MOUNTAIN BIKING TOUR
The Majestic Barrington Mountain Bike Tour - 1 Day of sensory overload in a good way.
$135.00AUD PP
1 DAY
Selected dates in 2022(Contact us to find date)
DESCRIPTION:
Where spectacular coastline meets rustic countryside and adventurous mountain bike trails.
Renowned for its many natural assets, which include stunning National Parks and Reserves, untapped kilometers of pristine coastline
and beautiful beaches, this rugged, natural environment is perfectly placed for you to explore by Mountain bike.
Day 1
Your tour starts with your arrival at Port Macquarie Airport (midday).
We will pick you up and transport you from Port Macquarie to Crescent Head.
Enjoy a scrumptious welcome lunch and an introduction to your tour guide and the tour.
A quick 5km ride around the beautiful surfing beaches of Crescent Head for bike set up and to assess the pace of our group.
Get settled in your hotel accommodation, then a hearty group dinner before settling down for the night. Sleep tight. Your riding adventure starts tomorrow.
5km
35 Minute Ride Time
Even have a swim and surf yourself!
Pick up and Drop off included
DAILY DISTANCE:
30 TO 45 Kilometres PER DAY
The tour Aussie Bike OR Hike have designed will be mostly dirt roads. places where traffic is at a minimum and wild life and sights are at a maximum!
Our aim is for the ride not to test you physically but to be enjoyable whilst still covering a decent distance. A lot of thought has gone into the route for our tours to make it as enjoyable as possible.
However if the riding distance is too far. Don't worry. we will have a back up van that can take you to the final destination.
Which Airport do I fly too?
Aussie Bike OR Hike operates from the New South Wales Mid North Coast of Australia.
The closest airport to our headquarters in Port Macquarie.
Port Macquarie has both Qantas and Virgin airlines operating 4 flights each per day.
Once you have arrived at Port Macqaurie airport. One of the Aussie Bike OR Hike Staff will be waiting there to collect you and transport to the 1st nights accommodation.
Day 2
We start our bike ride at Crescent Head, one of NSW’s most beautiful coastal areas.
Ride along this glorious coastal region to Point Plomer. This is a gravel road that can be more challenging if the weather hasn’t been kind, but you’ll get to really take in some lovely picturesque spots along this route.
We will stop for a spot of lunch at Point Plomer Beach - there’s nothing quite like a beach picnic.
Continue our ride to Port Macquarie, one of NSW’s most popular coastal holiday destinations. We will take a ferry crossing to Port Macquarie and give our legs a rest.
Meet our back up vehicle, load up the bikes and relax while we drive you to your camel safari.
Enjoy riding a camel along the beach (no pedal power here) and then afterwards we will transport you to that evening’s accommodation in Laurieton, a lovely fishing village nestled on the banks of the majestic Camden Haven River.
Enjoy a hearty evening meal together in a local pub, then relax for the evening.
33.2 km ride distance
174 meters climbing.
3 Hour 50 Minutes ride time.
60 min Camel Safari
Day 3
After another delicious Aussie breakfast, we will ride from Laurieton, across the Camden Haven River, and follow a typical Aussie coastal dirt road to Diamond Head, part of the Crowdy Bay National Park.
You’ll ride past heath and forests of paperbark and swamp mahogany, and then we will pause for a beach picnic lunch and check out Kylie’s Hut.
Kylie’s Hut is an historic hut that was built by local man Ernie Metcalfe for Australian author Kylie Tennant who moved to the area during World War II. Kylie used the hut as a writer’s retreat, no doubt using the stunning scenery of the park for inspiration. Ernie Metcalfe and Crowdy Bay is portrayed in The Man on the Headland.
After lunch, time to take in the exceptional views at Kylie’s lookout. Scan the waters for dolphins and look out for wallabies and other native wildlife. It's thought that Diamond Head draws its name from the quartz crystals in the cliffs and you might see them sparkling in the sunlight.
The headland offers panoramic views across Crowdy Bay, north to Perpendicular Point and south to Crowdy Head. In between are superb sweeps of golden sand, and rising out of the lush forested hinterland, behind you, are the majestic Three Brothers mountains.
A beach walk or swim is just the thing before we jump back on the bikes and do a 1km beach ride. Theres nothing quite like riding on such majestic, unspoilt beaches.
We finish the day at the fabulous Crowdy Head Lighthouse and lookout, where you can often spots Whales migrating up the coast
From Crowdy you will be transported to our evening accommodation at Mansfield on the Manning. We can talk about the day’s events over another fine evening meal.
31km Ride Distance
207 meters climbing
3 hours and 36 minutes ride time
Day 4
Breakfast at Mansfield on Manning. then we hop on our bikes and ride into the glorious Kiwarrak Forest.
Here you will get to Ride some of the 94 best mountain bike tracks in Australia. We promise you won’t do all 94, but you will get a real forest experience on the privately built trails.
We will continue along until reaching Clarendon Retreat.
Today is a shorter ride as we have more time at clarendon.
After a BBQ lunch
And a rest, you will enjoy a 2 hour Horse ride around beautiful Clarendon Farm.
After the horse riding is over, it’s time to relax by the pool, play a game of tennis if you stil have some energy, or even go for a walk around the 300 acres at Clarendon Farm.
Maybe even a spot of cricket before our evening meal.
20 km
366 meters climbing
2 hours 45 minutes ride time
2 hour Horse Ride
Day 5
Breakfast at Clarendon Retreat, then you will be transported to Half Chain Road at Old Bar, another sleepy coastal town.
From there we will ride to Blackhead, where we stop for lunch and coffee at a local café, and just take in the spectacular seaside scenery.
After lunch, we continue along the dirt road all the way to The twin townships of Forster/Tuncurry.
