids using it, and it has been made by amalgamating the two shoulders into one to give reasonable width. This was done by changing the location of the paintwork. There is no shoulder on one side of the road now. Maybe this an option on some sections of Central West roads. Critically there was some road shoulder to work with initially.

22.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/795836650479395/posts/3275024245893944/?d=n

21.01.2022 I havent ridden this section from Forrest road to Ballimore in the wet before and decided it would be a good test today. I was going to take Charlie the gravel bike but thought better of it and took Rosco, the Trek 27.5 + hardtail. Wise decision, handled it effortlessly, the plan was to get through without a dab, managed that but Goan Creek nearly got my feet wet. Very doable on a + Mtb, a gravel bike would mean wet feet but not the end of the world. This amount of water... is unusual out this way so I thought Id give my wet weather gear a go as in over boots, Ground Effect waterproof longs and fully mud guarded up, completely unnecessary but we dont get the opportunity to use it much out this way. I have an IPhone 8 with the country tick on Telstra, the service was patchy for the first 10k but ok after that. Lots of trees down so a support vehicle would be a no go. Have a look at the Relive video, as I said, this amount of water is unusual. Mick. https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6JmgAjyxO

17.01.2022 Day 2 on the road. Dunedoo to Mendooran via mostly backroads.

17.01.2022 Last Monday I came across a description of the new Central West Cycling Trail, so we quickly applied for leave, drove north from Canberra and cracked it out on ...the weekend. Its a loop of over 400km of mixed surfaces in the Dubbo/Mudgee region (Central West NSW). Weve toured and bikepacked a heap but never by credit card before (no shelter/cooking gear) so this was great casual fun over three days staying at pubs. The route was so well designed that we genuinely had less than 50 cars pass us over the ENTIRE 400km (not counting towns and a small section of well shouldered bitumen east of Mendooran), with some of the quietest bitumen roads I have experienced on the planet. Well done to those that put it together. It is a perfect example of if you build it they will come. We spent money in a region we otherwise would never have looked at and hope we made a little difference to the struggling hospitality and tourism industry (just like we did when we did the great little Arapiles Big Sky Trail at Natimuk, when we could have stayed somewhere else on that road trip). All it takes is someone to make up and publish a route for numpties like us to follow and well be there. Trail notes: A three day journey meant we comfortably made it in time for dinner every day with a late cafe breaky, 8:30ish depart. (Dubbo - Gulgong 155km, Gulgong - Mendooran 115km, Mendooran - Dubbo 125km). There is obvs heaps of opportunity for accomm every 60 or so km to make a five day trip (from what I can figure out a 4 day trip would utilise the same o/n stops as a five day, but one day would have to be double the length). Two days is def doable, as its around 3500vm with no real challenges, but youd miss out on time in all the great towns (and pubs)! Theres plenty of campgrounds in towns but little scope outside of towns. Room booking recommended as rooms can be limited and contractors often take up a bulk of those available. Vego/vegan options pretty limited. Thorns exist on route. Frost one morning, fog the next. As for which bike to ride? I cant help you there but hopefully the images give you an idea of what would work for you. (Oh and some of the muddy bits in the pics were on a great little detour we took to explore Goondoo Nature Reserve - can be bypassed on a short section of bitumen). Lastly, we had a headwind every day, so that must be a thing . COVID 19: We were hugely impressed with the actions taken in every single small town establishment; from cafes, to general stores, to pubs the staff and patrons were 100% on board with doing the safe thing. Just wanted to put this out there for those searching for local getaways but more for anyone struggling to get local support behind cycling tourism in small towns, it works, and the locals businesses were stoked to see us! (We seem to have been the first cyclists they had seen on the route (other than the test crew a few weeks back), but they all knew it existed). (https://bicyclensw.org.au/the-central-west-cycle-trail-is-/ and theres a FB page)

16.01.2022 Mystery weekend tour on part of the Central West Cycle Trail. None of the 10 riders knew where we were going last week end on a self supported tour out of Dubbo, it was a mystery until we turned onto the Ballimore Rd that had no other option. We chose a limited number of riders for distancing reasons at the Ballimore Inn (Hair Of The Dog Inn), couples and singles all had their own rooms 7 in total. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32865187... https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33191250

16.01.2022 If you are travelling the Central West Cycle trail be sure to make the time to see the attractions, some of which are under the ground. At Wellington a short ride (8km) south down a gravel road called Old Sydney Road, you will find Wellington Caves. It is said to be one of the most significant mammal fossil sites in the world. A fantastic new visitor centre has been built there, and life size models of megafauna are nearby. Accommodation is available in the Caves Tourist complex. The photo below of Cathedral Cave shows the great formations. The cave has been used for opera performances and balls.

