Central West Cycle Trail

CLICK HERE to download program which has links to ticket sales.

A few more additions are coming – we will keep you posted.

The Mendooran Food Cycle provides a great cycling event, but there is also plenty for the non-cyclist – town heritage walks, vegetable garden tour and all the buzz last time, bees!  The big get together is the dinner in the O’Leary Pavilion on Saturday – the fire will be on.

Mendooran is not a huge town, and last year we had all the beds booked out.  But the strong hand at Mendooran is camping.  So come prepared, the Mendooran Showground facilities are just new and there is a stage of undercover space. Plus, there are a number of other camping locations in the town.  Hopefully we will have details of a couple of initiatives to make the camping option even easier. Looking at tents for hire.

The other purpose of the Food Cycle is to boost the great little town of Mendooran and to fundraise for the Central West Cycle Trail Inc.  CWC takes a bit from each ticket sold to enable it to fund websites, carry insurance, be an incorporated body etc – not exciting but essential. 

Any queries [email protected]

There will be periodic closures of Scabbing Bridge over the Macquarie River 4 km south of Geurie. Closures programmed for October through to mid-December. The closure dates set by the Dubbo Regional Council should be notified on Live Traffic NSW . The dates known as at 29 October are:

* Tues 29th, to Thurs 31st October, * Tues 12th to 14th November * Tues 26th to Thurs 28th November and * Tues 10th to Thurs 12th December. BUT CHECK LIVE TRAFFIC TO SURE ON THE DAY OR EVENING OF JOURNEY.

Cllck here for copy of the Dubbo Regional Council’s conditions of use of alternative route. A key condition is that Saxa Rd is used at riders own risk. 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  [email protected] 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

Rain, Roads and Creeks

The second half of 2022 is typified by rain -unprecedented amounts. 

Before venturing out on any day check the CWC Facebook (tap on FEATURED icon) and other links listed below for road/trail conditions. We strongly recommend support vehicles should plan on limiting themselves to the use of sealed (bitumen) roads. 

The Facebook rather than the website will be the vehicle for the most up to date information known to the Committee because of the ability to quickly make updates from the field, through a number of observers. But riders/support teams are finally responsible for decisions as independent travellers about the route they take and whether to proceed.

Useful links are: 

Warumbungle Shire Council link:

 Road Closures – Warrumbungle Shire Council (nsw.gov.au)

Mid-Western Regional Council link:

 Current Road Closures | Disaster Dashboard (disasterdashboards.com)

Dubbo Regional Council link:

ROAD CLOSURES – Dubbo Regional Council (nsw.gov.au)

Other essential links are for Goonoo State Forest and for drier times Fires Near Me.

Circumstances can change before warnings can be posted, as such people have to make their own assessment of risk and be sufficiently prepared with supplies to not have to take risky options. It is our local experience that roads can become impassable due to bogging and fast or deep water well before there is signage erected by authorities.

Signage and maps

Do not depend on signage alone to navigate the CWC – following a map is essential!!

The CWC has tried to place oval signage on all major intersections to assist navigation. But there are gaps!

The BLACK arrows depict an anti-clockwise route, and the WHITE are clockwise. The directional stickers are all black arrows regardless of direction.

We are only allowed to place oval signage on traffic information signposts and not traffic control posts and as a result are limited where they can go, so if there is no suitable post there won’t be a sign. Note there are no oval signs in the Goonoo Forest as we can’t get approval from National Parks only the black arrow stickers in both directions.

Recent rains have created challenges for riders. Below are some alternatives for known problem areas. We are looking to expand our range of options available to cater for adverse weather.   Meanwhile, do not hesitate to call any of the contacts listed on this website for advice.

1, Wellington-Dubbo

Recently routes can be cut between Geurie and Dubbo both on Old Dubbo Road and roads out of Wongarbon to Dubbo.    

Alternative route is “Dubbo-Wellington sealed”– south of Macquarie River 59.8km mapped by Mick Cooper.

To see route CLICK HERE

2. Wellington-Gulgong

Main trouble arises on this route at Uamby Creek about 10km from Goolma  on the Uamby Rd towards Wellington. The alternative route to Goolma is to follow 12 Mile Rd and miss Uamby Rd.

To see route CLICK HERE

Because of recent roads works at a causeway there was another ‘road closed’ section 5km along Mebul Rd from the Goolma end.  This is not expected to be a long-term problem. However, whilst work happens in May and June 2022 problems could arise if heavy rains occur. People have been forced onto the Goolma-Wellington Rd which is not pleasant.  We are looking at alternative options.

General experience across the CWC has been that troubles arise within the 12 to 24 hrs of heavy rains – with most creeks receding quickly without further rain and gravel roads drying.  Being able to alter timetable with a Plan B is very valuable.

The CWC is characterised by quiet gravel roads and creek crossings without bridges – either a concrete causeway or stream bed itself.  This means you enjoy many many kilometres of quiet cycling. The flip side is there is no ‘big road’ engineering to protect you from the effects of heavy downpours.

The CWC website now carries mapping for utilizing the option of going between Dubbo and Geurie via Old Dubbo Rd, distance 32 km.  This route option creates a loop for those going into Dubbo on their way between Geurie (Wellington) to Ballimore. Previously the route into Dubbo from Wongarbon was very similar to the onward leg to Ballimore from Dubbo.

The trail option is in the Map section of the CWC website is listed as 6a in the PDF and RideWithGPS links.  The new route is also covered in the trail description on the website in the Dubbo-Geurie section.  On route you will go by the Pioneer Cemetery and the Dun Lah Café 0419 981 626 (check opening hours on its webpage).   The loop Dubbo – Old Dubbo Rd – Geurie – Wongarbon-Dubbo is a ‘day trip’ option if you stay over in that part of CWC region.  A little insight from Mick Cooper  at (14) Central West Cycle Trail | Facebook.