Tasmania West Coast Bike Ride 2012

PRE-RIDE: For those arriving today, unpack your bike, relax and explore Salamanca Place, a collection of harbourside old sandstone warehouses now converted to art galleries, craft shops and restaurants. On Saturdays, Salamanca comes alive with the famous Salamanca Market. Over 300 stallholders sell fresh and gourmet produce, arts, crafts and handiwork crafts from all over Tasmania, interstate and overseas. Accommodation tonight is an optional extra.

PRE-RIDE: Gear up for our journey with a ride up Mt Wellington today at 9am, with morning tea and full vehicle support. It's only 20km each way but a healthy climb with magnificent views and of course it's all downhill to your hotel overlooking the harbour (ride cost $20). In the afternoon we will go out for a quick skills ride and check over the bikes before official registration and meeting with all your fellow riders. Accommodation tonight is an optional extra.

Day 1: Leaving the beautiful port of Hobart, with Mt Wellington on your left, we follow the Derwent River dotted with bright spinnakers, past gracious buildings and colonial villages like New Norfolk, similar to what you would expect from the English countryside. We gradually climb after morning tea, then finish the day with a beautiful downhill to the quaint little town of Hamilton, with its authentic cottages lining both sides of the main street.

Day 2: The countryside is stunning, as we pass the dam on the Derwent and cross bridges, over tossing waters, with natural lakes and places to explore. Then it's up a few hills and through thick forest to Tarraleah hydro station with a magnificent view from the top and it's quite special to see our route way down there alongside the river. Lunch at Bronte Lagoon in the high country before staying at the grand old hotel in the bush.

Day 3: Derwent Bridge is at the mouth of Lake St Clair and Lake William. Surrounded by small mountains and rugged countryside we enter the southern end of Cradle Mountain National Park and then cross the Collingwood & Franklin Rivers.

A short boardwalk and a cuppa at the Franklin River then exceptional cycle touring continues through this pristine area before lunch at Nelson Falls. Cycle around Lake Burbury, past copper mines leading to the magnificent views overlooking Queenstown, before the long descent. Wow, what a great day.

Day 4: An early morning rise will give you time to explore this classic town at daybreak, perhaps a walk along the river before breakfast. We leave the stark bare hills of this old copper mining town and cycle through undulating thick bush to the beautiful port side town of Strahan. An easy day leaving plenty of time to take a boat or seaplane ride down Macquarie Harbour and up into the Gordon river. An area made famous by its convict history and the Huon pine that was logged there for boats that still exist today. Now this rugged and beautiful part of Tasmania is a World Heritage Area.

Tonight it's the classic live play 'The Ship that Never Was' right on the foreshore.

Day 5: An easy ride through bush skirting the Southern Ocean, with magnificent marine views. Zeehan and Rosebery are both mining towns and cradled in the veins of some serious hill climbing, both up and down, finishing back at waters edge. This day is quite spectacular for the scenery and beauty of Tasmania's west coast. Take it easy, absorb the atmosphere and revel in our glorious accommodation overlooking Lake Rosebery.

Day 6: Lake Rosebery is low, so we have some climbing through incredibly stunning countryside, stopping along the way to rest, eat and observe the sights of Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain. Exquisite scenery. Most people arrive at Cradle Mountain by car, but to have the privilege of arriving by bike you really set the scene of today's dreamtime getaway. Explore the area after lunch and watch out for natures wildlife roaming the roads.

Day 7: It should be all downhill, but it's not, however it's a fast ride with breathtaking scenery on both sides. Sheffield township is coated in murals of local life then it's the home straight to Devonport and the finish of a cross country cycling classic. Thank you for sharing this ride with us and we hope to see you on another ride very soon.

Congratulations Tassie Tourers!

After 15 years of running bike tours, they really know how to do it. You will not find a better group to tour with - everything is geared to a safe, enjoyable and satisfying cycling experience. Most of all, I was welcomed like a family member away on a Summer Holiday. Like many others on what was my first trip, I'll be back. David M (VIC). Tasmania West 2012. More: http://home42.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/alltrails-crew.html

Hi Family, Thanks again for a great trip - best ever, group of new friends were all lovely, & the love from you two is awesome. Shaz R (NSW) Tasmania West 2012

Feel free to contact us at any time through our website ‘Contact Us’ page, phone or email. We love what we do and want to get you on the best bike ride for you. Speak to us about what's on your mind and we'll help you make your decision.

