This is a blend of rides that I have done, but based on a trip that was done in November.  There were sections of gravel on two of the days riding.  This ride can be done at any time of the year, although there are temperature extremes in mid-summer and mid-winter at Dungog and Gloucester that need to be taken into consideration.  It can be done as a toothbrush tour, or camping.

Climate

The following climate statistics are for the weather station at Chichester Dam.  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.

This was a pleasant ride along gently rolling hills and farmlands of the lower Hunter region and started from Queens Wharf ferry terminal near Newcastle Station.  We travelled on roads with variable traffic volumes to Dungog.

There is food at Medowie, but none then until Dungog.

Dungog, has a number of pubs, clubs, restaurants, takeaways and supermarkets, as well as a good bakery.  It is necessary to collect the Dungog Caravan Park key from the Caltex servo on the Chichester Rd.  The park is beside the river and has a rattly timber bridge on one side and the North Coast railway line on the other, but be assured that sleep will not be a problem.  As the caravan park is on the eastern side of the railway line before you arrive in Dungog, you may choose to pitch camp before collecting the shower key.  There is a sizable deposit on the shower key and it is refundable on its return the next day.  It is about 1km from the Caravan Park to the shops, the nearest pub and food.  The camping area has tables and chairs under shelter.

Remember to return the shower key!

This day's ride passed through bushland and farmland settings.  Some of the ride follows the picturesque course of the river to avoid some of the climbs that occur on other route options.  Food is available at Stroud Road and Wards River.  There is about 10kms of gravel road along Johnsons Creek Rd between these two villages.

Gloucester has the normal facilities for a rural town.  We camped at Gloucester Holiday Park - 700m W of PO.  This can be a busy camp in holiday periods.

This route has a few ups and downs along some busy roads until Forster.  There were a couple of short stretches through to Krambach that needed the two-foot gear to be used.  Bushlands, farmlands and river flats are the setting until near Nabiac, then the coastal vegetation and scenery takes over.  Food will be available from Krambach and Nabiac, but it is limited in both places.

Forster-Tuncurry is a busy tourist area and has all of the trappings as such.  I have camped at Forster Beach Caravan Park - 200m W of PO.  Booking is essential in holiday periods.

This day’s ride is relatively flat along some busy roads.  Scattered holiday resorts appear in the coastal dunes and vegetation through to Bungwahl.

There is a takeaway/boozer/fuel stop at Bungwahl on the corner where it is necessary to turn to take the gravel road through to Mungo Brush.  For those planning on camping in the National Park, there is no potable water between Bungwahl and Hawks Nest.  After Bungwahl, take a gravel/dirt/sand road through the Myall Lakes National Park on the right at 39kms.  It is blocked by an NPWS locked gate at both ends, but walkers and cyclists are OK to use it.    This road between Bungwahl and Bombah Point can be very rough, depending upon recent weather and when it was last maintained.  Check with Great Lakes National Parks and Wildlife Service office (Links) to ascertain its condition.  I have ridden it a number of times, and the 20kms has generally taken me about two hours. At 50kms, take the right fork onto the Old Gibber Track through to Bombah Point.  The first 4kms of the Old Gibber Track are loose sand, with the remainder being fine gravel.   There is food, takeaway and restaurant at Myall Shores off the track a kilometre or so towards Bulahdelah across the vehicular ferry at Bombah Point.

Bush camping is allowed at many places between Mungo Brush and Hawks Nest.

To obtain times for the Port Stephens Ferry Service between Tea Gardens and Nelson Bay you should phone the number in the White Pages (Links).  They tend to be mid morning and afternoon, with a midday service in holiday and summer periods.

If necessary, there is camping at Hawks Nest, but if you want an early start on Day 5, it is best to try for the afternoon ferry to Nelson Bay.  At Nelson Bay - another tourist town - there is a wide variety of accommodation, but bookings usually are essential in holiday periods.  I have camped at Halifax Park, 5 Beach Rd - 2kms E of PO.  Buy any food before heading to the camp, then take the beachside cycleway eastwards.

Follow the beachside cycleway through Nelson Bay to Corlette and then join the road to Salamander Bay before joining the main road to Newcastle.  The road shoulders on the main road are variable, and the traffic is fast and heavy with little regard for cyclists, hence the reason for avoiding as much of it as possible.  At 19kms, take the right turn and enjoy the comparative quiet along Marsh Road at Bobs Farm for 8kms.  A reviver at the bakery at Salt Ash is worthwhile.  The road shoulder improves significantly from there on.  At 38kms, take the right turn along the quiet road to Fullerton Cove for 5kms before rejoining the drag strip.  At the park on the left at 49kms on the outskirts of Stockton, take the left turn and follow the beach front around past the caravan park, then have a ride to the end of the northern breakwall to have a great view of Newcastle.  From there, follow the harbourside cycleway around to the ferry to cross the harbour to Newcastle.

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.