Dates for 2023: Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th November 2023
Rides Program
The Nowra weekend has been on the Bike North calendar since 2018, each year offering different routes. This year we are offering a popular ride we recently did with a new twist – going over a ford that in previous years has been flooded and the road has been closed – see the preferred option for the Friday ride.
Thursday Afternoon 12:00pm – Berry, Agars Lane, Gerroa Road, Beach Road, Berry
Click on link below to see a map of the route, distances, elevation and cue sheet:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38249625
This proved a very popular ride last year when it was run for the first time. It was 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 should have time for a coffee and cake before the cafes in Berry shut at 3pm. Then we can 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, (hence the 12 noon start.)
Last year (2022) we stopped at the Queen Street Cafe at 94 Queen St Shop 5, Stan Burt Arcade. They made us very welcome. This year (2023) we would like to try the Family Tree Cafe & Restaurant, 4/58 Albert St. in Berry
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 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)
*** 2023 *** Going North over the Shoalhaven River – Unsafe for Cyclists *** 2023 ***
Cambewarra Village – is off the plan for this year – Road Works – The cycleway across the Shoalhaven River is under construction as you see from the Transport NSW photo below. It looks like it will be great to cycle over when it is completed. This major work started in mid-2020 and the project is expected to be complete by mid-2024 – maybe just in time for The Nowra Weekend in 2024 !
In the mean time, as you can see from the photo: (1) the cycleway is under construction and not yet open to cyclists (2) the exit from Princess Highway turning left into Pleasant Way is not possible and (3) the Iroquois 894 helicopter that was such a landmark has been removed and taken for repairs.
What this means to us:
Cycling north either requires cycling on the road (a very busy road) or a long walk, therefore the ride to Camberwarra Village will be on the program for 2024.
And the rides that start in Nowra will now start outside the Entertainment Centre for 2023.
Friday Afternoon 12:00pm –Nowra Shoalhaven Memorial Gardens
Click on link below to see a map of the route, distances, elevation and cue sheet:
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: This year (2023) we will be going the tried and trusted cafe The Deli on Kinghorne in Nowra.
Starting point: We start outside the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.
Saturday Morning 9:00am – Nowra to HMAS Albatross and Beyond
Click on link below to see a map of the route, distances, elevation and cue sheet:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29843959
This ride has become, possible, the favourite Nowra ride. 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: We start outside the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre
Sunday Morning 9:00am – Huskisson, Vincentia, Sanctuary Point, Basin View & Tomerong Loop
Click on link below to see a map of the route, distances, elevation and cue sheet:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38409649
This was a 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: Location to be confirmed nearer the time. Lats year (2022) we tried The Huskisson Hotel, which has been renovated and extended and is a great location to end the ride and end the weekend of cycling. But it was very busy and very noisy on a Sunday afternoon.
Starting point: The park between The Huskisson Hotel and the sea 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. (Be careful of possible roadworks due to bridge construction causing access issues.)
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 – To be considered nearer the time.
- In 2023:
- All booking will be 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 provided.
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