This route is free! but if you feel the urge to donate since you had a great day or appreciate the information you can do so here;
This route is a choose your own adventure novel. The two options are; making this a bold 1 day effort OR stopping in Uralla for the 2 day leisure roll. In favour of the two day leisure roll...you do get to enjoy the township of Uralla. Which has a pump track, a brewery and history walk. Plenty to look forward to as you consume the fine parmesan grade gravel of Blue Mountain Road on the way there.
It is not a stretch to describe the Salisbury Plains as perfect gravel riding territory, with rolling views, charming working country homesteads and locals getting about their duties. Thankfully on this route we get to experience such perfection two times. On the way into Uralla and on the way out as you head to Kentucky.
As a passer through, you might not see much going on in Kentucky, in the 2016 census the population was stated as 157. While the only sound might be your freehub, there is an eerie energy of more than meets the eye. In 1870 on May 25, Alexander Binning Walker, a rural lock-up keeper, chased and killed the infamous bushranger Fred Ward, aka Captain Thunderbolt at the Kentucky River.
The township started as an orchading settlement for the returned WW1 Servicemen. The weatherboard cottages on the small blocks were won by ballot for these returned servicemen and women. This township is a part of the Uralla Council area and their website has a great summary of why this area is more than it seems. I have grabbed a couple of emotive snippets…
“Nationwide, the soldier settlement scheme was a disaster, as often the country selected was unsuitable and the blocks were not large enough. According to a government inquiry in 1929, one third of the settlers failed in their attempts to work the land.”
“However, once the orchards started to bear fruit in Kentucky, the area prospered, also bolstered by the surrounding grazing land of Kentucky Station and Terrible Vale, which was producing some of the nation’s finest wool. Churches, schools, halls, and shops sprang up, and lively dances, sporting days, and community gatherings were the order of the day. “
The peacefulness of this idyllic lifestyle was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, when Kentucky, like nearby Uralla, volunteered a high proportion of its men.”
If you wanted to pop into Dobson’s Distillery for a Gin tasting you absolutely should, otherwise find a more hydrating snack at the general store. You could also ask to see 40 historical photographs of the early years of Kentucky which now hang in the Kentucky Memorial Hall.
Another great place to stop is the Walcha Road Hotel. The lunch spot on day two. The Walcha Road Hotel, built in 1870 and sits next to the heritage listed Walcha Road Station - which 100 years ago was alive with trade and industry. The station, still in service, now sits quietly peeking over at you enjoying a cold one at the same pub that served the men and women that sent 7500 bales of wool each year from its platform 100 years ago.
After a long break you can quickly shoot up the Oxley Highway. Just as the blood returns to your legs - turn onto Niangala Road. The powdered gravel finally crunching at your tires. A quick cruise down to the MacDonald river - the winding, willow lined river which demands to be swum in come the summertime.
The afternoon sun behind you, take the romantic journey through quiet country roads and quiet houses of the Walcha locals. The gravel so smooth it conveyor belts beneath you.
Coming with the sun at your back into the town. If you are thirsty for another drink you could always make a sharp left turn to the Commercial Hotel, hidden off the main road. An open fire, warmly welcoming pub. Where the locals park up every afternoon and make sure to keep your ears clean to hear the most current local town gossip.
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These routes are a part of a collection of day and multi-day routes created by Jorja Creighton aka @jambi_jambi for Walcha Tourism. The day rides are offered with detail and are free to enjoy. The multi-day routes in greater detail; camping, resupply, water sources, and additional information can be bought through this website.
There is a way to divide the days more equally with a change of camping spot, if you want to get the POI’s and finer details of camping, water supply, equipment suggestions you can find this at
https://jambijambi.com/collections/walcha-tourism-collection/products/walcha-overnighter-165-2-days
Starting in the center of Walcha, after an early coffee at the window of The Fruit Shop and filling your boots with last minute supplies, you leave town westward. What might seem like an unnecessary addition to the route, the small triangular detour through Walcha is purposeful. It is to showcase the old stock yards, built in the 1950’s. Plus it is a nice way to avoid the Oxley highway as long as you can.
Passing by Woolbrook, the only township you will see on this overnighter. Woolbrook, population is a booming 220, hosting a school of 20 children, the AIF Memorial Hall and St John’s church which was built in 1929. The Main North train line finished in 1882 runs through Woolbrook and over the MacDonald River via the heritage listed MacDonald River Railway Bridge...built in 1882.
If the route's first day had a theme, it would be the MacDonald River. The route weaves beside, over and through the 169km long perennial river that flows mostly north west to meet the Namoi and is a part of the Darling-Murray catchment. Plenty of opportunities for a summer time swim or even a fish if you happened to pack a line.
The second day of this overnighter has less of a distinct theme but using the quiet local roads used only by locals you will travel through rolling farmland to meet Thunderbolt Way and entering the south east of the Walcha council area through the dramatically named Hell Hole Rd. The road is lushly covered in forest. Until it's not; the state forest is well logged and opens up to scarred forestry land - giving you the opportunity to see far into the east and on a clear day views of the Barrington.
On the other side of Riamukka, you will catch a view of the Mummel National Park, which houses some extreme terrain. If you have the nerve to return and give it a go you can find two routes that will help you navigate them.
An overnighter is a perfect way to both experience the quiet country around Walcha and have a taste of the town. Walcha is the first and oldest town in New England and has plenty of points of interest. On the way back into Walcha you go past the Old Stone Church, one of many historical buildings in the township. If history is your thing, you can download the historical walk brochure here.
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Hopefully by this stage you have had your fill of gravel, and you can enjoy the faster roll back into Walcha. The town is waiting for your arrival with plenty of ways to replenish your energy and leave you wanting to return to ride the Great North Tour.
A reminder that you can buy the details of this route here - https://jambijambi.com/collections/walcha-tourism-collection/products/walcha-grand-south-tour-387km-4-5-days
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A day ride on Yaouk Road and around Adaminaby has some of the nicest connecting gravel roads I have ridden in Australia.
]]>This route is apart of something I am going to call The Super Jambo Grom Pre 200km Gravel Soiree Pre session. This Pre Session series are 5 routes that vary in length and get to know the area that is Super Jambo Country.
That is a joke. This is unseeded
The Snowy Mountains region was an important gathering point for the Aborigines of the Adaminaby and surrounding districts for many thousands of years, with intertribal summer meetings being held in the High Country involving up to a thousand people for feasting on the Bogong Moth. This practice continued until around 1865.[5]By making it a clockwise route I deliberately softening the pinch of the highest point. If you choose to do it anti-clockwise you might find it punctures your flow. It is pretty steep.
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