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Mittagong to Dungog

Day 8 - Newnes to Glen Davis - 70kms


This morning I awoke to a misty sunrise across the mountains. A great way to start the day. When I was packed I was heading back along the road I came in. The road was still pretty soft for the first 8kms, but then it got a lot better. After about 20kms I began my climb up Wolgan Gap. Pleased this section was sealed, as it was pretty steep in places.

Lovely campsite for the last two nights
A bit of mist around the escarpments
At the top I took the dirt turnoff on the right (opposite Blackfellows Hand Trail). This is where I join the Bicentennial National Trail (BNT). The climb up the trail started steeply for the first km, so I unloaded my rear panniers, pushed bike up and went back to get panniers. At the top the BNT levels out and I was enjoying great views on either side.

First part of the BNT was up
Enjoying the many views from the top
A little while later I got to the descent into Baal Bone Gap. This was a crazy descent, so I decided to walk my bike down. This gave me more time to enjoy the views through the gap. It was amazing having sandstone cliffs towering either side of me with a forest squeezed in between.
That was a steep downhill!!
Stunning views through the Baal Bone Gap

And it is quite rideable
After another couple of kms the gradient became a lot more manageable on a loaded bike. So I got back on and was following the Crown Creek. This took me through a series of locked gates. To access these gates you need to contact the National Parks office in Blackheath. After the last gate (3 in all) I was riding across farmland.

I was sharing my ride now with fields of cows, alpacas and goats. I then got to the farm house and rejoined the dirt road heading to Glen Davis. Didn't take long to ride the last 20kms to my destination and I was here by about 4pm.


Glen Davis is a small village now. It used to be a small town with shops and hotels. This was mainly during the Second World War when shale oil was refined nearby. After the war it became uneconomical to continue so it was shut. This led to most of the town's buildings being sold and moved elsewhere. There are just a couple of old shops left. None are no longer trading. So you need to bring your own supplies.
Road into Glen Davis 
One of the old shop fronts left in town

There is a donation community campsite. They have great hot showers and plenty of picnic tables. So not a bad spot, shame about the Mosquitos. Today was again a very hard ride, but as usual I was rewarded with some amazing scenery and views.


< Day 7 - Exploring Newnes
Day 9 - Glen Davis to Rylstone >
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  • Home
  • Tours around Oz
    • Adelaide to Melbourne
    • Back to Lithgow
    • Bairnsdale to Canberra
    • Cairns to Darwin
    • Melbourne to Sydney
    • Mittagong to Dungog
    • Mount Victoria and around to Sydney
    • Perth to Adelaide
    • Port Augusta to Uluru
    • Tasmania
  • Rides around Sydney
    • Akuna Bay, West Head & Manly
    • A ride through Royal National Park
    • Southern Highlands to Kiama
  • Japan 2017
  • The equipment
    • The bikes
    • The luggage
    • The kitchen
    • The tent & sleeping bits
    • Location shots
  • Resources & Contact