Day 1

Bathurst → Hill End → Ophir → Orange

Distance: 146 km

Elevation: 3,231 m

Strava Route

Ride Description

Leaving Bathurst, the ride heads north towards the historic village of Bruinbun before joining one of Australia’s most iconic gravel roads—the legendary Bridle Track.

Following the winding Turon River, riders are treated to towering sandstone cliffs, flowing river crossings, towering gums and spectacular valley scenery. This road once carried thousands of hopeful miners heading to the goldfields during the 1850s.

The climb into Hill End rewards every pedal stroke.

Today Hill End remains one of Australia’s finest preserved gold mining towns. Walking its streets feels like stepping back 150 years. Visit the Royal Hotel, former miners’ cottages and the incredible heritage buildings that once stood at the centre of one of the richest goldfields on earth.

After coffee and lunch, the route becomes even more adventurous.

Quiet gravel roads wind through Tambaroora, Ullamalla Road, remote bushland and open grazing country before descending toward the historic goldfields of Ophir.

Ophir holds a special place in Australian history as the location of the first payable gold discovery in New South Wales in 1851, sparking Australia’s first gold rush. The beautiful reserve sits where Summer Hill Creek and Lewis Ponds Creek meet and still contains historic diggings and walking trails.  

The final kilometres follow scenic gravel beside Summer Hill Creek, climbing steadily toward Orange before rolling into the vibrant regional city.

Coffee Stop

Hill End General Store

Lunch

Royal Hotel Hill End

Accommodation

Yallungah Boutique Hotel (5 Star)

Dinner Recommendations

• Fiorini’s Osteria Italiana

Orange has become one of Australia’s premier cool-climate wine and food destinations, with more than 80 wineries and an outstanding restaurant scene.  

Day 2

Orange → Billywillinga → Bathurst

Distance: 80 km

Elevation: 1,653 m

Strava Route

Ride Description

After breakfast, leave Orange via the peaceful roads around Clifton Grove, where vineyards give way to rolling farmland and native bush.

The gravel roads through Lower Lewis Ponds provide quiet riding with panoramic views over grazing country before continuing through the tiny settlements of Gowan and Freemantle, where traffic is almost non-existent.

The highlight of the return journey is passing through the magnificent Billywillinga Estate. Surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards and beautifully restored heritage buildings, it provides one of the most picturesque sections of the ride.

From here the terrain gradually opens into broad pastoral country before the final rolling kilometres return riders to Bathurst, completing an unforgettable gravel loop through the Central West.

Morning Coffee

Orange before departure

Lunch

The Hub, Bathurst

Ride Statistics

Day 1 Day 2

Distance 146km 80km

Climbing 2,231m 1,653m

Total Distance 227km

Total Elevation 4,884m

Ride Difficulty

★★★★☆ Advanced Gravel

Suitable for experienced gravel cyclists comfortable riding:

• Long endurance days

• Sustained climbing

• Loose gravel

• Remote roads

• Limited services between towns

• Variable weather conditions

Included

• Two fully supported ride days

• GPX navigation files

• Ride guides

• Mechanical support

• Vehicle support

• Premium accommodation

• Breakfast

• Luggage transfers

• Nutrition and hydration stops

• Finish celebration in Bathurst

“From the Bridle Track to Australia’s first goldfields, this is more than a gravel ride—it’s a journey through the landscapes and stories that shaped the nation.”