10 years of bicycle tours across Australia

'Rock Ride' - Adelaide to Ayers Rock & Alice Springs

May 3 - 18 2008

The Rock Ride Brochure

Click the link to download a PDF brochure of the upcoming Rock Ride. Places filling quickly!

Download Rock Ride Brochure (Adobe PDF)

Crossing Australia has been the dream of many explorers and what better way than by bike.

Clare Valley is a dream, especially in Autumn with rows of golden grapevines stretching forever, interspersed by stone cottages and farm house wine tasting rooms.

It gets even better as we skirt Mt Remarkable, a cyclists paradise, alive with kangaroos and rugged red gum tree trunks.

Further north the landscape thins, with saltbush, red earth and treeless plains.  Salt lakes extend forever, like this timeless land, bringing you the real feeling of The Outback.

Explore underground at Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world, littered with luckless mines and surrounded by white mounds of mullock. Stay underground in our 4 star accommodation with a sauna and swimming pool. We really spoil you with 5 star accommodation at Ayers Rock, where you can explore the rock and Olgas and marvel at nature’s masterpiece.  Enjoy the luxury of the truly Australian “Sounds of Silence” evening.  (See highlights.)

The array of roadhouses, people, wildlife and landscapes is vast and so are the stars at night.  Cycling this country is the best way to appreciate arriving at Alice Springs, The Centre of Australia.” 

C’mon on Aussie C’mon C’mon!

 Crossing Australia has been the dream of many explorers and what better way than by bike.

Our newest Ride on the 2008 Calendar.

Be Quick, this is filling up Fast!

Clare Valley is a dream, especially in Autumn with rows of golden grapevines stretching forever, interspersed by stone cottages and farm house wine tasting rooms.

It gets even better as we skirt Mt Remarkable, a cyclists paradise, alive with kangaroos and rugged red gum tree trunks.

Further north the landscape thins, with saltbush, red earth and treeless plains.  Salt lakes extend forever, like this timeless land, bringing you the real feeling of The Outback.

Explore underground at Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world, littered with luckless mines and surrounded by white mounds of mullock.   Stay underground in our 4 star accommodation with a sauna and swimming pool.

We really spoil you with 5 star accommodation at Ayers Rock, where you can explore the rock and Olgas and marvel at nature’s masterpiece.  Enjoy the luxury of the truly Australian “Sounds of Silence” evening.  

The array of roadhouses, people, wildlife and landscapes is vast and so are the stars at night.  Cycling this country is the best way to appreciate arriving at Alice Springs, The Centre of Australia.”  C’mon on Aussie C’mon C’mon! 

Bike the whole way or Bus and Bike it!

Day 1 Adelaide – Clare 145 km (Lunch Dinner  Accommodation)

Leaving Adelaide, we cycle direct north past massive salt mounds to Two Wells for morning tea, then flat grazing countryside to Mallala and Balaklava, an old country town in lovely surroundings.

After lunch enjoy the magnificent undulations, some call them hills through vineyards and eucalypt forest, to the winery centre of Clare.

Day 2 Clare to Melrose 133 km (BLD Camp & Accom)

Clare is unmistakably South Australia, with its lovely limestone buildings, vineyards left and right as you cycle through these quiet back roads to Yacka.  Stunning scenery takes you past historic Gladstone Gaol through Beetaloo Valley and Wirrabara State Forest to Melrose, MTB capital of South Australia.

Day 3 Melrose to Port Augusta 65 km (BLD Accom)

The century old rugged red gums are a highlight of this area, not seen in such abundance with such variation.  We cross the Goyder Line, an invisible line given to the area as a boundary between sustainable and non sustainable land, the northern side supposedly arid.

Day 4 Port Augusta to Woomera 179 km (BLD Accom)

Passing the beautiful outback botanic gardens, we see Yorkys Crossing and the start of many cattle grids flanked by the Flinders Rangers and Gawler Rangers.  The Ghan railway line (caution when crossing) is our constant companion as we weave our way through many salt lakes before Pimba and Woomera.

Day 5 Woomera to Glendambo 113 km (BLD Camp & Accom)

Woomera, the base where rockets and satellites were launched is now a very interesting township and museum, home of Len Beadell, Woomera founder and great Aussie explorer. We cross rail and grid crossings before venturing out into the treeless plain, just like the Nullarbor, only with a few hills.

Explore salt Lake Hart, a massive expanse of white next to the rail track.

Day 6 Glendambo to Coober Pedy 252 km (BLD Accom)

Cattle and sheep stations surround Glendambo, a tiny town with roadhouse and camp accom area. Start at daybreak crossing cattle grid, dodging wildlife and stock. This is real central Australian outback with kangas, emus, flies, lizards and lots more. It’s a serious test to do the complete distance, working and helping each other and pacing yourself. The look alike lunar landscape is a weird wonderful white site, of sandstone mullock heaps from opal mining.

Day 7 Coober Pedy Rest Day (B Accom)

We stay in the only International underground hotel, with swimming pool and all modern cons.

Tours take you to The Breakaways, extraordinary coloured hills and valleys, opal mines, dugouts, museums, drive in theatre (bring your own chair), or simply chill out in a fridge or fossick.

