Gravel destination: Mudgee

The Central West NSW town of Mudgee is the ideal location for a gravel riding getaway.

Gravel riding is growing in popularity, with manufacturers creating bikes specifically for gravel and all the gear that goes with it. For riders, it gives us the opportunity to explore new places on quiet country roads that were previously not accessible to roadies like me.

My partner and I are devoted road cyclists and haven’t done much offroad cycling, so with a small amount of trepidation, we packed up an Orbea Terra gravel bike (see separate review) each and headed to the NSW Central West town of Mudgee.

We’ve visited Mudgee many times before, including our annual pilgrimage to the Mudgee Classic run by this title. We’ve both completed the road ride on Sunday, but never the Dirty Mudgee gravel ride on Saturday.

For those who haven’t been, it’s a popular destination for wine and food lovers, as well as keen cyclists. It boasts over 35 wineries in the surrounding area, with cellar doors and restaurants. The town hosts many pubs, restaurants, cafes, and a wide range of accommodation to suit everyone’s taste and budget.

Gravel riding benefits

The greatest benefit of riding on gravel roads is the option to explore quiet roads that traverse farmland, natural bushland, and much more. And there is very little vehicle traffic on dirt roads. During our Mudgee rides, we saw no more than 10 vehicles over four days! But we did see kangaroos, lizards, farm animals, and a few friendly locals.

Due to the loose surface and ever-changing terrain, gravel riding employs different skills than regular road riding. Those newly developed skills can translate into road riding, making you a better all-round cyclist.

Taking up a new riding discipline also gives you the perfect excuse to buy a new bike – not that you really need one! You can ride a road bike on smooth gravel, but a gravel bike is designed for off-road use with its comfortable geometry, generous gearing, and greater tyre clearances. Our Orbea Terras were ideal for the Mudgee gravel roads.

Gravel rides

The focus of our four-day visit was riding the gravel rides throughout the area, including the Dirty Mudgee course, an out-and-back ride to Gulgong, and generally exploring.

There are many gravel roads near Mudgee and its surrounds. We explored some of the popular routes, and there are plenty more.

Dirty Mudgee course

This 55 km loop is the annual Dirty Mudgee ride route, which forms part of the Mudgee Classic.

To begin the ride, head out of town on the Castlereagh Highway towards Gulgong and turn right into Putta Bucca Road. It becomes a gravel road when you reach Tinja Lane, which will take you past stunning farmland and vineyards.

Several times during the ride, you’ll return to the bitumen on Henry Lawson Drive, which links up the gravel sections, including Strikes Lane, Black Springs Road, Drews Lane, Wilbetree Road and Snakes Creek Road.

Most of the gravel is relatively smooth, and there are several climbs and descents along the route, but overall, there is just 670m of climbing.

Central West Cycle trail

The Central West Cycle (CwC) trail is a 400km loop around the central west of NSW. It is designed to give cyclists a week-long ride through the Central West region and breathe life into the small villages and towns.

As our visit to the area was focused on Mudgee, we completed only the first leg of the CwC, a 30km stretch primarily on gravel roads from Mudgee to Gulgong.

The CwC is signposted and easy to follow. You ride out of Mudgee on the Castlereagh Highway towards Gulgong and turn right onto Wilbetree Road, about 2.4km from the CBD.

Wilbetree soon becomes smooth gravel. About 19km into the ride, turn left at the Canadian Lead Road and continue to Gulgong. Gulgong was a gold rush town that is now focused on tourism, with interesting museums, cafes, and pubs to visit.

Other Mudgee gravel

We also did some general exploring of other dirt roads around the area.

One of our favourite areas was near the Mudgee airport and cemetery. Head north across the river on Ulan Road and follow it until you see the airport on your left and the cemetery on your right. Turn just before the cemetery into Mt Pleasant Lane and explore the dead-end and loop roads like Edgell Lane, Mt Pleasant Lane, Buckaroo Road and adjoining roads.

Where to eat and drink

Like many regional towns in Australia, Mudgee has plenty of pubs. Choose the Court House if you want to step back in time and drink with the locals, the trendy Woolpack if you like dumplings, the Lawson Park for a superb steak, Kelly’s Irish pub for a traditional stew or Guinness Pie, or the Paragon for its excellent beer garden.

Great cafes include Alby & Esthers, tucked away in a laneway off Market Street, Millbrie, The Corner Store and Outside the Square.

For winery cellar doors, some of the most popular include Logan Wines, First Ridge, Huntington, Robert Stein Winery, Bunnamagoo and Lowe Wine. There are also some great smaller options – Walter Wines, Heslop Wines, Slowfox and 791 Estate.

If breweries are more your style, there is Three Tails Brewery in the CBD, or Small Batch and Mudgee Brewing Co are also worth a visit.

Many of the wineries include restaurants, and if you’d prefer to eat in Mudgee, try Gigi’s restaurant, located at The Clairfield on Sydney Road. Gigi’s focuses on fresh produce that is presented with generous portions. Popular winery restaurants are The Barn at Blue Wren, a great lunch or dinner spot, and The Zin House, a hatted restaurant with a great kitchen and garden-style dining experience at Lowe Family Wines.

Accommodation

Mudgee has many accommodation options, including hotels, motels, B&Bs, and more. We stayed at The Clairfield, a recently refurbished hotel conveniently located on the edge of the CBD. Mudgee Region Tourism can assist with accommodation options.

Other things to do

The Mudgee region also has some great walks. The Mudgee Sculpture Walk is in town and a great walk that links to Putta Bucca Wetlands – a good, easy town bike ride. For families, this precinct also now includes a pump track for children to ride any type of bike.

A day trip to the nearby township of Rylstone can include a visit to Ferntree Gully or Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp, where bushwalking, swimming, and kayak hire or guided kayak tours are available.

To relax after riding or other activities, visit Jila at The Clairfield for an infrared sauna and float therapy session.

Mudgee is a great destination for gravel riding on its many backroads, and you can also enjoy all it has to offer off the bike.

Bicycling Australia stayed at The Clairfield Hotel as guests during our visit to Mudgee.