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| Brooklyn on the Lower Hawkesbury |
Brief Description: A beautiful tour along the scenic Hawkesbury River. It is flat most of the way and easily accessible from Sydney.
Route: Windsor, Wilberforce, Sackville Ferry, Carina, Wisemans Ferry, Spencer, Mangrove Mountain, Peats Ridge, Mount White, Brooklyn. (Other variations are possible, including cycling through to Berowra or Hornsby. See below.)
Distance: 145km (Windsor - Wisemans Ferry - Mangrove Mountain - Brooklyn).
Altitude variation and climbs: Most of the trip lies between sea level and 50m above sea level and is flat or gently undulating. There are two main climbs: (1) between Sackville Ferry and Carina (100m ascent followed by descent), and (2) between Lower Mangrove and Brooklyn (about 300m ascent and descent). It may be possible to skip the second ascent - see here.
Time: This tour could be done in one day (as I did it). However, there is plenty to see and do and people looking for a leisurely three or four day trip will not be disappointed.
Traffic conditions: Traffic is light throughout most of the trip. The only heavy traffic encountered was between Windsor and Wilberforce (where there is a reasonable shoulder for cycling). Traffic will be busier during hotter holiday periods and long weekends. Even so, I have cycled part of the trip on an Easter weekend traffic was not heavy.
Road Surface: The road is sealed most of the way. There are sections of unsealed road between Sackville Ferry and Wisemans Ferry, but the quality is good and duration short.
Climate Considerations: Spring and Autumn are probably the best times to cycle. Winter does not get too cold but some caravan parks and shops are closed during this season. Although it can get hot during summer, it is the best time to enjoy water sports (such as water skiing).
Fitness Required: This is an easy tour. There are long stretches of mostly flat cycling and the undulating sections are mild.
Direction to Travel: The tour would be of equal difficulty going in either direction. If starting at Windsor, the longest climb would be encountered on the last day rather than the first. It may be possible to skip this long climb if you stay at Glenworth Valley (see below) and travel from west to east.
Access: Windsor and Brooklyn (the endpoints of the tour) are easily accessed using Sydney's CityRail train services. Bicycles are free except during peak services on weekdays.
Ferry Access: The trip involves river crossings on (at least two) free ferry services. The ferries operate most times cyclists would ever want to use them, but check here for their operation schedule.
Maps: My Google map of the tour is located here. The Sydney map in the NRMA NSW touring map series would suffice as a print map. For those wanting contour lines, the Sydney Special map in the NatMap 1:250 000 series is worth the investment if you intend to do more cycling in the greater Sydney region.
Accommodation: There is plenty of accommodation along the way. Caravan parks and cabins are evenly spaced along River Road (the section between Sackville Ferry and Wisemans Ferry). The Mill Creek camping ground is located in Dharug National Park about 8km east of Wisemans Ferry (with tank water and pit toilets) and costs $10 per adult per night. There are caravan parks in Spencer and Lower Mangrove (for the latter, about 500m down Popran Road). Cyclists can pitch their tent for free at a relatively secluded football field at Mangrove Mountain (inquire at the Mangrove Mountain Shop for details). For further online information regarding accommodation, search the links given below.
Staying at Glenworth Valley: Glenworth Valley is Australia's largest horse riding centre and offers other activities such as kayaking, abseiling, bushwalking, orienteering, laser skirmish and quad bike tours. Staying at Glenworth Valley offers the possibility of by-passing the climb to Mangrove Mountain (see my Google map). From Lower Mangrove, take the Popran Road to the end where you will encounter a locked gate. This gate gives rear access to Glenworth Valley. An unsealed private road passing through the property connects with Cooks Road which rejoins the tour at Peats Ridge Road near Mount White. The climb up to Cooks Road is very steep, but it may be possible that the proprietors of Glenworth Valley would be willing to drive people and bicycles up this short steep section at a cost. People wanting to pursue this alternate possibility should respectfully contact the proprietors and ask if they would be willing to provide this service. (They may be more inclined to do so if you book accommodation there overnight.) From the top of Cooks Road, it is downhill to Brooklyn, making an easy final day of cycling.
Drinking Water: Most tap water along the Hawkesbury River, including that at Wisemans Ferry, is not suitable for drinking because it is taken from the River and is high in salt content. Water at Mangrove Mountain, Peats Ridge and Mount White may also be unsuitable for drinking before purification. Water should therefore be purchased or taken from streams/rainwater tanks and purified. If in doubt about tap water, ask a local. There are no problems with tap water at Windsor.
Facilities and Shops:
Side Trips and Variations: See my Google map.
Bicycle Shops: There are bicycle shops in Windsor, Gosford and Hornsby. Some contact details that were accurate in June 2007 are given below:
Tour Variations: This tour can be extended by heading north along the Old Convict Trail and parallel roads. See Day 4 of my Wellington to Wyong cycle tour for details.
Date Travelled: I cycled the route in June 2007.
Photos: Visit the photo Album of my trip.
Other cycling accounts: See Wally's report of his three day cycle along this route.
Further Information for Tourists: See the links below for further information about the region. The links are not exhaustive and a Google search will yield more information.
© 2008-2010 Robert Taggart. Last updated 17 January 2010.