Cycling Collie to Balingup, Western Australia
September 25th 2006 10:44
It's an uphill road from Collie along the Collie Preston Road but after about 10-12kms there are enough descents to speed you over the remaining hills into Mumballup. Mumballup is right at the intersection and consists of a tavern and two houses. The tavern is presided over by a galah trying to squawk louder than the heavy metal music. You can pick up a counter meal and a drink and camp in the field next door if you wish.
Turning left at the intersection you coast on flattish roads past the sign to Noggerup where you take a right up Grimwade road into the Noggerup Conservation Park. The tarmac ends and you are back on the gravel pedalling past virgin jarrah forest. The road is only used by a couple of farmers and a tourist or two so you'll mostly have it to yourself.
The gravel continues for around 20kms (15kms on nicely compacted gravel and 5kms on deep gravel) till the locality of Grimwade where there is a picnic area. We didn't hang around though as there were thousands of biting insects and motor rally was about to commence.
From here the road rises steeply and becomes tarmac which continues for another 15kms to the South Western Hwy near Balingup. That last steep section of gravel was it for me. I had to actually get off my bike and push it up the final three metres to the tarmac. One more hill of only a few kilometres separates you from the most satisfying downhill you've encountered all day. This extra long descent rewards all your efforts and takes you through more forest almost to Balingup.
Balingup has a general store from where you can pick up the keys to the community camp ground shower block. This costs around $10.50AUS. If you want to stink, the campgrounds wont cost you a cent and there is a toilet block for a top and tail wash job. The camp is basic but has deep lush grass, picnic tables and cool breezes from the river.
Mumballup Tavern
Turning left at the intersection you coast on flattish roads past the sign to Noggerup where you take a right up Grimwade road into the Noggerup Conservation Park. The tarmac ends and you are back on the gravel pedalling past virgin jarrah forest. The road is only used by a couple of farmers and a tourist or two so you'll mostly have it to yourself.
The gravel continues for around 20kms (15kms on nicely compacted gravel and 5kms on deep gravel) till the locality of Grimwade where there is a picnic area. We didn't hang around though as there were thousands of biting insects and motor rally was about to commence.
From here the road rises steeply and becomes tarmac which continues for another 15kms to the South Western Hwy near Balingup. That last steep section of gravel was it for me. I had to actually get off my bike and push it up the final three metres to the tarmac. One more hill of only a few kilometres separates you from the most satisfying downhill you've encountered all day. This extra long descent rewards all your efforts and takes you through more forest almost to Balingup.
Balingup Campground, WA
Balingup has a general store from where you can pick up the keys to the community camp ground shower block. This costs around $10.50AUS. If you want to stink, the campgrounds wont cost you a cent and there is a toilet block for a top and tail wash job. The camp is basic but has deep lush grass, picnic tables and cool breezes from the river.
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