The Central West Cycle Trail, CWCT, was established in September 2019 by cycle enthusiasts from Mudgee. It runs over 400 kilometres and links the Central West towns of Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo, Mendooran, Ballimore, Dubbo and Wellington along country backroads and a section through the Goonoo State Forrest. The trail is typically done in 5-7 days staying a country pubs and motels overnight with camping options available.
This is arrival day in the Central West and the perfect place to touch down and prepare for the tour ahead. There are a number of great accommodation options right in the middle of town so a good opportunity to take a stroll around this historic gold mining town which maintains a lot of the old world charm. There are also a number of great restaurants and cafes , a well stocked supermarket for last minute purchases.
This is the first day of cycling. We'll do a quick meet and greet for any cyclists who have just arrived then head off. It is a fairly easy cycle today of around 50K and when available we stop for morning tea at Mayfield Station which is a pleasant much loved stop on our first day. We usually arrive in Dunedoo mid to late afternoon and in the warmer months some like to head to the local swimming pool for an afternoon dip.
Town Highlights: Great country pub meals at the Dunedoo Hotel, breakfast at the art deco White Rose Cafe
Today we head north again as we head off to Mendooran yet there are two possible options either via Diligah Road or alternatively via Cobbora which is a longer route. Both options have plenty to offer yet the Cobbora option can include a lunch break, if available, at Cobbora Station which will often sway our decision. The ride is a fairly even mix of sealed and unsealed sections with a ride length of around 50 to 70K depending on which option we travel.
Town Highlights: Great country pub meals at Royal Hotel, Crakerz Bakery.
This is not only the hump day of the tour but a distinctly different day of cycling as we begin cycling west and take forest trails through the Goonoo Goonoo State Forrest. After a fairly flat 19 k section of highway out from Mendooran we take to the forest trails which while not highly technical certainly have a few more aspects to the trail surface than the maintained rural roads we have travelled so far. It is a great section of the trail and being in a forest you get a fair amount of cover from the sun from the tree canopy.
Town Highlights: The Hair of the Dog Hotel and the excellent staff who always go out of their way for cyclists.
We ride around 70 k today and get off a little early so we can swing by the town of Wongarbon and call in at the post office where Suzie and Tim put on morning tea with fresh scones and cream available only to cyclists on the trail. It is a great morning ride on a sealed section though wide open country with huge horizons which is in stark contrast to the day before. After morning tea we head south roughly following the rail line to the township of Geurie then cross the highway before looping back into Wellington after conquering Mt Arthur with a downhill glide into town.
Town highlights: Historic Lion of Waterloo Tavern, the ambling central town park.
Day 5
This is our final day of cycling and a big day of cycling at around 80K. We take off fairly early so we can take a good break mid way to rest and recharge. The first section to Goolma is some of the best cycling you'll do along classic rural roads passing country homesteads before hitting the unsealed roads and backblocks. After riding through the plains of the central west you'll notice the landscape starts to become more undulating and you are making your way closer to where we departed. We take a leisurely break in Goolma and head into Gulgong that afternoon through the backblocks before arriving in Gulgong through the back door.
Tour Ends
The standard CWCT tour is a five day tour (as above) doing a loop from Gulgong to Gulgong. However, it is easy to create variations to this such as including Mudgee before or after a tour, a trip to or from the Kandos, Wollemi and Capertee regions to link with the CWCT, or extending the five day loop to seven by incorporating Dubbo in the tour itinerary. PedalVentures also operate the Kandos Cycle Hub and work with a number of local accommodation providers with special deals for cyclists looking for a short break in the region and it may be great to have a short break in the region pre or post tour.
Scheduled Tours
We generally do not make 'on tour' accommodation bookings on scheduled tours allowing cyclists to book according to their budget and preferences. We do provide a quick reference guide to accommodation making booking easy. We always recommend early booking in peak times. We also have a number of tents with airbeds available should you wish to camp on tour.
Group Bookings: We can assist with your accommodation bookings if required or you can organise your own accommodation bookings. Please talk to us about your requirements.
Cycle tours are a great way for groups to enjoy a short break together and are certainly not limited to cycle groups but could include any social or special interest group, a group of friends or a family group wishing to do something unique together. Obviously participants would need a level of cycle riding competency but as we hire ebikes this means not everyone needs full on cycle endurance ability.Contact us if you'd like to discuss a group cycle to the CWCT or elsewhere.
Tour Support Information
While many drive to Mudgee and Gulgong to begin their cycle tour the CWCT is also accessible via a train and coach connection. If travelling with a bike you'll need to box your bike in Lithgow before boarding the coach. Groups booking a tour with PedalVentures get a free cycle shuttle to the CWCT. We also hire MTB and ebikes at a reduced rate to our tour guests if you'd prefer to leave you bike at home.
We are a small independent cycle tour company located in the town of Kandos in the Central West region of NSW offering cycle tour support and scheduled tours. We presently run tours to the following destinations
The Central West Cycle Trail
The Warrumbungle's and Pilliga
Coolah Central West Circuit
Scheduled cycle tours can vary slightly from one departure to the next and may vary due to seasonal and other factors. We can email you tour information with tour pricing and information specific to each departure on request.
Group bookings can also vary from one group to the next depending on group size, trip length and inclusions so contact us about your group and your interest in a group departure.
