This is predominately a tarmac-ed loop however it is not possible to complete with a road bike.

In town is the Tarana Hotel and lots of parking in the general area. Off in the distance you will see the beautiful Evans Crown Nature Reserve with its large granite boulders sitting on top of the ridge. You can ride or drive up there pre or post this ride.

To begin the ride from Tarana ride to the west and go past the signs to Bathurst and Oberon. Tarana Road is a lovely narrow tarmac-ed road which runs parallel to the train line and also alongside Fish Creek.

The are several climbs and descents as you meander along Tarana Road going over the train line, some can be quite steep at +15%.

At ~18km turn left on Wambool Road and begin another climb. This is when you will be on your first section of gravel for the day.

At ~20.6km you are back on tarmac and continue along to ~22.9km. Then turn left on O’Connell Road. Please use CAUTION along this section as the speed limit is 100kph and there is no shoulder until you get over the Fish River bridge.

As you enter the township of O’Connell the speed limit changes to 60kph and it is a lovely tree-lined village. There is a good verge for you to ride on in town and you will pedal past the O’Connell Hotel and the Cafe & Store.

Continue past RFS and exit town. The speed limit goes back up to 100km/h. There is a decent shoulder for you to ride along.

At ~27km turn left on Carlwood Road (CR) and then at ~33.1km the road turns back to gravel. Along CR there are sections of tarmac and gravel. Please use cation crossing Lowes Mount Road at ~38.9km.

At the very end of CR there is one very steep fast descent as you come down to Hazelgrove Road. Turn left at ~42.6km on to Hazelgrove Road and then it is ~8.2km back to Tarana.