Dunedoo to Mendooran via Digilah 53 km
Follow Bolero Street east (Golden Highway) and as you leave town, you will turn left into Sullivan Street. After about 1.2 km turn left into Digilah Road and now you are in an open rural landscape, with spaced eucalyptus trees, and some modest climbs. At the HF Ewin bridge, there is a T junction, turn west. (left)
After 18 km you will pass the entrance to the historic property of ‘Digilah’. Go past the turn off to Lockerbie Rd on your right, continuing on the Digilah road. After a creek crossing, you will come to the homestead track going straight ahead. Don’t go in but follow the fork to the right. Soon after there is a cattle grid to cross and immediately take the left-hand fork. A little further on, take the left hand turn towards Mendooran with good views back at the historic woolshed. This pleasant route has rocky outcrops, cypress trees and long pastoral views, moving into denser bushland.
At 25 km you will pass by ‘Boulderwood’, then a low-level crossing over a Creek, and some settlement houses a little further on. Continue and at 35 km you will meet the Castlereagh Highway. Take great care with more traffic as you turn right and cycle another 18 km to the old Castlereagh River town of Mendooran. Continue along the main street, Bandulla Street and you will find the old Post Office on your right. Keep going and you will reach the Royal Hotel at the end of the street nearby the Castlereagh River.
Dunedoo via Cobbora to Mendooran 63km
This route reduces highway riding by 7 km compared to the Dunedoo-Digilah-Mendooran route. There is another route avoiding all highway riding between Dunedoo and Mendooran by turning left off the Cobbora Rd onto Pinehurst Rd, then via private road through to Yarrow Rd and enter Mendooran on the southern side. Contact David Allworth on [email protected] or 0408 726 038 who can make arrangements to use private road.
Proceed west along Bolaro St (main street of Dunedoo) taking a left-hand turn into Caigan St to Rhodes St, turn right along this delightful treed street until it meets Avonside Rd at a T junction. Turning left at Avonside Rd follow this gravel road for 12 km until it meets Avonside West Rd. Turn right over a grid to follow Avonside West Rd for 10km to Golden Highway. You will pass through open paddocks and woodlands. Reaching the Golden Highway make a righthand turn following the highway for 700m. Turn left onto Cobbora Rd, which leads to the township of Cobbora. At Cobbora groups wanting morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea need to prebook with Sally Dent (mobile 0498 542 689) of Cobbora Station, located at the edge of town – a minimum of 6, but fellow cyclists in groups of lesser size say it is worth paying for the six. Follow the Cobbora Rd for 27km to the Castlereagh Highway. Turn left at the highway to Mendooran 11 km away. The road shoulder is reasonable for 6 km but the last 5 km is more difficult, but lines of sight are good. For those you want to use the private roads across the property ‘Boxwood’ you will turn left at Pinehurst Rd 21.4 km after leaving the Golden Highway at Cobbora. A detailed map and permission can be arranged by Mick Cooper (mobile 0437 136 169) or David Allworth (mobile 0408 726 038).
Mendooran accommodation includes the Royal Hotel (02 68862043) , Anna’s Mendooran B&B (02 68861044 or 0416273956), Lee’s Mendooran cottage accommodation (0429855096) next to the Royal, plus free Caravan and Camping on the Castlereagh River banks. For a good breakfast, and a packed lunch to take on your way, go to Crackerz Bakery in Mendooran.Dinner is available on weekend nights at the bowling club.(0268861138).
Refer also to the Warrungumble Visitors Centre.