This is an pleasant ride covering a wide variety of the Lower Hunter's agricultural land as well as the vineyards around Pokolbin and Cessnock.  We camped on both nights, but other accommodation is available.  If this ride is done on a long weekend or during holiday periods, it is wise to book accommodation beforehand.

Climate

The following climate statistics are for the weather station at Cessnock.  For more information on this location, including wind roses, go to "Climate Statistics for Australian Locations" on the Links page.  You can also obtain similar details from other locations enroute from that site.

Itinerary
Towns listed below that have distances marked ( ) are those where food/drink is expected/known and those marked [ ] are points of interest

Newcastle services for CityRail, CountryLink and domestic airlines can be found using the Links page information.

Take an early morning ferry across to Stockton and ride towards the northern breakwater.  A great view of Newcastle can be seen from the end of the wall.  Travel along with the beach on your right before joining the main road (the only road out of Stockton).  At 9kms, turn left to Fullerton Cove to avoid some of the traffic on the main Nelson Bay Road.  There is a popular bakery at 27kms at the Heatherbrae intersection with the Pacific Highway.  This is not a good crossing for cyclists, however, RTA has installed good off road crossing points at the roundabout.  Just beyond the second roundabout, take the off road cycleway to Raymond Terrace.  I suggest Paterson as a lunch stop.  There are a number of eating places, or you can go to the park by the river.

East Gresford has a supermarket, takeaways, a bowling club and a pub.  Meals are served at the pub and bowlo some nights and the pub does have accommodation.  We camped at the showground near the bowling club.  Take the track on the southern side of the club and follow it for about 700m to the camping area with its showers and toilets.  The river is just a short distance and there is a swimming hole there.

There are a couple of short, but hard climbs through to Branxton.  The hardest was after crossing the great old pick-a-plank bridge over the Hunter River at Elderslie.  There is an off road cycleway between Branxton and North Rothbury if you feel the need to get off the main road.  North Rothbury is an historic site of a miners revolt in the early 1900's.

At 55kms, turn right to join McDonalds Road to pass the golf villages and wine tasting cellars through Pokolbin.  There is an off road cycleway from Broke Road travelling south along McDonalds Road.  If it has been maintained, I suggest that it is a good way to avoid some of the cars travelling around the area.

Cessnock has all types of accommodation and eating places.  We camped at the Valley Vineyard Caravan Park.

The route through to Kearsley passes through some historic mining areas, and some of the old railway line and buildings can be seen on the road to Neath.

Some detailed navigation is needed between Maitland and Thornton.  Zoom the map in so that you are able to see the necessary detail to avoid getting lost.

The road through to Thornton has a reasonable shoulder.  After crossing the railway line at Thornton, at about 44kms, there is an access way on the left that will allow you to join the quieter road through the industrial estate, and then join the off road cycleway to Beresfield.

At 48kms the New England Highway crosses the railway - take the pedestrian path across it as the road is narrow and busy with fast flowing traffic.  Take care where the road diverges to cross the Hunter River at Hexham.  To go to Newcastle, you will need to cross this busy on-ramp and pass under the bridge to join the Pacific Highway headed south.  Shortly after the bridge, there are two fuel stops on the left.  Take the turn there and follow the Old Maitland Road around alongside the river to avoid the Highway traffic for a few kilometres.

Sandgate Cemetery will be on the right at 57kms.  There is a major intersection on the right that has created a dangerous squeeze point for cyclists.  Take the short off road cycleway to avoid this section and the intersection.  The Industrial Highway starts around 58kms and passes what remains of Newcastle's heavy industries.  This road eventually joins Honeysuckle Drive and will return you to your start point.

As the start and finish is at the same place, you might have left your car somewhere safe, or travelled using the public transport facilities.