White Sands Dreaming
Blue Metal Cycling is proud and excited to invite you on our six day tour of exploration and indulgence. This is really one you will never forget. Departing from the centre of the North East, Scottsdale and finishing at the Mountain Biking mecca 'Blue Derby', enjoy high alpine plateaus, temperate rainforest, coastal vistas, beach walks, waterfalls, a rest day at an East Coast resort...it is all you could imagine from a Tasmanian gravel tour.
Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
Distance: 313 km
Elevation: 5380m
Difficulty: 2.5 out of 5
Price: $2650 (min 4, group discounts available 7+). For an all inclusive, airport to airport price please contact us.
Details
If you prefer your adventures a little less hardcore but appreciate earning your meals whilst enjoying quality gravel, then this tour is for you. Commencing from Scottsdale and looping to the East Coast and back via some of the very best of the high country, this tour showcases the North East of Tasmania in all its scenic glory. Over the course of the ride we explore the high plateau of Mount Victoria, view two of Tassies spectacular waterfalls, spend a rest day at a coastal resort and get real bushed with a crazy adventure down to ‘The Creech’.
Pre-Tour
We will require our guests to arrive in Launceston the day before the tour departure date. A pre-tour gear check and briefing will be held in Launceston that evening.
Day One
Distance: 65 km
Climbing: 1650 m
Estimated Time: 4-5 hours
After a short transfer from Launceston to Scottsdale. The first 25km’s of today's ride is along the North East rail trail. This historic line once joined Launceston to Herrick, a small township NW of Derby. It was closed to rail in 1992, and opened as a rail trail in 2012. We pause for refreshments in Ledgerwood at the remarkable carved memorial trees before approaching Mt. Victoria Forest Reserve and Ralph Falls. The 600m climb up to Ralph falls will constantly reward you with some of the finest views in the North East. While lunch is prepared, a short walk into a viewpoint reveals Ralph Falls, the tallest single drop Falls in Tassie. Don’t forget your thongs or runners in your day pack for the walk. We enjoy alpine countryside as we roll the button grass plateau with views of Mt Victoria, before descending to our evenings accommodation at the Forest Lodge, a converted cattle station set against imposing views of Mt. Albert and Mt. Victoria.
Day Two
Distance: 61 km
Climbing: 1050 m
Estimated Time: 4-5 hours
A leisurely start in the peaceful Pyengana Valley for this morning! We gradually climb up the small coastal mountain range separating us from the East Coast before coasting through changing vegetation types. After the initial climbing the majority of today’s ride is excellent gravel descents and flats. Arriving in St. Helens for lunch, we recommend lunch at one of the best fish and chips vendors on the coast before cruising north out of St Helens to our overnight accommodation situated near the iconic Bay of Fires.
Day Three
Distance: 77 km
Climbing: 1350 m
Estimated Time: 4-5 hours
After a flat bitumen roll we loop around the Georges Bay on a purpose built Multi Use trail, and then onto the St. Helens Mountainbike network, the Town Link trail to the trailhead. Climbing to the top of the Loila Tier we enjoy some wide panoramas of the East coast before heading inland to the Upper Scamander River. A significant climb awaits with a 450m ascent up to St. Marys, before a long sweeping bitumen descent down St. Marys pass and onto the wide shoulders of the coastal road into our accommodation at White Sands Resort.
Day Four
Distance: Zero km
Climbing: Just out of bed
Estimated Time: All day
Rest Day at White Sands Resort.
Set on 200 acres, White Sands Estate is nestled beside the Iron House brewery and vineyard. It has a fine dining restaurant attached, and is a short walk to the beach. There is also a tennis court, a swimming pool and a cinema. The self-contained accommodation offers beach and ocean views. It is the perfect place to relax for a day, stretch out the sore spots in your legs and enjoy the Eastern seascape.
Day Five
Distance: 64 km
Climbing: 1200 m
Estimated Time: 6-7 hours
If you enjoyed too much of the great food, beer and wine on offer at White Sands then we have the cure for the extra kilo you put on. The first 10km’s of the day are a nice flat-ish warm up for the legs before heading up Elephant Pass. Most of today's 1300m in elevation will be done over 22km, there is a small respite in the middle but the day is front loaded with climbing. If you can relax and pick your own pace, both Elephant pass and the climb out of St. Marys are wonderful climbs. Once topping out on the South Sisters we will get into some very wild and remote country. The trail deteriorates to the point where we expect a bit of hike-a-bike will be needed over a 6-7km section. Once through this section it is a big descent into Beauty Flats, and then rolling some nice gravel into our favourite place to stay, The Creech.
Day Six
Distance: 70 km
Climbing: 1000 m
Estimated Time: 5-6 hours
Onto our last day, and saying farewell to The Creech after the obligatory photo on the Kansa Couch, it is straight onto gravel for a steadily building climb to Mt. Albert road. Traversing the south side of Mt. Victoria onto Mathinna Plains, we enjoy possibly the best descent of the tour into picturesque Ringarooma, then retracing our route from Day 1 back to Derby.