15.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/groups/centralwestcyclingtrail/permalink/612128742800545/

15.01.2022 During this Covid uncertain time with regulations changing daily, we have decided to give our week long tours a rest and concentrate on weekend tours. Weekend Tours are easy to organise and easy to can if regulations change. We will strive to hold one once a month with a mixture of supported and self supported gravel and road weekends. Mainly in our area and always the road less travelled. Our last one a couple of weeks ago out to Ballimore was a cracker. ... The next one pencilled in for the 1st of August will be a self supported gravel ride, starting and finishing in Dunnedoo with an overnighter in Gulgong. Numbers will be limited for distancing and dining purposes. Interested, get in touch. See more

15.01.2022 Do you need more luggage than you can carry, luggage transfer is now available on the Central West Cycle Trail. Contact Mick. https://www.facebook.com/coopercycletours/

15.01.2022 The Wollongong Mtn Bikers will complete the CWC trail today (23 July). Meet up with them in the Mendooran Cobbora area. They opted for a number of side trails to keep off the sealed road., Ungula Rd-Gubora Rd east of Wellington with plenty (20) of small creek crossings, a crossing of the Macquarie with knee deep water, and the Goonoo State Conservation Area northern area near railway line-Dalmallee. They had a crack at a Mountain Bike Trail in Mt Arthur reserve Wellington, challenging!! more investigation needed there. Photos show them pulling into the Mendooran Bakery - opposite the seat of learning the Mendooran Mechanics Institute and finally with their feet up at the relaxing Cobbora Station (farm) after 100km from Ballimore. Today it is Cobbora - Dunedoo to Gulgong via Slap Dash Creek/disused section of Barneys Reef Road.

14.01.2022 Always on the lookout for side trips linking to the CWC main trail, for those who want to stay around a town or vary the route to meet desires. Investigated the firetrails of Mt Arthur reserve near Wellington which lead directly off and back onto the CWC trail. Had reports from an earlier CWC group that one route was pretty challenging. So decided to investigate another (see map below). Investigated it using the mighty 16 inch wheels of the folding Brompton (it has a tiny ...bit of suspension) - got around the course, still challenging but possible, and stacks of easy smooth riding. Walked small steep sharp gravelly rises. At the top end you have a style to cross the fence - gate locked, so very quiet route. The route is 10km, whereas sticking to the CWC trail on Bushrangers road which it dives off is 4km to get between the same two points. Anyway it is there, but please respect that Mt Arthur Reserve is established for conservation and quiet recreation so bikes are limited to service trails - no using walking trails - visit http://www.mtarthurreserve.org.au/ to see maps and other details. This one of three sites on the CWC (also Mudgee and Geurie) highly suitable for MTB enthusiasts - or those with small wheeled folding bikes!!?!. At the end of the investigation treated myself to fresh juices and coffee at Cactus Cafe, - 1930s building Mission style architecture. David Allworth CWC See more

13.01.2022 Expressions of interest. Anyone that thought they would like to give cycle touring a go, here is your chance to stick the toe in the water. A short one starting and finishing in Dubbo. 160k over 3 days so not too much of an investment in time, just take the Monday off work. ... Only open to Central West residents for COVID reasons. Leave Dubbo and overnight in Wellington on Saturday with morning tea stop at Geurie. Ride up to the look out at Mt Arthur on the way to Wellington. Visit Wellington Caves in the van on Sunday morning before heading to Ballimore overnight. Back to Dubbo on Monday morning. Half and half, gravel and sealed back roads. Fully supported for mechanical an physical malfunction. Mtb or gravel bike required, Ive got some for hire if you are stuck. Probably in the next month or so if we get a bit of interest, only taking small numbers for seats in the van and accommodation at Ballimore. Let me know if interested.

12.01.2022 First days ride along quiet roads from Gulgong to overnight in Dunedoo. Bit chilly but lovely ride.

12.01.2022 https://cwc.mudgeebushwalking.org.au/hello-world/

11.01.2022 Another attraction at Mudgee

11.01.2022 I haven’t ridden this section from Forrest road to Ballimore in the wet before and decided it would be a good test today. I was going to take Charlie the gravel bike but thought better of it and took Rosco, the Trek 27.5 + hardtail. Wise decision, handled it effortlessly, the plan was to get through without a dab, managed that but Goan Creek nearly got my feet wet. Very doable on a + Mtb, a gravel bike would mean wet feet but not the end of the world. This amount of water... is unusual out this way so I thought I’d give my wet weather gear a go as in over boots, Ground Effect waterproof longs and fully mud guarded up, completely unnecessary but we don’t get the opportunity to use it much out this way. I have an IPhone 8 with the country tick on Telstra, the service was patchy for the first 10k but ok after that. Lots of trees down so a support vehicle would be a no go. Have a look at the Relive video, as I said, this amount of water is unusual. Mick. https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6JmgAjyxO

11.01.2022 Alternative to road closure at Dunedoo - There has been a road closure on the Digilah Road, just out of Dunedoo - the Hospital Crossing. A strong potential alt...ernative is going onto the Digilah Road, using the All Weather Road (that is its name) which comes off the Castlreagh Highway just out of Dunedoo on the way to Mendooran. See map in this post, or go to RidewithGPS link https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34540990 IF that option should be blocked not much lost - then the other option is going from Cobborah via Avonside Rd and Avonside West Road (25km to Cobborah). There has been no closures announced for this road but it has some low level crossings, check the Warrumbungle Shire site for road closure. See more

