OH! Magazine - Australian Version June 2016 | Page 28

( Where, Oh Where? )

ON YA BIKE!

THE WORLD’S BEST
CYCLING DESTINATIONS
cheapflights.com.au share their top destinations for avid cyclists.
There’s no better way to see the
world than on two wheels, and
there is an incredible array of choice
when it comes to rides. Get off the beaten
track with these top bike holidays from
around the world.

T

See Paris from the saddle
The city of love’s main attractions – the
Champs-Elysées, Notre Dame, the Louvre
and the Avenue de l’Opera, Pompidou
Centre and Bastille – are within easy
reach of each other and the best way to
see them is by bike. Stop at the various
shops and markets en route, cross one of
the many bridges over the River Seine, or
follow any of the myriad of hidden lanes
that might lead you to a cosy café. Paris’
self-service cycle hire scheme means
riders can pick up and drop off bicycles
at more than 1,000 spots throughout the
city at any time of day.
Head to the mountains
The 83km Murray to the Mountains Rail
Trail from Wangaratta to Bright in Victoria,
Australia, crosses the foot of Mt Buffalo
through the Ovens Valley. It can be cycled
in a day, but is better stretched across a
couple – as there are several wineries and
eateries worth stopping at along the way

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JUNE 2016 ( OH! MAGAZINE )

and there are plenty of accommodation
options too! This is a great introduction
to bike travel for families.
Go west
West Australia’s Munda Biddi Trail
stretches for 1,000km from Mundaring,
just outside Perth, to Albany. The terrain
varies from gentle to difficult so choose a
section to ride on your ability. Every day
is different on the Munda Biddi. The
scenery ranges from unspoiled bush,
quaint rural towns and towering forests,
and the wineries and the chance to learn
about Aboriginal culture are highlights.
The trail takes about three weeks to
complete, and there are plenty of towns
and custom-built campsites with shelter,
water tanks, toilets and bike storage
along the way; most are 45-50km apart.
On the history trail
Pedal through history as you follow a
former railway route through oncebustling goldfields on New Zealand’s
Otago Central Rail Trail. This is NZ’s
original scenic ride and at 150km, it
connects Clyde to Middlemarch, cutting
through narrow gorges and across railway
bridges and tunnels. You won’t find any
steep hills on this route, but there are

character-filled pubs and quirky bed and
breakfasts. A train journey from
Middlemarch back to Dunedin on the
Taieri Gorge Railway is a fantastic way to
cap off the experience.
Canal cruising
Boats along Sweden’s Göta Canal were
once towed by oxen from the shore, and
today these old paths are popular with
cyclists. They’re mostly flat, free of traffic
and offer plenty of spots perfect for
whiling away an hour or two over an al
fresco lunch. The most popular
attractions are the canal museum at
Sjötorp and the seven locks at Berg,
where you can watch boats being lowered
18m.
Follow the river
The Danube Bicycle Path is one of
Europe’s most beautiful cycle routes.
Start your trip in Passau and cruise
through upper and lower Austria to finish
in Vienna. The 320km path follows the
majestic river of the same name and is an
ideal way to see this romantic region.
Thanks to a paved, traffic-free route, the
cycling is pretty easy, making it a great
ride if you have the kids in tow. Along the
way you’ll pass romantic castles,