I am not one of those riders that rides the same road over and over again. I like to venture out and find new roads, interesting roads that lead to interesting places. I regularly get asked where good routes are to ride around Canberra, so I would rustle up a few quick routes, stick them in an email and fire them off. So here is a collection of day rides, of varying lengths, from a quick 100km loop just to get some fresh air to much more serious miles where you just need to get out and let the wheels roll beneath you.

Under 200km where you just want a quick spin
200 to 350km where you want to ride for about a tankful of fuel
350 – 600km where you just want to get out for the day and cruise the countryside
Over 600km for those days where you just need to get out for serious road therapy

Or, maybe rather than a route, you just need a destination idea … coffee always tastes better a tankful out of town … so a destination for coffee or lunch. Here’s a few ideas:

Cambewarra lookout tea house – an amazing view over the Eurobadella
Gunning – Old Hume hwy Cafe
Wingello Village store
Nelligen – The River Cafe
Johnno’s Corner store on Oallen Ford Rd.
Murrumburrah – The Light Horse Hotel

Or, a destination to check out, such as:

Temora – Fly days
Temora – Jet Boat racing
Cowra – Japanese Garden
Iandra – Iandra Castle
Bathurst – Mount Panorama museum and a lap of the track

If I have missed a great riding route out of Canberra, drop me a line – contact me

A Quick Spin – under 200km

The Cotter Loop

Map Link | Distance: 100km

Notes: this isn’t my go-to ride as I’d rather get out of town. But if you do you can grab a coffee at the Cotter (take cash), the Moon Rock Cafe at the NASA installation, or the Tharwa general store

Option … continue down the Brindabella road about 10km until you run out of tar and turn around then back down the Uriarra road.

Murrumbateman

Map Link | Distance: 115km

Yass – Dalton

Map Link | Distance: 200km

Notes: the backroad to Yass is a nice alternative to the Barton highway – if you want a nice detour turn left and head to Wee Jasper for a nice little winding road in the hills.

Yass via backroads

Map Link | Distance: 160km

Note: 3km section of dirt on Dog Trap road.

Wee Jasper Distillery for lunch

Map Link | Distance: 200km

Notes: I haven’t stopped at the Wee Jasper Distillery but the menu looks good for lunch.

This is an out and back route that’s all tar to Wee Jasper, it’s a narrow scenic road that can be a bit rough in places. But a nice ride.

ACT Lap

Map Link | Distance: 83km

Notes: okay this loop makes no sense but if you do this loop 20 times in 24 hours you have the IBA – ACT insanity ride and a total distance of 1,660km.

ACT Insanity – ride report

Gunning – Breadalbane

Map Link | Distance: 180km

Notes: great coffee and food at the Merino Cafe or the Old Hume Cafe at Gunning

Gunning – Breadalbane – Lake George Escarpment

Map Link | Distance: 200km

Notes: there is about 15km of dirt over the escarpment but it provides great views of Lake George.

Gundaroo Pub for Dinner

Map Link | Distance: 110km

Notes: The Colonial Inn is a lovely setting serving a great meal and feels a million miles from the Capital.

Out for a Tankful 200 – 350km

Crookwell – Goulburn

Map Link | Distance: 260km

Bungonia – Goulburn

Map Link | Distance: 250km

Araluen Pub for Lunch

Map Link | Distance: 240km

Notes: Araluen Pub – the road to Captains Flat from Araluen is dirt.

Lap of the 1924 Motocycle GP circuit

Map Link | Distance: 280km

Notes: there is a monument at the start/finish line of the 80km circuit which provides information about the first Australian Motocycle GP in 1924. There is now a little store at Windellama for lunch.

Crookwell – Boorowa

Map Link | Distance: 320km

Gunning – Goulburn – Currawang

Map Link | Distance: 245km

Lunch at the Taralga

Map Link | Distance: 330km

Notes: these are all great roads and enjoy a meal at the Taralga Hotel.

Grabben Gullen for lunch

Map Link | Distance: 260km

Wingello – the ‘Un-Named Cafe’

Map Link | Distance: 295km

Notes: if you don’t want to ride the Hume you can take the backroad to Goulburn via Tarago

A Cruisy Day Ride 350 – 600km

Nowra – Kangaroo Valley

Map Link | Distance: 440km

Note: make sure you stop at the Cambewarra lookout a nice little tea house and the best panoramic views of the shoalhaven.

The Snowies

Map Link | Distance: 525km

Note: this includes a short stretch of dirt on the Wee Jasper Road

Huskisson & the Bay

Map Link | Distance: 450km

Mt Darragh & The Clyde

Map Link | Distance: 600km

Checkout Iandra Castle

Map Link | Distance: 430km

Notes: A castle emerging in the NSW countryside was very unexpected! Check the Iandra Castle website for open days. And while in the neighbourhood check out the amazing Japanese gardens at Cowra.

Crookwell – Bathurst – Oberon

Map Link | Distance: 550km

The Brown & The Clyde

Map Link | Distance: 525km

Coota Loop

Map Link | Distance: 380km

Junee – Licorice Factory

Map Link | Distance: 450km

Notes: Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

Temora – Fly Day / Jet Boats

Map Link | Distance: 440km

Notes: Temora is a nice country town with a great aviation museum who host fly days of old aircraft during the year, and a round of the Australian V8 Jet Boat series. So keep an eye on their calendars.