Cycling in Armidale & the New England region

Come and explore a variety of routes for mixed-terrain cycling around Armidale, ranging from easy to epic! Designed mostly for gravel bikes, the routes can also be enjoyed on mountain bikes, or shorter routes with modern road bikes.  Take advantage of the fresh air in Armidale where the experiences you have here will exhilarate, thrill and inspire you.

Rides in Armidale & surrounds

Visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences around the city – from the New England Regional Art Museum, New England Conservatorium of Music, Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place, as well as numerous cafes and restaurants to replenish your energy. Cruise past artistic murals, stunning blue brick homes and beautiful, lush parks where you can rest and soak up the ambience.

Dumaresq Dam

Dumaresq Dam is a popular picnic spot for locals and a good place for a swim or paddle in warmer months. The dam itself is circled by a 2.5 km walking track through eucalypt woodland. There’s also a fire trail leading up to the top of Mt Duval; a challenging 14k loop for trail runners, bushwalkers and mountain bikers.

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T-Pea 500

If you don’t have time for the full NEHC1000 route, this is a great bikepacking route at around half the distance. This 4-6 day ride is still a challenge however. This route can also become the basis for your own exploration – and there’s lots to explore; especially east.

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Mt Mitchell 200

The Mt Mitchell 200 is a challenging day ride or can be made into a great overnighter with camping in Warra National Park. ‘The Green’ and ‘Long Point’ are both on the Sara River and offer nice camping and reliable water (unless there’s a major drought). Access to the campsites are via Aqua Park Road (in and out).

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Uralla Invergowrie groad

A classic locals ride taking in some beautiful roads via ‘Tourist Drive 19’. More bitumen than gravel but the roads are usually quiet and you’ll pass some touristy highlights like Gostwyck Chapel and Deeargee Woolshed enroute to Uralla. Uralla itself has some great coffee shops and a good place for lunch. From here it’s relatively easy going on back roads via Invergowrie (good coffee again at the servo) and back to Armidale.

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Cathedral Rock NENP epic

As a day trip, this one is a bit of an epic. The trails around Cathedral Rock are rough, lumpy and often wet; so pretty slow going. Lights will be needed to get back unless you’re in the middle of summer and you’re riding well (but still take lights anyway!) This route (more sensibly) can me made into an overnighter with great camp spots at Cathedral Rock or along Forest Way (Wattle Flat Campground).

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Dangars – Gostwyck – Uralla – Invergowrie

One of the classic road / gravel rides around Armidale along ‘Tourist Drive 19’. On this 100k loop you’ll see Dangars Falls, Gostwyck Chapel and go through Uralla with its excellent cafes and shops. There’s also a shop in Invergowrie with great coffee if you don’t mind a small detour into town. The ‘out and back’ into Dangars Gorge / Falls is a must, and well worth the climb back out 🙂

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Around town

This ‘around town’ route will take you along the bike paths and generally quiet streets of Armidale. We’re technically a ‘city’ being over 25000 people, but riding around is pretty cruise; even on the main inner CDB streets.

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Mount Gardiner

Out and backs are rarely as good as loops, but the roads around Guyra deserve to be enjoyed both ways 🙂 Lots of scope for both road and gravel riding around here

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Long Point

A groad ‘out n back’ to Long Point campground and picnic area in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Bakers Creek Falls are spectacular when flowing. Even if they’re not, the view into Metz Gorge is worth it.

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Kookaburra 200

The Kookaburra 200 is a challenging day ride or can be made into a great overnighter with camping in Warra National Park. Water is generally easy to find at various creek and river crossings (filter and purify) although in times of drought, you can only rely on filling up in Guyra and (unless it’s really dry) on the Sara River.

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Blue Hole

Blue Hole picnic area is a popular swimming spot for locals in summer. There’s a spectacular 5k walking track loop from the end car park called the Threlfall Track. Stunning views into Gara Gorge! This is a beautiful section of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

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Wollo Run

Wollomombi is a small village just off Waterfall Way. The general store / cafe / pub / post office makes great food and coffee and the staff are really friendly. You might even get lucky on weekends with live music.

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Guyra Green Hills

A classic 50/50 road and gravel loop. If going anti-clockwise, there’s a good bit of climbing up ‘Green Hills’ (7k in fact). Good coffee shops / lunch spots and facilities in Guyra.

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Walcha Audax 200

A route developed by James Brinkhoff that’s used an Audax event each year in November. Mixed gravel and bitumen. Nothing too technical, and generally pretty fast going.

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Imbota amble

This one is a true ‘multi terrain’ route with a bit of everything. Imbota Nature Reserve has plenty of tracks from easy fire trails to single track. Have fun exploring.

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NEHC1000

The lengthy journey around New England High country in Northern NSW gives you the best chance to see big-sky Australian country.

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Little Llangothlin

A big day ride (especially with the out and back to the nature reserve) with some solid climbing but you’ll be wearing big smiles at the end of it.

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Guyra Green Hills 12″ mix

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Waterfall wanderer

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Lucky 13

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Piney

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