LOCAL RIDES

Last Post on Sunday May 31, 2009

 

 

 

Destinations & Routes

These pages detail some of our favourite rides and destinations. Many are in and around the beautiful Darling Downs, but some favourites from further afield are also included.

For out of towners, most links include map fragments so you can find your way. Map fragments are mostly (well . . . the ones in South East Queensland and northern New South Wales) from a very good Sunmap Tourist Map "South East Queensland" (Map 2, Sunmap Queensland Series) - it covers Bundaberg to Ballina and Monto to Texas - a highly recommended travelling companion.

The rides are split into 3 general categories:
  1. places within a day ride from Toowoomba
  2. places that are a more comfortable overnighter from Toowoomba
  3. places far afield from Toowoomba

If you try any of these runs or destinations, let us know what you think. Each page has a space where you can leave comments.

We also welcome updates on road conditions, food quality, bed comfort, camp sites, bike safety etc.

Places within a day ride from Toowoomba
The Sunflower Route (Allora to Warwick)
The Canungra Hotel
Stanthorpe to Ballandean
The Belltower Cafe and Restaurant (Kingaroy)
Munchkin's Cafe and Restaurant, Mt Mee
Cormorant Bay Cafe & Restaurant, Lake Wivenhoe
Goomburra alternative (Allora to Cunningham's Gap)
Petronella's Cafe, Rathdowney
Peachester Range to Maleny
Stanthorpe to Omanama
Boonah to Queen Mary Falls
Omanama to Texas ( a shortcut & an excellent ride)
 

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Places that are a more comfortable overnighter from Toowoomba
Eataliano in Tamworth - excellent Italian eatery.
Bundarra to Yarrowyck (between Inverell and Uralla). Add this to Omanama to Texas and you have an excellent alternative to the new England Highway travelling between Toowoomba and Tamworth - a little longer but a worthwhile ride).
Cafe Graze - Excellent coffee and breakfast/lunch in Walcha
The Tasting Room - excellent coffee and breakfast/lunch in Glen Innes
Walcha to Bendemeer - a scenic run east of Tamworth
Uralla - an historic town with a great pub just south of Armidale.
Grafton to Lawrence - a scenic run along the bank of the Clarence River
The Woop Woop Cafe, Coonabarabran. Excellent coffee in an unlikely location.
The Tweed Valley Way (the old Bruce Highway between Murwillumbah and Yelgum) - a good run through the Burringbar Range (now that all the traffic uses the bypass)
Killarney to Kyogle - a very rough ride - NOT recommended.
 

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Places far afield from Toowoomba
Port Macquarie to Walcha - the best of the Great Dividing Range crossings.
Cooma to Tumut - an excellent ride through Australia's high country.
Mudgee to Bathurst - an excellent ride.
Campbell Town to Swansea (Tasmania)
The Famous Mt Elephant Pancake Barn (Tasmania)
Daylesford, Victoria - between Bendigo and Melbourne & worth a visit.
Coffee in Lorne (along the Great Ocean Road)
Silverton - 25km from Broken Hill, but a run to avoid!
Crystal Brook, South Australia - a quaint country town with a very good value pub.
Orroroo, South Australia - the widest main street I've ever seen and a great cafe/restaurant