Time for a slow down now and experience a fabulous dolphin tour, where you will get to see dolphins, always a breathtaking sight.
After the Dolphin watch tour you will be taken to your accommodation to freshen up. Your evening meal that night will be at a fabulous local restaurant by the lake.
39.5 KM
370 Meters of Climbing
4 hours 30 Minutes Ride Time
2 hour Dolphin Boat Tour
Day 6
After your final Aussie breakfast, today is a day for just relaxing and taking in the scenery. We will transport you to Port Macquarie, and take you for a tour at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. See Koalas being cared for by professional staff. Pet a Koala, a must for most Aussie holiday makers. After enjoying your farewell lunch looking out over the beautiful Hastings River, we will transport you to the airport for your Afternoon flight flight (no riding this day).
This is where we will say bye bye until we see you again.
Animals you may see:
Superb lyrebird
With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rain-forests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria
Swamp wallabi
The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.
Common wombat
A large, squat marsupial, the Australian common wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.
Australian brush turkey
The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rain-forests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.
Common ringtail possum
Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fru
-
PRICE INCLUDES:Arrival Gift Accommodation (twin Share) per night Breakfast Lunch Dinner Dual Suspension Mountain Bike Support van and Trailer Informed and experienced travel guide riding with the group Luggage transport from hotel to hotel Admissions and tours according to the program Tour description, travel materials Detailed route planning Riding with group PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRFARES
-
WHAT TO EXPECT:RIDING STYLE: On our guided tours, riders tend to stick together as a group with the guide, as we regard this to be the safer option. Riders sometimes can go ahead to the next turn or next town, but the norm is sticking together. BIKES: Aussie Bike OR Hike have fully serviced and ready to go dual suspension mountain bikes. All bikes will be equipped with water bottles and flashing lights on the front and rear for safety. The lead tour operator’s bike will also be fitted with GPS navigation, First aid kit, Cellular communication and CB radio. The lead tour operator will also have tools, spare tubes and parts to fix the bike on the move should any problems arise. Clients are not required to carry their luggage on the bicycle as one of our staff will collect your luggage from the hotel and take it to the next hotel, ready for your arrival. ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation will generally be 3- and 4-star hotels as well as 2-star hotels that are especially appealing—or could even be the only ones in town. The hotels are chosen for their more intimate atmosphere and reflection of the history and culture of the area, rather than larger chain hotels. We want you to experience the real Australia. MEALS: Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included on all tours. No-one goes hungry on an Aussie Bike or Hike tour! Meals will be typical Australian fare, with a variety of options depending on the location and the weather. If you have any dietary restrictions, please contact us before booking, so we can find out and plan your options for your tour.
-
TYPICAL DAY:Wake up and smile. Today is going to be a great day! Your Aussie Bike OR Hike guide will tell you what time to meet to start riding, and you can plan your waking/packing/breakfast schedule accordingly. We do like to get away each day on time, so that no-one misses out on any of the tour. Breakfast is always included. Bring your luggage down. Before you meet to ride (and usually after breakfast), bring your luggage to the hotel lobby for pick-up. Ride! The guide will lead the way, and usually you’ll all ride together as a group. This means you go at one pace. If it’s a big group, you might have more than one guide, one to ride fast with the more advanced riders and one to ride slow with the slower riders. The guide will show you sights along the way, help in case of any mechanical issues, and answer any questions you may have. For safety reasons, you will typically stay together as a group, although in some cases the guide may give you the “all clear” to go at your own pace to the next turn or landmark. Stops for sightseeing, tours and snacks tend to be done by the full group. For our guided tours you’ll have a support vehicle that is nearby along the day’s route. This is great if you think you might want a break from cycling during the day: just jump in the support vehicle. The vehicle also has food and drink to replenish your supply. Our favourite lunch scenario: As you ride around a bend, you will see the support van parked roadside with blankets and table and chairs laid out nearby. While you have been pedaling, the staff of Aussie Bike OR Hike have been out shopping at local farmer’s markets and putting together a dream picnic made up of typical Australian food! Just what you need to replenish before the next part of your ride. After lunch the group will get back on their bikes and continue on the chosen route, which will lead eventually to the night’s accommodation. Arrive at the hotel. You’ll usually arrive mid-afternoon at the next hotel, where you can shower and rest and enjoy some free time. Our guides may find an organized sightseeing tour which will be set up for before or after dinner. Dinner will be with your group. This is a great way to meet and get to know your fellow travellers. These dinners are included in the tour price. Soft drinks and water are included. Alcohol is an extra cost to you. Rest, relax and enjoy your evening! See some sights or turn in early. Get ready to repeat this schedule tomorrow!
-
OUR TIPS - DONT FORGET:CAMERA: Remember to bring your camera along with you. The ride path that Aussie Bike or Hike staff will take you on will have some breathtaking scenery. You’ll have vistas of rolling hills and coastal beaches to choose from, as well as Australian wild life, It’s very common to see Kangaroos, birds, goannas and other wild life along the route, so you may want to take lots of happy snaps. SPENDING MONEY: Although this tour price is all inclusive (read details above about what is included) you may still want to bring some spending money with you. You might ride past a little souvenir shop or want to buy an ice-cream or some other snacks or drinks at a particular town, so make sure you have some spending money on you, for any items you may wish to purchase. You can always store any souvenirs in our back up vehicle. Note – Alcohol is not included in our price. VISA: Whether you need an entry Visa into Australia will depend on which country you are from. Make sure that you take care of this BEFORE arrival into Australia. If you require an entry Visa, you MUST organize this yourself before embarking on your journey to Australia, and bring it along with you to avoid any disappointment when you arrive. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa/appl/visitor