We're two adults and a three year-old from the Top End of the NT, looking for a week or two bike tour somewhere in Australia.
We've done a fair bit of long-distance touring (5.5 months on the EV6 from the Black Sea to the Atlantic when his Highness was 1 y/o), so pretty set up with gear and psychology for touring.
What we're after is a holiday that is on wheels, but not necessarily a cycle tour ... in the sense that the aim is to be somewhere nice and get around comfortable and safely by bicycle.
So, apart from nice places to be, the main criteria are:
a) safety/hassle - ideally off vehicle roads or on very quiet country roads (i.e. rail trails)
b) reasonable weather (hot isn't a big issue, but cold and rain is more so)
c) gentle riding, i.e. fairly flat
I'm very out of touch with what's on offer in southern Australia, so would be keen to hear recommendations for somewhere nice to cycle. Rough estimate of when we'll be going is mid-September to early November.
Short tour with a three year old - recommendations please!
-
- Posts: 406
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2018 12:33 am
- Location: Remote NT
Short tour with a three year old - recommendations please!
Postby BobtheBuilder » Sat Jul 24, 2021 2:36 pm
- P!N20
- Posts: 4056
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:50 pm
- Location: Wurundjeri Country
Re: Short tour with a three year old - recommendations please!
Postby P!N20 » Sat Jul 24, 2021 4:59 pm
My first thought is the Bright/Beechworth rail trails in Victoria. Beautiful part of the world and it wouldn't be too hot that time of year.
Another thought is the towns dotted up the west side of Melbourne - Daylesford, Woodend, Kyneton, Castlemaine, Bendigo...plenty of back roads with next to no traffic and a rail trail or two.
Another thought is the towns dotted up the west side of Melbourne - Daylesford, Woodend, Kyneton, Castlemaine, Bendigo...plenty of back roads with next to no traffic and a rail trail or two.
- find_bruce
- Moderator
- Posts: 10617
- Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 8:42 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: Short tour with a three year old - recommendations please!
Postby find_bruce » Sat Jul 24, 2021 6:20 pm
A one wheel trailer is recommended by Danny
I'll show myself out
I'll show myself out
Anything you can do, I can do slower
-
- Posts: 406
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2018 12:33 am
- Location: Remote NT
Re: Short tour with a three year old - recommendations please!
Postby BobtheBuilder » Sat Jul 24, 2021 9:32 pm
Are there set routes or maps available for these? Coming from far away, and wanting a simple holiday, I'm not up for masses of research, but if there are well known routes, that'd be great. As a side note, my experience of back roads around the world, is that in some places there may not be much traffic, but what there is, is horrifyingly dangerous (i.e. Irish country roads).
- WheelsOfChance
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:07 pm
- Location: Wollongong
Re: Short tour with a three year old - recommendations please!
Postby WheelsOfChance » Sun Jul 25, 2021 10:33 am
Victoria and Tasmania are in my mind the best touring destinations for non-adventure touring.
Victoria has quite a few rail trails. You can see them here -
https://www.railtrails.org.au/trail-des ... s/victoria
This is my tour report about one of the rail trails
https://sites.google.com/view/have-bicy ... ng-weekend
Victoria has quite a few rail trails. You can see them here -
https://www.railtrails.org.au/trail-des ... s/victoria
This is my tour report about one of the rail trails
https://sites.google.com/view/have-bicy ... ng-weekend
Tony
-
- Posts: 406
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2018 12:33 am
- Location: Remote NT
Re: Short tour with a three year old - recommendations please!
Postby BobtheBuilder » Mon Jul 26, 2021 1:46 pm
Many thanks, I'll have a look at that, rail trails seem the best option.WheelsOfChance wrote: ↑Sun Jul 25, 2021 10:33 amVictoria and Tasmania are in my mind the best touring destinations for non-adventure touring.
Victoria has quite a few rail trails. You can see them here -
https://www.railtrails.org.au/trail-des ... s/victoria
This is my tour report about one of the rail trails
https://sites.google.com/view/have-bicy ... ng-weekend
- RonK
- Posts: 11508
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:08 pm
- Location: If you need to know, ask me
- Contact:
Re: Short tour with a three year old - recommendations please!
Postby RonK » Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:25 pm
Hard to avoid hills, but traffic on Tasmanian roads is relatively light.
And the Tasmanian tourism organisation has produced a neatly packaged brochure of information and itineraries.
No research required - just pick your preferred itinerary and go.
You can pick up a printed copy from Discover Tasmania offices or email them to get a copy posted to you.
https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/__d ... 10_Web.pdf
You may also like to read my journal for more information and personal observations.
http://cycleintas.blogspot.com/
And the Tasmanian tourism organisation has produced a neatly packaged brochure of information and itineraries.
No research required - just pick your preferred itinerary and go.
You can pick up a printed copy from Discover Tasmania offices or email them to get a copy posted to you.
https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/__d ... 10_Web.pdf
You may also like to read my journal for more information and personal observations.
http://cycleintas.blogspot.com/
Cycle touring blog and tour journals: whispering wheels...
- baabaa
- Posts: 1577
- Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:47 am
Re: Short tour with a three year old - recommendations please!
Postby baabaa » Tue Jul 27, 2021 1:07 pm
This is a good loop without killer hills. The towns, food outlets and accommodation on this route are becoming very bike friendly, so would be a lower stress outing than planning a full do it yourself trip.
Takes in some good off main track sights, worth having a good look at this region at least once and while three is a bit young for the zoo, you should do the zoo - a good ride in and around and a path out and back from town.
Better sooner than later for the temps and Nov can get the odd loaded grain truck - but as mostly off highways, the drivers show care for people who bike.
https://centralwestcycletrail.com.au/maps/
Takes in some good off main track sights, worth having a good look at this region at least once and while three is a bit young for the zoo, you should do the zoo - a good ride in and around and a path out and back from town.
Better sooner than later for the temps and Nov can get the odd loaded grain truck - but as mostly off highways, the drivers show care for people who bike.
https://centralwestcycletrail.com.au/maps/
Jump to
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
Brought to you by Bicycles Network Australia | © 1999 - 2024 | Powered by phpBB ®
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.