We always try to obtain great accommodation for you to rest your weary head (and legs) in each town whether it be a motel, cabins, B&Bs, chalets or lodges (3, 3.5, 4, 4.5 star).

On the online entry form you can nominate any travelling companions that you would like to share a room with and/or be accommodated close to so that couples or friends can be roomed together. This can be in a double bed or in twin beds. If you are travelling alone like many of our riders, you can choose to 'twin share' where single riders are paired with other riders of the same gender and sometimes changed at each accommodation to create interest in sharing rooms. Single Supplement is also available for those that would like their own room for the whole trip. If you are a chronic snorer or have other habits that may affect your fellow room-mates we suggest booking your own room.

We have a great safety record and do our best to inform motorists so that they can drive accordingly, however cyclists have to play their part in keeping well over to the left. We have support vehicles on the road showing 'Caution Cyclists' signs and a ‘tail end Charlie’ (vehicle following the last rider) with a flashing beacon to warn traffic about our cycling group. You will also be briefed before each day's ride pointing out parts of the road that may get narrow or have any known hazards.

Always a big part of any cycling holiday! Check tour details for meal inclusions on your ride. Our emphasis is on fresh food and balanced diet with plenty of carbohydrates, proteins, fruit and vegies catering for a cycling holiday. We successfully cater to most dietary requirements, however feel free to contact us with any questions. Most meals are included as part of our tours, however you may be required to purchase some meals as per the inclusions and daily itinerary.

A bike mechanic will be part of our crew and is there to help you with minor adjustments and servicing of your bike and will have a good stand pump for different valves. We will have limited parts available for replacement which will be charged at shop prices. Labour is free for the first fifteen minutes, there after costs may be incurred at the mechanic's discretion. Cyclists with rare or different bikes are asked to contact us at AllTrails and advise our mechanic.

Yes, you can rent a bike. We often have overseas riders coming to Australia, or interstate riders that would rather not take their bike around Australia on a plane, or road riders that want to come on a mountain bike ride with us (or vice versa).

We will be able to help you out with organising bike hire through our local contacts near our office in Melbourne, or closer to a ride departure location. When you make your booking just let us know that you would also like to hire a bike and we will get the ball rolling for you and put you in touch with the right people.

You can also bring your own seat and/or pedals to give you that little bit of 'home comfort'.

Yes. Either Bicycle Network Victoria membership insurance, Cycle Queensland membership insurance or similar, travel insurance, or another personal accident insurance is compulsory on our AllTrails rides. We also strongly suggest travel insurance to cover cancellation fees and lost/damaged luggage.

We suggest you carry a spare tube, tyre levers, two full water bottles and your own personal goods such as camera, wallet and perhaps rain gear if it’s threatening. We transport your luggage, day packs, food & extra water. A detailed list of what is required and provided will be sent to you in your pre-tour info pack.

Welcome! Traditionally most of the clientele on our rides have been from Australia or New Zealand, but we also have had many riders from USA and UK/Europe. You just need to make sure that your passport and visas are in order and check the cost of transferring your bike to Australia, or rent one here.

A comfortable racing bike, road bike or touring bike with a good seat and road tires with slick or near-slick tread. A hybrid or mountain bike is also possible if you are comfortable riding the daily distances of the tour at an average of 20 km/h on the flat.

People from all parts of Australia and overseas. Ages generally range from 25 - 70 with the average age about 50 years old. Adventurous cyclists usually about 40% women & 60% men with a mix of singles, friends and couples.

You really need to be a reasonably keen cyclist, however not necessarily fast, but consistent. If you can sit on an average speed of 20-25 km/hr on the flat, you will be fine. There is plenty of time to build your kilometre total distance in training, to gradually attain about 90km a day for 2 days straight.

Right here, right now. Go to our 'Pricing' tab and click the 'Book Your Place Today' button, or call us in the office on +61 3 9645 3355 or email alltrails@alltrails.com.au for more information.