Central West Cycle Trail

A 43km loop, and an 83km loop are just part of the selection of great gravel riding loops available out of Goolma. Come and enjoy the gravel and get a taste of the Central West Cycle Trail, heading into its 7th year. Enjoy the cycle camaraderie over a cuppa and some snacks at the start and end of the ride.

Maps for routes: 48km loop CLICK HERE 83km loop CLICK HERE
To register and be provided with tea-coffee-snacks $15 CLICK HERE
Further information: info@centralwestcycletrail.com.au

We’ve just released a fresh collection of local loop rides based around each of the cornerstone towns and villages along the trail. Loop rides mean you can:
*Set up house and leave your bags in one spot
*Ride without overnight gear
*Pick your distance each day
*Explore each town at your own paceperfect whether you’re after a quick spin or a full-day adventure.

Choose your ride:
*Short loops: 20–30 km
*Medium loops: 40–60 km
*Long loops: 80 km+

Plus — we’ve got a handful of routes that need a final test ride.
If you’re up for a bit of adventure, pick one from the “CWC to be tested” collection, ride it, and tell us how it went !

Explore all loops here:

LOCAL LOOP RIDES – Central West Cycle Trail

Got a favourite local loop? Send it to info@centralwestcycletrail.com.au and we’ll review it.
(We’re after routes that are safe, mostly quiet ‘public’ roads/trails, and suitable for the average cyclist.)

Already ridden the full CWCT ? Its time to come back and rediscover the region — lighter, faster, and from a whole new angle.  Start planning your next Central West cycling getaway now !

DATE CLAIMER

MENDOORAN FOOD CYCLE on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September. We will be looking to expand some of the successful elements of this popular event. Being held in spring we hope that Goonoo forest will be in full bloom.

Also put these one-day events in your diary.

GOOLMA LOOP RIDES; Saturday, 21 March from 8.30am – keep an eye out for the ‘pop up cafe’ in the bush. There will be the ever popular Uamby Rd-Twelve Mile Rd loop (45km) and some longer loops on offer – or do some mix and match.

GEURIE LOOP RIDES Saturday, 16 May, – from 8.30am – be it down to Wellington south of the river and back on the northern side -65km or some shorter loops.

Fundraisers are critical for maintaining the services of the CWC – website, insurance, signage etc. Will put up core programs and booking end of November.

The revised trial of roll on/rolloff (no boxing) of bicycles on Trainlink regional services commenced on Monday 4 August and will last for 3 months. Key changes are:

1. With unboxed bicycles people can get off and on at Central (Sydney), Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo.  The first trial was only getting on or off at Sydney and Dubbo, and .
2. People can make a booking 7 days a week.

Experience to date as single rider or pair has been great, with helpful and competent staff both at the station and on the train. This makes all the difference. Getting on and off the train can be done quickly, the key thing is know where to stand when boarding.

The trial is being conducted on the Sydney-Dubbo line only. 

The trial has two spaces available, and Trainlink has stated it is not a trial of demand, but rather checking how the system might work.   Cyclists are strongly encouraged to participate in the trial and give feedback both to Trainlink and ourselves through the CWC group  Facebook or info@centralwestcycletrail.com.au. 

Getting off at Dubbo puts you straight onto the Central West Cycle Trail, or getting off at Orange gives you the choice of heading up to the CWC through Molong, or veering south to do the Lachlan Valley Trail. Of course it also allows the commuter from Orange or Bathurst now to take their bicycle to Sydney or vice versa.

The CWCT will continue to work for further improvements. We believe that moves need to be made to:

1. Bring Lithgow into the trial as it has a regular suburban rail service that people can come and go on. If you live in Penrith you do not want to be going back into Central to put your bicycle on, only to find yourself  back at Penrith on your trip west.   And similarly unstaffed stations such as Tarana, Millthorpe, Stuart Town, Geurie and Wellington should be part of the trial. The main area assistance need is on-train related rather than station related.
2. Create sufficient ‘flexible space’  on the XPT so that groups of 8 or more cyclists can be catered for.   There are a number of immediate options here. This would serve as a template for the new fleet.
3. A particularly urgent priority is having regional Trainlink buses carry bikes (rack at the rear or luggage area – has been done) and the wider question of e-bikes. E-bikes are a rapidly growing sector!

To find out more about the trial go to:

Trainlink Bike Trial Information

and for  Departmental press release:

Roll into spring with revamped trial of bikes on Dubbo XPT | Transport for NSW

There will be periodic closures of Scabbing Bridge over the Macquarie River 4 km south of Geurie. The closure times set by the Dubbo Regional Council should be notified on Live Traffic NSW .

As at 12 May 2025 the bridge is generally proposed to be closed or controll traffic on weekdays.

For alternative route information etc go to CWC Facebook (14) Central West Cycle Trail | Facebook or Alerts Map on The Trail page on this website at The Trail – Central West Cycle Trail.

From September for three months, a small number of passengers will have the option of bringing bicycles onto the train when they board a select XPT service at Dubbo or Central, without having to put them in a bike box.

NSW TrainLink’s limited proof of concept trial is designed to provide insights into the operational feasibility of transporting bikes onboard long-distance regional trains.

Please try it out, fill out the Trainlink feedback form and gives us your thoughts at  info@centralwestcycletrail.com.au or at the CWC Facebook page.

Details of the trial are contained in the two links below:

Limited roll-on bikes trial on Sydney-Dubbo XPT services | transportnsw.info

Minister inspects new regional rail fleet in Dubbo | Transport for NSW

Photo below shows bicycle of CWC committee member John Fuller on the Dubbo-Central XPT service.

Trail guide, memento or inspiration to ride is the new 22 page Central West Cycle Trail book. The new edition has a foldout A3 size map.  Each of the 10 legs of the 400km has a separate map, photos, key features and direction notes.   Photographs have been contributed by numerous of the riders of the trail over the last three years.   Although we live in the wonder of the electronic age a publication for browsing or reading jointly with others provides a special joy. Cost is $20.00 (postage included). Go to: CWC Guide Book – Central West Cycle Trail