Ride heads out to Kurri Kurri, known for the Big Kookaburra, where we will have a brief toilet stop and look out for the famous murals. Then we head to Cessnock, taking a look at Chinaman’s Hollow Park along the way, and continue on to the Wine Country loop. We will ride to Harrigans Irish Pub on Broke Road, Pokolbin, for lunch. We will also stop by the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company on Broke Road for a chocolate-tasting dessert. We complete the loop and head back the way we came.
Ride length: 79 km
(Note: if you have a car and prefer a shorter distance, you can drive your bike to Kurri Kurri and shorten the ride to 53 km.)
Features: Main roads with good shoulders; visits to Kurri Kurri and Cessnock; mostly quiet back roads in wine country, passing by the establishments and beautiful countryside the Hunter Valley is famous for.
Suitability: Good degree of fitness; mix of gradients; mostly on-road cycling; a few road crossings; cycling through Cessnock may have heavy traffic — ride leader to take extra caution in this section.
Ride terrain: Mainly flat until McDonalds Road, which has rollercoaster hills. From Broke Road onwards it is a mix of flat and undulating terrain.
Suggested lunch stop: Harrigans, Broke Road, Pokolbin
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Other notes follow.
Terrain and conditions: Mostly road cycling. There are some climbs between the 23rd km and 37th km, with the highest elevation at 180 m.
Variations of the route:
There are two alternate paths back to Maitland:
• Old Maitland Road through Bishops Bridge (same distance)
• Allandale and Lochinvar (8 km further)
The first option has not been tested, but the second has been ridden.
However, taking either variation will not allow the car/bike option described below.
a) If you have a car and prefer a shorter distance, you can drive your bike to Kurri Kurri and shorten the ride to 53 km.
b) Could choose other cafés/restaurants for lunch, e.g., General Store on Broke Road, Hunter Valley Cheese Factory on McDonalds Road.
Capabilities required:
• This is a long ride at a medium pace. Riders will need to maintain an average of 21–24 km/h on the flat.
• Mostly on-road riding, so riders must be comfortable riding in traffic and familiar with road rules.
Suggested precursor rides:
Similar rides in speed and terrain include Adamstown to Fassifern, Bobbin Banana, and Old Mans Hat.
Duration: Allow 5 to 6 hours.
Potential bail-out option: Kurri Kurri at the 53 km mark, provided you have a car.
Rest/toilet stops: Toilets at Kurri Kurri and at Harrigans.
Distance: 79.00
Elevation Change: 741
Ride with GPS
Check public transport alerts: www.transportnsw.info/alerts#/metro-train
Risk warning
As a participant in this dangerous recreational activity, you may be exposing yourself to a significant risk of harm.
Bike North, the ride organisers and leaders wish to warn you of the risks and hazards that are an inherent part of cycling,
and to take care to prevent putting yourself, your fellow participants and/or others into danger.
By registering for this ride, you accept the warning as to risk, and you agree to ride in a safe and responsible
manner and to obey all road rules and other legal requirements.
All riders wear an approved helmet and carry water, at least one spare tube plus a pump.
Health warning
Riders must not attend if sick, have Covid-19, influenza or symptoms of any communicable disease.
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