Canberra Oldies hit the Orange Gravel Trail (378km)

Published March 2025

Our mob from Pedal Power in Canberra had ridden the CWCT and a number of Lachlan Valley routes over the past couple of years. We were looking for a new challenge. We considered the Orange 360, but then discovered the Orange Gravel Trail route, which avoids some busy roads and long climbs on the road based version.

Being all 70 plus, we like a bit of comfort – so we planned around available accommodation and having a support car to carry luggage. Bikes were 3 full power eMTB style and 3 lower powered Merida eSilex gravel bikes. We were thankful to have a non-riding partner join us to drive the support car and even set up morning tea & lunch stops enroute. Otherwise we would have rostered driving the support car in half day stints.

We had 8 days of riding, and a rest day in the middle to explore Orange.

Day 1: Cowra to Canowindra

We all met in Cowra to commence our OGT. Our first days ride was Cowra – Canowindra (46 km, 348 m), a route many of us had ridden on previous trips. Gravel condition was very good, with few hills until the second half of the days ride. We stayed in Eddy’s of Canowindra, the charming ex-convent – my 5th time there it is so good. The Canowindra Hotel put on a good feed as usual.

Day 2: Canowindra to Cudal

Day 2 took us from Canowindra to Cudal (66 km, 644 m). Some of us had ridden part of this route previously, in a loop ride through Cargo. Cargo was good stop for refreshments before heading on to Cudal.

Road conditions were very good, with a few testing hills to give us a workout. We stayed in the Platypus Accommodation in Cudal. This is top class country fare, and they put on a great dinner for us, with complementary platypus sightings nearby.

Day 3: Cudal to Molong

Our third day on the bike was a ride from Cudal to Molong (39 km, 470 m). We had some lunch at the Wildflower Café as some storms passed by. We raced the weather as we approached our accommodation at the Molong Motor Inn. We got there mostly dry just before it belted down with heavy rain for the next hour! Dinner at the Molong RSL had us ready for the next day’s ride.

Day 4: Molong to Orange

Ride Day 4 was Molong to Orange (45 km, 742 m). We started to feel the hills a bit here, and had to use some battery! Road conditions were good and we got to Orange for lunch before checking in to our AirBnB accommodation for 2 nights. Our rest day afforded some exploring on bike paths, the Botanic Gardens and galleries. We had a nice meal at Pellegrinis Italian in Summer St.

Day 5: Orange to Blayney

A mine maintenance shut down meant that there was no accommodation available in Millthorpe, so we planned to ride Orange to Blayney  (50 km, +676m) for day 5 instead of Orange to Milthorpe. Jo kindly gave us the revised gps route. We stayed at the Blayney Hotel.

Day 6: Blayney to Carcoar

Ride Day 6 took us from Blayney to Carcoar (34 km, +461m), we just followed the Millthorpe to Carcoar route from Blayney.  We had a small diversion to have mornos overlooking the Carcoar Dam on the Belubula River – a beautiful spot.

The ride over Mount Macquarie was steep, long and rough, it had the gravel bike riders envious of the full power MTBs. We stayed at the Royal Hotel, and had an excellent dinner there too. We spent the afternoon exploring the old railway station and tunnel, and taking in some local music at the station.

Day 7: Carcoar to Woodstock

Our penultimate ride day was the toughest day on the bikes. Carcoar to Woodstock (76 km, 996 m). This was a 2 stop day, with coffee at Mandurama and a lunch break on Clements Road.

Reward for the effort came in the Woodstock Pub – beautifully restored after their fire a few years back. Hospitality matched the décor, and they arranged pizza for us for dinner despite the dining room being closed.

Day 8: Woodstock to Cowra

Our last day was a (faster) doddle back to Cowra, to pick up our cars and head back to Canberra. Woodstock to Cowra (26 km, 224 m).