AussieVelo 4e. Canowindra-Parkes

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Canowindra, NSW, AU

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AussieVelo - Ambassador

Australian cycle touring network

99 km

553 m

AV4: Sydney-Broken Hill-Adelaide

4e. The fifth section of AussieVelo touring route 4.
This section is fully sealed. It provides the transition from the Great Dividing Range down to the plains of central NSW.
Side trips are briefly described, to the town of Grenfell and to the Escort Rock rest area.

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# *A*ussieVelo 4

*A*ussieVelo 4 is a long distance cycle touring route covering over 1,800km between Sydney and Adelaide, via Broken Hill.

# Section 4e

Section 4e is the fifth section of the route (starting from Sydney) travelling 99km between Canowindra and Parkes. After leaving Canowindra the route takes Rivers Rd, which approximately follows to the south of the Belubula River to near its confluence with the Lachlan River. We take a short side trip to Gooloogong, before heading for Eugowra. From Eugowra, the road slopes upwards for 2.5km before the turn towards Parkes.

The villages of Gooloogong and Eugowra are both known for their bushranger heritage. Gooloogong, on the south side of the Lachlan River, is surrounded by irrigated and dry land farming. Eugowra, to the north of the Lachlan River, adds State Forests to the mix.

At the end of this section, Parkes is a major town with a population of around 10,000 people. It has all major services, including train and air services to Sydney. Parkes is most famously associated with 'The Dish', the CSIRO radio telescope built in the 1960s, and the subject of the film '[The Dish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2wrEI7DRkk)' based on it's role in the Apollo 11 moon landing.

## @slice[To Gooloogong](d,0,33138.09)
Canowindra 33km < ***Gooloogong*** > 66km Parkes

From Canowindra ride south for 4km towards Cowra on the B81 (caution, the second 2km can be busy with little road shoulder) and turn right onto Breen Rd and immediately left onto Rivers Rd, to stay on the bitumen. Follow the @photo[Rivers Rd](2197734) for about 20.5km, crossing the Bulubula River on an @photo[old timber bridge](2197730) before the road's termination. The western section of the Rivers Rd is @photo[generally flat](2197731) and @photo[travelling irrigators](2197732) are used to water the paddocks of lucerne, and passing riders on hot summer days. At the end of Rivers Rd turn left onto Warraderry Way.

Follow the Warraderry Way for 6.7km and turn left to Gooloogong, crossing the Lachlan River on the new bridge on the 2km trip into Gooloogong. There is a @photo[park](2197729) with toilets and showers (and free camping), a hotel, and a small shop or two that are open sporadically.

---
**@poi[Grenfell](4168601) - Side trip**

From Gooloogong, Grenfell is approximately 45km to the south, and is steeped in bushranger history. The side trip route is [mapped here](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22735947), travelling south from Gooloogong to Grenfell, then north to Eugowra, to rejoin the main route. This side trip adds 45km one-way or 87km to follow the mapped side trip.

At 78km from Canowindra, an overnight stop at Grenfell is worthwhile. Grenfell is the birthplace of Australian poet Henry Lawson, and Grenfell celebrates with the Henry Lawson festival each year. Further information on Grenfell, activities and accommodation can be [found here](http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/cowra-area/grenfell).

---

## @slice[To Eugowra](d,33225.52,57776.77)

Canowindra 58km < ***Eugowra*** > 41km Parkes

From Gooloogong, turn back north the way you came over the new bridge, and in 2km turn left onto Casuarina Dve to Eugowra. This road takes you through generally @photo[open farmland with a few rises](2197728) that provide views to the south.

This road follows the Lachlan River for a while before heading north, past a roadside stall that sells watermelons in summer, and the land form gradually changes to the rocky bushland characterised by native pine trees around Eugowra.

Eugowra is a quiet rural town proud of it's heritage, as can be seen on the many @photo[murals](2197725) in town. It has a population of around 500 people, a few small shops and cafes, and one hotel; the other and original hotel in Eugowra, the Fat Lamb Hotel, burnt down a few years ago and you will pass it's skeletal remains on the road to Parkes. For such a small town, Eugowra offers a variety of experiences, and more information including accommodation can be [found here](http://www.eugowra.aus.net/) and [here](https://www.goldtrails.com.au/article/eugowra/).

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**@poi[Escort Rock](4173780)** - Side trip

You may consider a 9km return side trip to Escort Rock, the approximate site of the 1862 robbery of the gold shipment from Forbes to Bathurst, where Frank Gardiner's bushranger gang committed the biggest and most famous gold robbery in Australia's history. There is a @photo[cairn and interpretive signage](2682781) along with a picnic table and toilets in the rest area providing a tranquil setting for a picnic, and to contemplate the bushranger era.

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## @slice[To Parkes](d,57776.77,98955.93)

From Eugowra, ride west on the Escort Way towards Forbes, which is on the next section of the *A*ussieVelo 4 route (4f), then turn north to Parkes - an alternate *A*ussieVelo route on gravel roads is available and described below, for those who prefer quieter roads. There are no services on any of the routes between Eugowra and Parkes.

On leaving Eugowra, the first 3km is uphill along the Escort Way, before turning right onto the Parkes-Eugowra Rd. From here the road undulates although overall the road rises, with a @slice[deceptive uphill stretch](d,76334.02,81919.75) of around 6km that has you wondering if the brakes are rubbing. On cresting the rise there is a relaxing downhill stretch for a rest before the final few kilometres into Parkes.

Along the way you will pass through a variety of landforms and vegetation, past state forests, and the Parkes grain silos at Mugincoble and the Parkes racecourse. At times the Goobang Creek on the outskirts of Parkes floods, and a detour that adds another kilometre or two is in place.

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## **To Parkes** - alternate gravel route

For an alternate route to Parkes, see the *A*ussieVelo [Eugowra Gravel](https://ridewithgps.com/ambassador_routes/1068-eugowra-gravel) ride, which is written as a day trip originating in Parkes, but provides a choice of two road routes to Parkes each with about 50% gravel surface. The Eugowra Gravel route provides a more peaceful ride with little traffic.

---

# [PARKES](http://www.visitparkes.com.au/)

Parkes is a large town with a population of around 10,000 people. It has all necessary services, and a variety of accommodation, cafes and restaurants, and other experiences including:
* '[The Dish](https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Facilities/ATNF/Parkes-radio-telescope/Parkes-Observatory-Visitors-Centre/Hours-location)' - the CSIRO radio telescope located an enjoyable 25km ride north of Parkes, and with a great [cafe](http://www.dishcafe.com.au/) - it's worth the ride just for the scones! See '[The Dog and Dish](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12705634)' ride for directions.
* [Parkes Aviation Museum](https://hars.org.au/2017/05/parkes-aviation-museum/) - Parkes was an airforce base in WWII
* [Elvis Festival](http://www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au/) - a week-long festival of everything Elvis, culminating on the second weekend of January

There are a number of potential day rides from Parkes, including to Peak Hill and the [Open Cut Experience](http://www.visitparkes.com.au/attractions/peak-hill-open-cut-experience.aspx) at the Peak Hill Gold Mine. This could be combined with a visit to The Dish, see *A*ussieVelo ride [Peak Hill and The Dish](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22763137) for a 127km round trip adventure on sealed and gravel roads.

The next section of *A*ussieVelo 4 travels through Forbes, which extends the 'bushranger experience'.

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AussieVelo 4e. Canowindra-Parkes

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