CyclingGravel

Just go cycling. Preferably on gravel.

There are lots of amazing bikepacking and gravel cycling options around Australia, particularly in NSW and Victoria near where I live – the problem is a lack of time! If you are ready for some longer-distance cycling, I hope that this page of Australia-based trips provides inspiration to pack the bike and go away for multi-day trips. There are so many great routes to travel! The things you see, the people you meet, the understanding you gain of the countryside: all are benefits of travelling at bicycle pace.

Below is a mix of two day, three day and longer trips I’ve been on. At the bottom of this page I’ve also included a few thoughts to help with planning your own trip, information on how I normally travel, and also some tips to help you make your own choices on bikepacking setup.

There are also a number CyclingGravel routes from Canberra that can be made into great overnight bikepacking trips.

Also see CyclingGravel’s overseas bikepacking trips!

Planning your own bikepacking trip

I often get asked what advice I would offer when someone is starting off bikepacking. The first thing I clarify is that CyclingGravel is more inclined to “Flash bikepacking” or “Credit card bikepacking” (staying in pubs, cabins, motels and hotels), and is very committed to a “fastpacking” bikepack setup (rather than a bike touring arrangement with panniers etc – this is a term I first saw used by Stefan Amato of pannier.cc fame). There are really only a small number of things that I’d suggest as important to do before setting off on your trip.

  • Do some research as to what style of bike setup will work best for you, and consider the kit that you want to take. Bikepacking allows you to ride free – fire trail, single track, hike-a-bike are all much more possible with a lighter setup. I have found bikepacking.com to be really helpful and is now my most commonly used resource. I like it so much I’m a collective member now. I also got the knowledge and inspiration to go by watching youtube videos from different vloggers to get ideas and inspiration (for example, a good start is Ryan van Duzer and Path Less Pedaled, and for bikes and tech the idiosyncratic JOM from gravelcyclist is a favourite). I also can really relate to the pros and cons of credit card bikepacking shared by MatthewNorway.
  • Not every bike setup is good for every type of bike – partly because of geometry, partly because of type of riding you might do. I do need different bags for my XC MTB vs my gravel bike – see below. I also now have an amazing custom-spec Tumbleweed Stargazer – a gravel bike with mountain bike wheels and gearing – it will pretty much go anywhere!
  • Invest in a couple of really good pairs of knicks – a great chamois and knick fit that is right for you makes a massive difference. Having tried many, I personally find Black Sheep to be most comfortable, but not necessarily longest lasting (Santini wins here in my experience).
  • Do some 2 and 3 day rides first and figure out what works and what doesn’t. Based upon my early rides I’ve made some kit changes and added some accessories (eg water filter, battery pack, handlebar bag, plastic mud guard, additional wet weather clothing) that led to a setup I’m pretty happy with. But, everyone is different, and I continue to tinker with the setup!
  • Plan your route and download it so that it works without mobile reception. I prefer Komoot for a whole range of reasons, but also find Strava routes very useful – it shows where people are and are not cycling. And then be prepared to change it when you want – PocketEarth is my go-to help with that. As a result I like using a quadlocked iPhone – also readily available for photo taking!
  • Want some more inspiration? I’m a massive fan of the Adventure Cycling Association. Yes, it is US-based but their tremendous magazine makes a membership worthwhile, and their stories on travel and gear should give anyone confidence to have a go at a cycling trip. Cyclist Australia is also a really decent source of local ideas – well worth a subscription.
Bikepacking setups: Specialized Diverge, Tumbleweed Stargazer, and Specialized Epic Evo

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So Canberra… Fantastic gravel cycling around Grenfell NSW. Candidate for the best gravel climb in the ACT - Warks Road. No traffic, steady incline, shady and well maintained. The cycling you get to do when your bike finally turns up, but bikepacking trip is no longer possible. Epic cliff and valley views. Beach & beer time Sometimes, the great roads aren’t gravel….. When you think about it, the gravel riding that you can do inside our city is pretty amazing. And you can throw in some single track as you go if you want! It is super hard to go past Dog Trap Road for epic gravel views. Sometimes, it has to be single track Found some gravel, and a couple of temples on the way Another @wagga_gearsandbeers #Dirty130 done. Epic. Gravel cruise home. Never get tired of the lake view on Marked Tree Road. I think I’m ready for the @wagga_gearsandbeers #dirty130. Getting in some Yass gravel in preparation for @wagga_gearsandbeers. I hope the weather is as epic as today… Training for @wagga_gearsandbeers on commute. Lovely evening for it. Epic winter day Stromlo colour this morning . Epic gravel weekend (Moss Vale - Taralga) day 2 took in Swallow Tail Pass and Canyonleigh Road. Fire track style pass could be a bit gnarly for gravel bikes in wet, but rest of route is vintage gravel. Just lovely. Back in Oz, took sneaky flash bikepacking weekend Moss Vale - Taralga return. One of the great gravel weekends of NSW. Day 1 took Wombeyan Caves Road. Great views and a mix of smooth and more fire-track style gravel. Finished with great pub stay @thetaralgahotel