Cycling Tasmania – Day 6
Triabunna to King George Sound
78km, 1500m elevation
Most of the roads I’ve cycled so far in Tasmania have had a fair bit of traffic. It is the height of the Australian summer after all and tons of folks from mainland Australia come to Tasmania to escape the heat. Today, I took an entirely different path.
This is part of a month-long cycle tour around Tasmania. If you missed the start of this journey, here’s how it all got started.
After the village of Orford the highway heads inland and becomes quite busy as it gets closer to Hobart. I wanted to continue south toward the Tasman peninsula but rather than take the highway, I found a nearly deserted road going up into the mountains and through dense forest.
Orford’s Rheban Road really surprised me. It passes through peaceful sparsely populated farmland with fantastic views back to Maria Island. The views are just stunning. There are lots of real estate developments in Tasmania but this gem seems to have been completely overlooked.
After being awed by the spectacular coastal scenery, I found that the road turns to gravel and heads up through forests. It’s rough in spots and quite steep, so if you’re planning your own cycling route in Tasmania and you’re carrying all your own gear, it might be a bit of a stretch. I had to be careful coming downhill too. The washboarding was bad enough in spots that I could hardly see for all the vibrations it caused. A mountain bike would do much better here than my touring bike. I didn’t mind the hard work, though. Being in wilderness felt refreshing and not more than half a dozen cars passed me all day.
Coming down out of the forest & mountains and back into tranquil farmland felt almost uplifting. I’ve rarely visited places where the farms are up high on hillsides with panoramic views down to the sea and out to the mountains. What lucky cows!
Up next, I head south to the Tasman Peninsula where one of the most important historic sites in all of Australia lies – Port Arthur. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this magical thought, shared by some unknown Tasmanian…
If you’re planning your own cycling trip in Tasmania, you can see today’s track and download the gpx from strava.
Up next, I explore the sea cliffs and peaceful bays of the Tasman Peninsula on Day 7 of cycling in Tasmania.
Eating Snow Around the World 
Awesome. There’s nothing better than getting off the beaten track. That’s what we try and do when we travel, where-ever we go. Guaranteed to find the best places.
You’re right, Miriam. I always find the best places and have the best experiences when I get off the beaten track too.