Day 8 Coober Pedy – Cadney 153 km (BLD Accom & Camp)

Opal mines, like giant ant hills are scattered for the next 40 km, exposing vertical holes one metre wide, up to 100 metres deep. Dangerous when walking off road, great to view while cycling.  Wildlife abound, especially when water is scarce, coming to the roadside for green grass from moisture runoff.

Day 9 Cadney – Marla 81 km (BLD Accom & Camp)

The Homestead is an interesting oasis in the middle of nowhere, with a swimming pool and all facilities.  Make the most of these pleasures, share stories with the truckies, fellow travellers and the odd cyclist. They always have an interesting tale, perhaps nearly as coloured as your own. Today its easy with saltbush and gibber stone adding interest to the dry land.

Day 10 Marla – Kulgera 179 km (BLD Accom & Camp)

The Marla Travellers Rest is another interesting stopover, with nice swimming pool, laundry, supermarket just like home.  You need the comforts to recharge your batteries, so to speak.  Cycling in this environment is fascinating, allowing you to smell the wildflowers, feel the wind (hopefully a tail), taste the dust, see the landscape and talk about your experience as you crossed the Northern Territory border.

Day 11 Kulgera – Erldunda – Mt Ebenezer 131 km (BLD Accom & Camp)

The landscape changes to a red sand, with the odd 4WD or mini bus stocking up with fuel and supplies at The Erldunda roadhouse.  People will be amazed at the way you have chosen to see the centre.  Coaches will pull in, people alight still half asleep, very little chatter, eager to get their coke and chips and in 10 minutes be back in the coach.  Cyclists hopefully eat and drink good food, providing energy for the extra experience of self propulsion.

Day 12 Mt Ebenezer – Ayers Rock 190 km (BLD Accom)

This interesting Aboriginal roadhouse has authentic painting and handwork. The excitement builds as we cycle on a good bitumen road past Mt Conner.  Although it looks like Ayers Rock from a distance, it’s a flat top mount, like a mesa in USA, Curtin Springs is lunch, cattle station from early days when a car a week might pass this way to The Rock.  The first sight of this monolith is awesome, unbelievable, and it gets better the closer you cycle. “Sounds of Silence” special dinner tonight in the open with a didgeridoo, watching the sunset over Ayers Rock.

Day 13 Ayers Rock  (Uluru)  REST DAY (B Accom)

Today you rest from cycling the bitumen, but not from activity.  Last night & tonight’s  accommodation is five star “Sails in the Desert”.  Magnificent accommodation and surroundings.  Uluru is inspiring.  Fly to Kings Canyon, visit The Olgas (Kata Tjuta) - climb the Valley of the Winds, walk around Uluru, meditate in the outback.  This area has unique feelings, absorb it, you’ve earnt it.

Day 14 Uluru – Erldunda 120 km (BLD Accom & Camp)

Although the total distance is 245 km we offer you 3 choices:

1 – Ride 85 km to Curtin Springs then transfer to Erldunda

2 – Transfer to road junction then ride 110 km to Erldunda

3 – Transfer all the way to Erldunda

Whatever you choose, you’ll enjoy.

Day 15 Erldunda to Stuarts Well 109 km (BLD Accom & Camp)

Back on the main road to Alice with the Erldunda Range on our left a lake on our right and then Palmer Valley on the river.  It doesn’t get any better than this until the oasis at Stuarts Well.  A stop over for the explorer John McDouall Stuart.

Day 16 Stuarts Well to Alice Springs  92 km (BL) optional accom

Stuarts Well to Alice Springs.  Our last day on the road, the camels are smiling, the well pumps pumping well, the body’s feeling a bit seedy after the big night, but we’re away. Through National Park, across Hugh River, past the Truck Museum and Through the Gap in the McDonnell Ranges to Alice Springs, half way to Darwin and centre of Australia. 

(See you in Alice again in 2009 for Alice to Darwin ride!)

Congratulations a monumental feat, Stuart did it with horse and camel power, you will do it with persistance and pedal power.

Packages

Package A	7 nights accommodation – Twin Share + 8 night camping	$4,850
Package B	15 nights accommodation – Twin Share	$5,550
Package C	15 nights accommodation – Single Supplement (Own Room)	$6,950

 

Day	Towns - Start & Overnight	Distance	Meals Provided + M/A Tea	Package A	Package B&C
	Overnight in Adelaide
1	Adelaide to Clare	145 km	LD	Accom	Accom
2	Clare to Melrose	133 km	BLD	Camping	Accom
3	Melrose to Port Augusta	65 km	BLD	Accom	Accom
4	Port Augusta to Woomera	179 km	BLD	Accom	Accom
5	Woomera to Glendambo	113 km	BLD	Camping	Accom
6	Glendambo to Coober Pedy	252 km	BLD	Accom	Accom
7	Coober Pedy REST DAY		B	Accom	Accom
8	Coober Pedy to Cadney	153 km	BLD	Camping	Accom
9	Cadney to Marla	81 km	BLD	Camping	Accom
10	Marla to Kulgera	179 km	BLD	Camping	Accom
11	Kulgera to Mt Ebenezer	131 km	BLD	Camping	Accom
12	Mt Ebenezer to Ayers Rock (Uluru)	190 km	BLD	Accom	Accom
13	Ayers Rock Rest Day		B	Accom	Accom
14	Ayers Rock to Erldunda	120 km	BLD	Camping	Accom
15	Erldunda to Stuarts Well	109 km	BLD	Camping	Accom
16	Stuarts Well to Alice Springs	92 km	BL

 

Total 1942 km
14 days cycling – 15 nights
138 km average cycling per day
25 km average speed   8 hours = 200 km  plus food stops
Surface good bitumen, shoulder sometimes.  Trucks courteous, advised by our 2 way radios.