10.01.2022 First riders testing this route next week.

09.01.2022 Check out today's Sydney Morning Herald - the CWC and some of its food stops promoted. Not all the great food stops could be squeezed in for a mention - Cobbora Station (for groups pre book essential), distillery at Mendooran, cafes at Gulgong, cafes at Geurie etc - There is plenty to find on the trail - please report in what you find so others may enjoy. With the coming warm weather our efforts will be focussed on some water pitstops. Tell us what you find adn how you manage it. Thanks to Ty Domin who supplied a lot the photos for the SMH article and was our ground breaking first general biking user - from there it has flourished. The article appeared on page 24 of todays (Saturday17 October) https://www.smh.com.au//the-new-central-west-cycling-trail

08.01.2022 Day 5 and final day. Wellington to Gulgong. Tough day again, longest ride, just over 80k and the most climbing. Total distance over 5 days- a smidge over 310k.

07.01.2022 Rode the Goonoo State Conservation Area section of the CWC trail today (Saturday, 1 August) after significant rains. It is rideable, but: 1. do not expect to come out with dry feet the puddles are sometimes chainring deep and long enough that you have to pedal, 2. you will get muddy 3. when riding through puddles the best course is existing wheel tracks generally.... There are numerous puddles like the one shown in the photograph. Bicycle wheel tracks told me I am not first cyclist to go through since the heavy rains.. The crossing at Goan Creek, just south of the Goonoo forest on the Goan Creek Road has been washed away - but can be crossed by pushing your bike across. David Allworth

07.01.2022 Day 3 Mendooran to Ballimore via Goonoo State Forest

07.01.2022 https://youtu.be/a93hGELbv34

06.01.2022 Day 4. Solid day Ballimore to Wellington via Wongarbon and Geurie.

06.01.2022 Welcome to the Central West Cycling Trail. The website is still being developed. You are welcome to visit the site and have a look. https://cwc.mudgeebushwalking.org.au/

05.01.2022 History repeats itself when a group of touring cyclists riding the CWC trail will be hosted by a local Goolma resident to Sunday lunch a first for the CWC trail in Goolma as stop off points build up around the CWC trail. COVID has closed the Goolma pub. Over 125 years ago mapmaker and author of Cycle Touring in NSW Joseph Pearson reported he lunched in Goolma as he rode between Mudgee to Wellington. In his publication Cycle Touring in NSW (published 1896) he wrote of th...e Mudgee to Wellington leg (62 miles) The road may be difficult to get onto here, as there are several branching from it, and you may get away; Before leaving get it explained to you. Mr Lester the local chemist, will give you every information. .. You will pass through Guntawang and Yamble goldfields, and to Coolma, where dinner will be very acceptable, and Wellington will be reached in good time. The road for the last ten miles into Wellington is like a racing track. The building that housed Lesters Pharmacy stands as the Parkview Hotel and Café, at the very starting point of the CWC. Photo of Mr Pearson on his single speed with which he coverd 60 to 80 miles a day across the unsealed, often rutted roads of NSW pre1900. Also a photo of the Lesters Pharmacy building which is now accommodation and cafe.

04.01.2022 Goonoo State Conservation Area OPEN - the side-tracks coming off the Dubbo-Mendooran Road (Forest Rd) have road closed signs. This signage only applies to vehicles accessing the Goonoo State Forest . Mick Cooper has posted a number of good videos showing the condition of the area, and certainly some parts have been savagely dug up by vehicles. NSW National Parks reports that vehicles have become bogged. Bicycles ride on. David Allworth

02.01.2022 Parts of the Central West Cycle trail are pretty wet. So a bit of care when riding needed. Dubbo area has nearly had its annual rainfall. Beware a number of local roads have washouts and rills - nasty surprises. Check local road reports issued by local councils. The challenge is that roads are advised as untrafficable for cars, but this may not be applicable to cyclists who can walk around a boggy patch, at other times it will be impassable such as high rivers. Any questions leave a msg on this site.

01.01.2022 ECONOMIC CYCLE BOOSTS MENDOORAN - With a steady flow of cyclists riding the 400km Central West Cycle trail, Mendooran and other localities have benefited economically over the last month and a half On Monday Mike McDonald of Sydney and 5 others landed into Mendooran from Dunedoo. They were booked into the local hotel, purchased food for both the evening and the next day. Unlike those travelling through in vehicles they do not have an Esky load of food at hand so spend... in the local towns along the way. The Hair on the Dog hotel at Ballimore reports at least 2 or so groups staying each week, and Mendooran seemed more heavily booked with no closeby towns. For those wanting accommodation the advice is book ahead, especially for the smaller towns. So without a cent of taxpayer money, simply the resources of the Mudgee Bushwalking and Bike Riders Club Inc and that of volunteers a budding new industry has started in the Central West, and putting money into the local economy. Given the big distances everyone can stay distanced with a bit of care. David Allworth See more