Dates for 2022:  Thursday 14th – Sunday 16th October 2022

Rides Program

This year we offering two brand new rides and have seriously modified one ride to avoid a busy road that gets busier year on year.

Thursday Afternoon 12:00pm – Berry, Agars Lane, Gerroa Road, Beach Road, Berry

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38249625

This is a new ride designed for people coming to Nowra for the weekend, allowing us all time to drive down from Sydney and break our journey with a ride starting at Berry. It is a short route through pleasant countryside.

After the ride, we had time for a coffee and cake before the cafes in Berry shut at 3pm. Then we could complete the drive to Nowra ready for the rest of the cycling weekend.

Coffee Stop:  There are many cafes in Berry. They mostly shut at about 3pm.

This year we stopped at the Queen Street Cafe at 94 Queen St Shop 5, Stan Burt Arcade. They made us very welcome. Next time we go to Berry we may like to try the Family Tree Cafe & Restaurant, 4/58 Albert St.

There are no cafes on the bike route so the plan is: if you you require sustenance on the ride then you should consider buying a bite to eat in Berry. We stop at Seven Mile Beach and have a picnic at in the park at Beach Road Picnic Area where there are public toilets.

Starting point:  Apex Park, Berry (Public Toilets next to our starting point)

In 2022 we had planned to Cambewarra Village but the road that makes the route interesting was flooded and the road is closed.  

Thus, for the Friday ride, we needed to go somewhere else ….

Friday Afternoon 12:00pm –Nowra Shoalhaven Memorial Gardens


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41069363

This is a mostly flat ride on quiet roads to a place most people will never have been – Shoalhaven Memorial Gardens. We looped around the gardens and returned to Nowra through a new suburb, Worrigee and to a coffee stop that I am sure no-one has stopped at before.

Coffee Stop: Either at Worrigee Bakehouse on Isa Road, Worrigee or The Deli on Kinghorne in Nowra

Next time we go with way will will try the tried and trusted cafe The Deli on Kinghorne in Nowra.

Starting point:  At the Iroquois Helicopter, corner Pleasant Way and Princes Hwy.

Saturday Morning 9:00am – Nowra to HMAS Albatross and Beyond   

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29843959

This is the only ride that we did in 2022 where the route had not changed since the last year. It is lovely country ride up to the HMAS Albatross and Fleet Air Arm Museum. We usually see helicopters and maybe light aeroplanes taking off and landing as we circumnavigate the aerodrome.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum has been closed for some time due to COVID restrictions and now it has re-opened we were able to stop and have a look around.  Read more at https://www.navy.gov.au/heritage/museums/fleet-air-arm-museum

Leaving Nowra at 9am ensures we arrive at The Fleet Air Arm Museum just in time for their opening at 10am.

A good ride for people who are comfortable with some country traffic (and like aeroplanes!) But be aware that there is 1.4 km unpaved road at the back of the aerodrome. The ride also goes along the Pacific Hwy for about 6km but there is a very wide shoulder for the first 3km and a cycle-path for the next 3km and a coffee stop to look forward to at the end of it.

Coffee Stop:  We stopped at South Nowra at either Earnest Arthur cafe or Café Rene.

Starting point:  At the Iroquois Helicopter, corner Pleasant Way and Princes Hwy.

Sunday Morning 9:00am  – Huskisson, Vincentia, Sanctuary Point, Basin View & Tomerong Loop

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38409649

This is another new Nowra ride in 2022. It is a nice ride looking out to sea, firstly looking at Jervis Bay, then at St. Georges Basin. It is amazing how much of this ride is on shared cycle-paths, firstly going south from Huskisson to Vincentia then on a lovely long cycle-path to Santuary Point. Then the route took us on quiet back roads through Basin View and north on quiet country roads to Tomerong before returning to Huskisson in time for lunch at The Huskisson Hotel or in time to head off back home.

Coffee Stop:  There are a number of potential coffee stops on the way, but if we can hang out for the best stop then we went to Schutz Landscape and Gardening Supplies for a little surprise coffee venue.

Lunch:  The Huskisson Hotel has been renovated and extended and is a great location to end the ride and end the weekend of cycling. But be warned: It is very busy on a Sunday afternoon – it is essential to booking.

Starting point:  The Huskisson Hotel in Huskisson

Accommodation: – make your own bookings. The suggested accommodation is Pleasant Way River Lodge (9 Pleasant Way, Nowra) – but you are free to stay anywhere in Nowra and make your way to the start of the rides.

Dining: The suggested options are:

  • Thursday – DIY
  • Friday dinner 6:30pm – Thai Silver Spoon, 55 Junction Street, Nowra 
    • Old fire station building – a distinctive building
    • The food was good – A local commented, “Best Thai in Nowra.”
    • (Five tables of four people – pay per table, avoided split bill issues.)
  • Saturday dinner 6:30pm – Bomaderry Bowling Club
    • Maybe the best club and club food in Nowra
    • (DIY Order from Buffet)
  • Sunday lunch 12noon – Huskisson Hotel
    • Lovely location
    • But busy on a Sunday – booking essential
    • (DIY Order from Buffet)
  • In 2022:
    • All booking for 20 people under the name David – Bike North.
    • Numbers will be confirmed before each ride for that night.

Touring Style: The rides on the Nowra Weekend will be similar to Sydney rides, with a ride leader and a sweep, not like Tour de Cowra where the style there is independent riding with maps and cue sheets provid

Note: Bring bike lights – this is country riding!

Registration: If you would like to come along, please register for the rides of your choice on the Bike North calendar website https://www.bikenorth.org.au/cal/

Questions: Email the organiser – David Vasey davidrvasey@gmail.com or phone 0412 105 518