Bowral, the throbbing village in the heart of the Southern Highlands, is a classic Australian country town but the region certainly exudes a strong hint of Europe, well it does for me.
The authentic Italian pizza, French patisseries, English antique shops, the local wineries with twisted vines strung along gently rolling hills. And then there’s the cycling.
A Slice of Europe so Close to Sydney
Kitted up and ready to ride, leaving the hotel at 6am that crisp Monday morning, there was a real French provincial feel in the air. Grabbing a quick cafe au lait and croissant from the appropriately named ‘Gumnut Patisserie’, the anticipation was akin to exploring the byways surrounding a sleepy little village in the middle of France.
Gumnut Patisserie in Bowral’s Bong Bong Street offers French boulangerie-style breads, cakes and pastries.
Destination Bowral
But no … this was not Europe but the New South Wales’ Southern Highlands. Instead of being an hour and a half from Paris via TGV, the region is 90 minutes from Sydney by car. Bowral is 2 hours’ drive north of Canberra and about 8 hours (just over 750km) north east of Melbourne.
For those travelling from Wollongong and the South Coast, Bowral is roughly an hours’ scenic drive inland.
The region is serviced daily by coaches and trains. The thought of a Euro style train / bike / credit card / small pack adventure is not only extremely appealing but an affordable option. The train trip from Sydney Central to Bowral takes just under 2 hours and priced around $20 per person with an extra $12 for your bike.
The Local Climbs
If you enjoy riding quiet, country roads set amidst picturesque rural backdrops you’ll fall in love with the Southern Highlands. Throw in the option of some of the State’s toughest mountain passes, gritty climbs and harrowing descents and we are starting to realise one of the nation’s top two-wheel destinations.
Ask a local where to ride and there’s a fair chance ‘The Four Peaks’ will be high on the list. Less daunting than its name suggests, the Southern Highlands’ four peaks rolls out of Bowral and takes in about 35km of glorious countryside that includes 440 metres of climbing.
Zach Hulm is President of the Southern Highlands Cycling Club and a passionate road, track and mountain bike rider. A four peaks regular, he rides the course most Saturday’s and can’t get enough of it.
“The four peaks was designed as a climbing ride and the perfect training course for people heading to Europe to take on such destinations as the Dolomites or Alpe de Huez,” he said.
A visiting group of cyclists enjoy one of the Southern Highlands climbs. Image: Nat Bromhead.
“It’s become very popular with a group generally riding it every Saturday morning. We average 25 kph and welcome all riders – club members, locals and visitors to join us. It’s not a big ride but it’s all about the climbing.”
Everybody waits for everyone, it’s not about racing but more about people challenging themselves, he added.
‘One Of The Nation’s Top Cycling Locations’
A proud long-time local, Zach Hulm says the region is “up there as one of the nation’s top cycling locations.”
“The southern highlands is one of the most hidden cycling destinations in the country and the most amazing place to train,” he said.
“We’ve got climbs, we’ve got scenic rides, we’ve got coffee, we’ve got tourism – we’ve got absolutely everything for the visiting cyclist.”
