ORANGE REGIONAL DISCOVERY

SELF-GUIDED

This tour circular tour radiates out from the regional food and wine hub of Orange in Central NSW. The core route is on average 50kms per day on 280 kms of sealed roads plus 10 kms unsealed. Plenty of scope to expand your weeks cycling up to 450 kms with added route options. Detailed Tour Notes help you experience the regions many geographic, cultural and historic layers including its regional produce. Stay in five attractive towns and villages at carefully selected 3 star B & B and motel accommodation with some meals included. Your luggage is collected at the start of each day and delivered to your end point of each day’s journey.

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5 Nights / 6 Days
Self-Guided (or see our Supported Tour)
Tour distance from 280 kms
Ascent and descent both 2,200 m

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Tour Highlights Include

beautiful Japanese Gardens in Cowra
sampling fine pinot noir and organic wines
cycling on predominantly quiet, sealed back-roads with more sealed and dirt road options
exploring the National Trust classified village of Carcoar
the attractive and winding main street at Canowindra
browsing quality art and craft boutique stores
variety of 3-star carefully selected boutique accommodation
scenic and varied terrain with every day offering new highlights

Tour Route and Timings

Core distance 280 kms with options up to 450 kms. Minimum ascent and descent both 1,070 m. Any day departure although a Sunday to Friday allows better accommodation options in villages/towns.

Core Tour Route - options provided to expand each day.

Elevation

Profile Map: Descent 2,200 m., Ascent 2,200 , Max. Height 989 m.

Day 1 Orange to Millthorpe – 33 kms
Start with a mid-morning departure from Orange. Cycle across picturesque sheep and cattle grazing country. Arrive in the quaint Millthorpe village for lunch and accommodation check in. Plenty of time to explore the numerous arts/craft, clothing and produce stores. Your B&B accommodation is an easy walk to hotel dining 7 days or restaurants some days.
Day 2 Millthorpe to Carcoar – 62 kms.
Today’s destination is the National Trust classified historic village of Carcoar. Descend to Blayney where the Iron Bark Espresso serves good coffee and buy lunch for the recommended village lunch stop. Your final most scenic 9 km ride into Carcoar is on dirt road before arriving for your overnight DB&B accommodation. Views at sunset from the railway station (not operating) can be fabulous.

Day 3 Carcoar to Cowra – 62 kms.
After a short ride to Mandurama take to the undulating Belubula Way through attractive farmland. Your final 22 kms provides expansive views to the western plains. As you enter Cowra take a short detour to visit the site of the infamous Cowra POW camp (excellent interpretive displays) and the beautiful Japanese Gardens nearby is well worth the entry fee. Your accommodation is central to a range of dining options in this prosperous regional centre.
Day 4 Cowra to Canowindra – 40 kms.
Time for a leisurely breakfast before taking the flat backroads to Canowindra. Rosnay Organic Farm and Winery is a fine destination for lunch. The Statham family grow wine grapes (20ha), olives (10ha) and figs (1/2ha) and make delightful produce that you can sample and purchase. A short cycle into Canowindra is rewarded with entry to the rustic and attractive main street with your accommodation nearby. A total of 34 buildings and features in the town and environs are listed in the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
Day 5 Canowindra to Cudal - 42 kms.
Consider booking an early morning hot air balloon flight. Various café breakfast and take-away lunch options. Visit the Ages of Fishes Museum before leaving town. Cycle mainly on backroads with numerous suitable locations for a road-side lunch. Ride on the Escort Way for the last 18 kms into Cudal and your overnight DB&B accommodation. Take time to ride or walk along the Boree Creek at dawn or dusk – you may be lucky and see platypus!.
Day 6 Cudal to Orange - 41 kms.
After breakfast cycle quiet back roads before a 15 km ascent and be rewarded with a visit to a choice of two attractive wineries both offering a light lunch. You should arrive back in Orange by mid-afternoon with plenty of time to drive towards home or to relax, explore the local retail scene and dine at one of Oranges many fine eateries.

Tour Departures

You can book your departure for any month of the year. The best cycling weather months however for cycling this route are during Autumn and Spring. The months of June, July and August are generally cold and the months of December, January and February hot particularly on the plains west of Orange.

Note the itinerary is recommended (but not essential) to do as a Sun – Fri tour. Consideration has been given to many factors and in particular the best possible availability of accommodation services in smaller towns.

Tour Costs and Inclusions to 31 March 2025

Per head, double or twin share AU$1,375

Single Supplement AU$585

Inclusions

5 nights accommodation, minimum 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners; daily luggage transfers from start to end tour, detailed tour notes including options for expanded daily touring; hard copy and GPS route maps. Note free off-street parking available if you book nominated accommodation near the Orange tour commencement point for before and or/after the tour: alternatively on-street parking.