A picturesque ride through quiet villages and country roads
 

Handy information and outdoor fun, kindly brought to you by The Fixed Wheel, Bowral.

There’s no shortage of stunning road rides in the Southern Highlands, but this one has got to be one of the most picturesque.

You know it’s good when the guys from The Fixed Wheel in Bowral rank it as one of their favourites.

Just under 44 kilometres, the ride will take you anywhere from 1.5-2 hours and is recommended for keen cyclists with a moderate level of fitness to deal with a couple of steep climbs.

We chatted to Rick Loft from The Fixed Wheel about what makes this loop through Glenquarry and Kangaloon so good, and what to look out for when you’re on the road.

“You’ll definitely be rewarded with great views for some of those climbs you’ll be doing, which makes it all worth it,” he says.

Let’s go!

Bowral to Glenquarry

A good place to start, especially if you’re meeting up with a group, is at Corbett Plaza in Bowral.

Rick recommends an early start for this one in summer.

“Head off at 5:30am if you don’t mind an early start. It’s good to get out on the road to beat the traffic and the heat of the day in warmer months,” he says.

“Start a bit later in winter as ice on the road can make things a bit slippery, especially on some of the descents.”

Head south down Bong Bong Street and take a left onto Kangaloon Road at the big roundabout at the southern end of town.

This stretch is fairly flat – just a few small ascents and descents.

It’s a nice ride out of town through East Bowral, passing Bong Bong Race Club on the right. You’ll be on Kangaloon Road for just under 8 kilometres before taking a left onto Tourist Road at Glenquarry.

You’ll head straight into a 1 kilometre slow ascent, passing the Range Road turn-off and the lovely old St Luke’s Church.

Time to put your head down and grind it out.

Once you get to the Glenquarry Peace Memorial Hall, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view across rolling, green hills and a fun descent!

It’s a winding road, so ride the brakes a bit and keep an eye out for wildlife.

“We’ve come across a few wombats on this road and on Kangaloon Road. Keep your eyes peeled that time of the morning,” Rick says.

Tourist Road flattens out before crossing a couple of bridges. 

You’ll pass some fancy gates to super fancy estates before getting to Kirkland Road.

Glenquarry to Kangaloon

Turn right off Tourist Road onto Kirkland Road for a fairly cruisy 3.5km stretch.

The first part of Kirkland Road is quite bushy – we had a wallaby jump out in front of us when we did the loop! – with gorgeous ghost gums lining the road.

You’ll pass the entrance to Wombat Hollow on your left.

The road is quite narrow so keep an eye out when you’re going over crests.

The landscape changes from Australian bush to farmland about a third of the way along Kirkland Road.

You’ll pass plenty of cows totally uninterested in you and pedal through green paddocks before you get to Kangaloon Road.

Turn right into Kangaloon Road and get ready for a lung-busting ascent.

If you get a chance in between grinding it out and gritting your teeth up the hill, look out to the right for beautiful views across East Kangaloon farmland.

Although your view is probably going to be of your handlebars and the tarmac as you pedal uphill.

When you get to the Welcome to Kangaloon sign, you’ve almost made it, so hang in there!

There’s a nice descent to give the legs a break before heading back up the hill to Kangaloon Hall on your left.

“It’s good to stop at the hall and take a break here, catch your breath and get the group back together again,” says Rick. 

A well-earned break, we’d say!

Kangaloon to Bowral

Keep following the road through Kangaloon village, past the school on your left before heading down the hill – another fun descent with Wingecarribee Reservoir on your left.

It’s a winding, narrow road so watch your speed.

The view to your left across the Reservoir is spectacular [all views seem nicer when you’re going downhill!].

The road flattens out before you head into another descent and a fairly smooth ride past the Wingecarribee Reservoir Picnic turn-off and over Glenquarry Cut Bridge.

There’s a dairy along here so you may have to stop for cows crossing.

“We’ve had to stop for cows before. It depends on what time of day you go,” Rick says.

Two kilometres after the bridge, you’ll come to a large T-intersection where Kangaloon Road and Sheepwash Road meet.

Turn right onto Kangaloon Road and make your way back into Bowral for a well-earned coffee and brunch at one the local cafes!

“This is a great loop to do if you’ve got a keen rider from out of town to show around,” says Rick.

“It really shows off a beautiful part of the Highlands and has some great views.”

The Fixed Wheel is a full-service bicycle shop in Bowral. The team in-store are all cyclists themselves so they definitely know their stuff! If you’re keen to start cycling, you want to try a different type of cycling or perhaps you’re ready to go next level, start at The Fixed Wheel. 

We love sharing our awesome outdoor adventures with The Fold readers and want to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy when giving our walks and rides a crack for themselves. So, always check the weather forecast before you venture out. If you’re heading into a National Park, be sure to consult the National Parks website for up-to-date information about current alerts. Prepare yourself with the right equipment, clothing, safety items, with plenty to eat and drink if you’re going on longer hikes, and always let someone else know where you’re going and what time you are expected to be back. Have fun and stay safe!