The biggest day in the ride - 252 km
6.30 am	Depart
8.30 am	50 km m/tea
9.00 am	Depart m/tea
11.00 am	100 km  lunch
11.30 pm	Depart lunch
1.30 pm	150 km a/tea
2.00 pm	Depart a/tea
4.00 pm	200 km snack
4.15 pm	Depart snack
6.15 pm	252 km HURRAY

 

Days up to about 135 km, we hope to have lunch at the finish of the day’s ride, after 2 m/tea stops. There are some big days on this ride.  For cyclists to be able to complete the long days and ride with safety, we will be running to this schedule.  On big days cyclists who do not keep to these times because of cycling less than 25 kph average on long days will be transferred by vehicle to next snack break, to continue this Aussie Challenge.

Preparation

Regular training rides, building up to be able to cycle 150 km per day for 2 days straight

Prices

Standard: $4,850 (7 nights accom + 8 nights camping + all meals, except 2 dinners)
Deluxe: $5,550 (15 nights accom twin share + all meals, except 2 dinners)
Single Supp: $6,950 (15 nights accom single supplement, own room, all meals, except 2 dinners)
$500 deposit secures your place.

 

FAQ
What’s the weather likely to be?	June is supposedly the friendliest month of the year for cyclists.  Each day should be 20C – 25C.  Chilly nights and early mornings, with winds behind you more than any other time of the year.  Yes, tailwinds.
What’s the road like?	Relatively flat bitumen road all the way.  A wide two way road, with wide gravel and sometime bitumen shoulder.
What’s the traffic like?	There are not a lot of vehicles and the vision is excellent.  Cars, trucks and caravans use the road and generally have plenty of time to see a cyclist, assess the situation and overtake accordingly.
Safety on the road	AllTrails have CB radios, talking to truck drivers, explaining that bikes are on the road.  Truckies then tell their mates, who tell their mates who tell anyone else who is listening.  They all love to have something to talk about on the long route.  Some truckies will pass you four times over the two week period.
Is it safe?	Vehicles including tail end Charlie will display signs “Caution Cyclists Ahead” with lights flashing.  Yes, it is as safe or safer than riding on other highways.
What sort of people ride?	Characters from all parts of Australia and overseas.  Ages will probably range form 30 – 65 with the average about 45 years old.  Usually about 35% women & 65% men.
What sort of training?	You really need to be a keen cyclist, however not necessarily fast, but consistent.  Plenty of time to build your kilometre total distance in training, to gradually attain about 115 km a day for 2 days straight.
What sort of bike?	A comfortable racing bike, road bike or touring bike with a good seat.  Road tyres with slick or near slick tread.  Hybrid or mountain bike is possible however it would make the going very tough.
Do I need to carry anything?	No, you just ride.  However you have to carry your own personal goods, like camera, perhaps rain gear if it’s threatening.  We carry your luggage, food & extra water.
Overnight & food stops	Each night we stay in a small town, with accommodation and camping facilities.  There will be at least a roadhouse to buy food, drinks and other necessary items if you wish.
Rest days?	One rest day to explore the surroundings. Katherine Gorge is beauty at its best.
Is there much to see?	John Flynn Memorial (Flying Doctor) The Devils Marbles is a wonderful cluster of massive boulders spread over an area as big as a football arena.  Mataranka Thermal Springs is an oasis in the harsh surroundings.  An unbelievable swimming spot. Katherine Gorge is best seen from a hire boat or cruiser.
Is there much to do?	Cycling will be the passion of people on this trip, however a walk in the bush, scenic flights, underground mine tours, lookouts and Aboriginal artefacts all have their unique appeal.
What about the food?	We provide the highest quality breakfast, morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea and dinners.
We would love to share this very special experience with you. Hope you can join us cycling north to Darwin.

 

Quotes

 “We truly enjoyed every moment and can’t thank you enough for what you did for us.  The weather, company, food, organisation and care for us all throughout was simply superb.  We can’t fault a moment of our time spent on an All Trails ride”.  S. & S.L.  New Zealand

“You do a great job and I didn’t hear a negative word the whole time”  S.R. NSW

“Thought it was brilliant with every last detail in place, a credit to you both and your team which I found enormously supportive.” L.L. VIC

“Thanks once again for another great ride – well up to your usual high standard.”  S.W. VIC

“A bunch of great people, well planned routes, good food, positive attitudes and attention to safety combined to make the ride a truly memorable occasion.” P.M. VIC