Posted on 2008-04-27 21:00:00
Tags: Cycling, Cycling in Australia, Lake Tuggerah
The Tuggerah Lake is a trip which takes you past Norah Head, Toukley, Gorokan, Wyongah, Wyong, Tuggerah, Chittaway Bay and then all the way around the lake to the Entrance. Good for some 50 kilometers of travel, which is mostly flat. Google Map
I started at Magenta, at the eastern part of the lake. From there to Norah head is a asphalted road through the nature area. Through Carlton Beach past the lake and then over the bridge to Gorokan. If you are brave and curious enough you can visit the One Stop Rock and Voodoo Shop which is on this strip. After Gorokan you will see in the distance a traffic light with a huge hill, turn left (south) before the hill, there is enough road left for getting tired later. You can't cycle directly next to the lake here, you are always one block of houses away from it.
Once past Rocky Point you end up on a beautiful stretch next to the river. And when the road goes away from the river you go to a nice forest area again. If it has rained a lot, which it did for about 12 days before I did this trip, then the river is very high and all the moats in front of the houses are filled up; Not a picture you see often in Australia.
Under the railroad tunnel and the Pacific Highway and you end up back in the reality of a stretch of commercialism: The sudden overflow of cognitive impulses which fight for your attention is enormous. Luckily that the part of this road is very short, and you can relax on the road to Chittaway Bay and then back to the lake.
The next part up to the bridge at The Entrance is a piece of cake it isn't too late in the morning or when it hasn't rained for 12 days in advance: Too late in the morning and it will be all filled with little children cycling there and lots of people walking, and if it has rained for 12 days it will be flooded at certain parts. The flooding part isn't that bad, just make some speed, lift your feet and you get through it without too much problems: It doesn't get deeper than 10 centimeters. Except for two places: Just before the Rotary Park there was a whole street flooded and the last three meters suddenly brought the water up to the chains; and a silly low bridge near the Picnic Point Reserve which on both sides had very deep water on the path.
Once I left the Picnic Point Reserve (with or without dry feet) I went up the bridge and north back to the Magenta Shores. The trip took 200 minutes and included two breaks of say 15 minutes each.
Posted on 2007-12-15 15:02:00
Tags: Cycling, Cycling in Sydney, Australia
Cycling between Caringbah station and Kurnell is 13 kilometers, but you have to cycle back due to lack of train stations in Kurnell (but there is one in Cronulla and Woolooware).
From the train station, go to the Denman avenue because you will not be able to cross the railroad again until somewhere in Cronulla.
At the crossing of Denman Avenue and Gannoa Road, turn left. If you go straight, you unnecessary will go up a hill. Past Sharkies and the school and that's the last you will see from Cronulla.
The Captain Cook drive is a nice long road with only two minor hills but it has, despite that it is a beautiful natural area, one huge drawback: It is full with factories and industrial areas on the right hand side. I don't know who got the idea of putting all that industry here, but it surely is not the right place for it.
In Kurnell at the crossing of the Captain Cook drive and Polo street is a small milkshop which does do a very good milkshake. Take the milkshake into the National Park and enjoy it in the Memorial Park!
Posted on 2007-12-15 15:01:00
Tags: Cycling, Cycling in Sydney, Australia
Cycling between Helensburgh station and Stanwell Park is another nice size trip (10 kilometers) with a stop at Symbio Zoo and Stanwell Heights.
But there is one major warning: From the station till Helensburgh town center it is only hill up. And hill up. And hill up. For about three kilometers. But once you are at the Symbio Zoo you have two hours to recover from it.
From Symbio Zoo to Stanwell Heights is a nice refreshing trip through the foresty areas, and at Stanwell Heights an unique view over Stanwell Park and if you're lucky you will see some whales.
Down from Stanwell Heights to Stanwell Park is a drop of 250 meters over 2500 meters, making it an interesting experience for the brakes on the back of your bike. And at the bottom you can enjoy a swim on the beach.
Be warned, going back to the train station in Stanwell Park is an only-hill-up experience too.
Posted on 2007-12-15 15:00:00
Tags: Cycling, Cycling in Sydney, Australia
Cycling between Waterfall and Helensburgh is a nice size trip (10 kilometers).
You can go via the Southern Freeway but I would strongly suggest not to do this: You only have three hills, but these are horrible hills which don't give you any satisfaction. When you do it early in the morning you don't have too much hassle of the traffic going between Sydney and Wollogong.
The path you should take is via the Princes Highway, on which there are more hills but they are not that high. And it will give you more shadowed areas.