132 | Cycling World
AllTrails only run 10 to 15 Australian tours per year, which makes each
tour exceptional. With such a high rate of repeat riders, they take care
not to repeat the same itineraries over and over again. And, unlike
some cheap-and-cheerful tours, there is no bulk production-line. Each
and every tour is meticulously planned, and the guides are as excited
to be there as the riders. As a general rule, guides make sure riders
see the hidden gems of Oz as they pedal from city to city, not just the
usual spots frequented by the weekend tourists.
A typical day on a tour finds riders enjoying their morning meal,
comparing maps and routes and plans for the day. Riders then mount
their cycles and get on the road to climb and descend to their heart’s
content, enjoying the rugged beauty that only Australia can offer and
leaving the drudgery of the luggage and the details to AllTrails.
The ride is broken up through out the day with several food and water
breaks, with riders moving off in their own time and at their own pace,
aiming to arrive at the overnight destination around mid-afternoon.
Once at the accommodations for that night, guests check in and can
refresh themselves with a hot bath and even a massage.
The day winds down with a daily briefing, recapping the day and
hearing war-stories from fellow riders. Satiated with good food and
good company, guests can then enjoy some of the local offerings or
simply curl up in bed like a bear in hibernation. All in all, a perfect day
by all accounts.
Designed for regular riders, the large majority of AllTrails tours are
road bike tours, but they do offer mountain bike rides, such as their
Cairns to Cape York tour, or Rail Trail rides better suited for hybrids
and mountain bikes. Longer tours of 100km or more per day are for
the especially keen cyclist, while tours with shorter distances of 60-80
km per day are for the “reasonably regular” cyclist.
“You don’t need to be a ‘good’ or ‘fast’ cyclist, or even
extremely fit,” says co-director Jo Marshall,
“but guests should be at least a ‘regular’ rider to enjoy
most of our tours.”
Thinking about an Australian cycling holiday?
read more about their rides at alltrails.com.au.
email: [email protected] | www.alltrails.com.au
For the upcoming season, they have carefully planned
several exhilarating itineraries, including:
Murray River (from Source to Sea) 22 Feb – 17 Mar, 22 nights, 86km / day
Autumn Rail Trails 11 – 15 Apr, 4 nights, 56-67km / day (an easier ride)
Perth to Broome 18 May – 17 June, 29 Nights, 125km / day
4 Bays in 4 Days 3-7 Oct, 4 nights, 90km / day
Food & Wine Indulgence Tour 30 Oct – 4 Nov, 5 nights, 61km / day
New Zealand 18 Feb – 8 Mar 2019, 18 nights, 84km / day
Great Ocean Road Tour 21-24 Mar 2019, 3 nights, 100km / day (open for bookings soon)
They also do a remarkable annual tour in Europe, as well as
accommodation packages for mass-participation rides in Victoria and
Queensland. AllTrails tours are well worth the price tag when you
consider the quality of the service and experience provided by what is
arguably the best tour company in Australia. As one rider put it,
“A priceless goal so in my view I got more than I paid
for. Sense of achievement: overwhelming.” – John S.