Ride Guide
Great Western Tiers Cycle Trail-Great Caves ride review
By
Malcolm Cowan : 01-Jul-2010
We live in Launceston but had not visited the Mole Creek area since the kids were little so my wife and I thought we would "lose ourselves in the Great Western Tiers" and complete the two-day Great Caves Ride over a leisurely three days in mid February. We cycle regularly and the ride to Mole Creek was an ideal part of our preparation for an extended cycle tour in Europe later in 2010.
We rode from Launceston to start the Ride at Deloraine. Unfortunately by this time it had started to rain heavily but as the day was warm, we pressed on to Mole Creek, our planned destination for the night - good preparation for a European summer we thought.
The hills are gentle and the 24km route passes through rolling farmland with stunning views across to the Great Western Tiers. A feature is the extensive oak and hazel nut plantations under which truffles are harvested in autumn. The Honey Farm at Chudleigh is a "must do" stop, a comprehensive museum and tasting room gives you an understanding of one of Tasmania's icon exports, Leatherwood honey. Toilets are available at the Chudleigh Hall.
We based ourselves at the Mole Creek camping ground 4km south of Mole Creek. The Sassafras Creek wanders through the park and a free BBQ shelter and 40 cent hot showers make for a very pleasant camp site ($17/night). Cabins are available for $50/night.
On the second day we visited Marakoopa Cave and Trowunna Wildlife Park. The 13km ride to the cave is a steady climb so we rewarded ourselves with a coffee and chat with Sarah at Marakoopa Coffee just before the cave. The 45-minute cave tours run on the hour from 10am to 4pm and offer two alternative routes.
We rolled back into Mole Creek, a picnic lunch by the old railway line and then 5km back towards Deloraine to the giant Devil on the road side marking the Trowunna Park entrance. Don't let the steep drive put you off; it's worth the short walk to get up close and personal with devils, wombats and kangaroos. With Tasmanian devils threatened by the facial tumour disease, it was good to see a healthy tribe of devils scrapping over their possum dinner. Admission is $18 and $9 for children. Passing the turn-off to Alum Cliffs, we cruised back to Mole Creek for a beer and a chat with locals in the Tiger Bar of the Mole Creek pub. The walls are covered with Tasmanian tiger photos and history; some locals are convinced they are out there.
Day three saw us on the undulating route towards Caveside, moving closer to the Western Tiers. There are stunning views of cloud-capped Mother Cummings Peak as you cycle around it and Quamby Bluff in the distance. We didn't make the diversion to the Caveside pool this time but on a warm afternoon it would have been a refreshing stop.
The route winds around fertile farms and forestry plantations along quiet rural roads past historic Cheshunt homestead to Meander. Here there is a friendly little general store near the river and a free BBQ and toilets at the southern end of the town for a lunch stop. After an afternoon tea stop in Deloraine we were home in Launceston by 6pm.
Road surfaces throughout the whole route are good and although there are some heavy trucks on the Mole Creek Road, we were given sufficient space.
The podcasts for the stops along the route give another dimension to the tour, with background and local tales and stories. Be sure you download them and the maps before you start a ride from: www.greatwesterntiers.net.au/highlights/great-cycling.
It was a great little tour and the best part is that the there is a lot more out there to re discover on this and the other three Great Trails.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
* Trowunna Wildlife Park
Interact with over 200 native animals in an authentic wildlife sanctuary
* Alum Cliffs
Meander through a sacred Aboriginal place offering breathtaking views high above the Mersey River
* King Solomon and Marakoopa Caves
Glimpse a secret world of underground rivers, glow worms and sparkling crystals
* The Honey Farm
Explore the interactive beehive and taste over 50 different honeys and delicious ice cream
RIDE ESSENTIALS
* SKILL LEVEL: Variable
* FITNESS REQUIRED: Moderate
* Distance: 49km return
* Terrain: Rolling farmland