Spring through Fall, possibly Winter also.
Back on the bikes, you head back down the hill until you find your gravel road. This begins the punchy bit, which offers up a short 20% grade hill just after you cross over the river. Then you wander up and up and up … through a logging area … and finally, you reach a lovely expansiver view of the area. Yep, you are done with climbing. Now for more fun.
You descend quickly down an exquisite gravel road, through more forests with intermittent views of farm lands and finally big views of the green grasslands. Towards the bottom when you run into the sheep farms; you are almost back in Pyengana. Jump onto the Tasman Highway / A3 for just a few miles. The good news is that it is slightly downhill and it is easy for traffic to see you.
Then turn back on the road to falls … and then in two blinks, you are at the cheese factory, ready for a delicious meal.
At Pyengana Dairy. Coffee shop, restaurant, dairy. Be sure to go inside!
If you are not feeling up for a mixed gravel ride, do the out and back to the falls. It is all paved and the falls is must see!
The gravel roads on this route are a mixed bag. Mainly they are good to ok for a rating. A few sections will have you dodging “fisters” and “eyeballs” (rocky bits).
We recommend a red blinky light with rear looking radar detector (i.e. Garmin Varia)
Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!