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Description of Route 2: Coffs Harbour Jetty to Sawtell
Start/Finish: Coffs Harbour Jetty
Distance: 26km return (2-3 hours)
Difficulty: medium
Brief outline:
This is a longer ride that is suitable for families and medium-skilled riders. It is a combination of on-road and off-road facilities and shared cycleways. All sections are sealed.
The ride includes the 6km Hogbin Drive Cycleway – a fully off-road cycleway suitable for beginners and parents with young unskilled riders.
Highlights along this route:
- Coffs Harbour Jetty
- Jetty restaurant strip
- Coffs Harbour Airport
- Coffs Harbour Education Campus
- Coffs Harbour International Stadium
- Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre
- Sawtell BMX Track and Velodrome
- Sawtell First Avenue shops, cinema, cafés and restaurants
- Sawtell beaches and headlands, lookout points
- Coffs Harbour Racecourse
- Beacon Hill Lookout
Route description:
Start at the information shelter/carpark near the base of the Coffs Harbour Jetty at Jordan Esplanade. Cross the railway line at Marina Drive and turn left onto Harbour Drive, past the Jetty restaurant strip and towards Coffs Harbour’s CBD.
2km from start
Turn left from Harbour Drive onto Hogbin Drive, ride up a short steep hill and down to a roundabout, where you take the Hogbin Drive Cycleway to the left of the main road. You’ll pass the entrance to the Airport. Go straight at the Stadium Drive roundabout, where Southern Cross University is on your left and the International Stadium and sports fields on your right. Beware of cars entering the University turnoff when crossing at the roundabout.
9km from start
The Hogbin Drive Cycleway ends at the roundabout just before Toormina. Cross Sawtell Road and continue straight on Toormina Road, where you’ll pass the Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre on your left. After just over a kilometre, turn left into Hulberts Road at the top of a hill. The Sawtell BMX Track and Coffs Harbour Cycle Club Velodrome are on your left. Cross the railway track and cycle past Sawtell Railway Station. Turn right into 16th Avenue and then left into Boronia Street. Follow Boronia Street until you see the tree-lined First Avenue (Sawtell’s main street) on your left, or continue on to the end for the sweeping views from the lookout point at Sawtell Headland.
13km from start
First Avenue is a great place to rest and relax at one of the al-fresco cafés or restaurants, Sawtell Hotel or RSL Club, or catch a show at the heritage Sawtell Cinema. Public toilets are available at the southern end of the shops. One block east of the shops are Sawtell’s beaches.
When you’re ready to continue with the return leg of the ride, take First Avenue north, and keep an eye out for the Lookout sign on the right, just before the railway bridge. Although it’s a steep climb, the view from Boambee Headland is definitely worth the effort. Continue heading west along Sawtell Road to the Toormina roundabout.
17km from start
Before the roundabout, cross the road to the shared pathway on the northern side, which continues right at the roundabout into the Hogbin Drive Cycleway. Follow the cycleway past the Education Campus and Airport, all the way back to the roundabout at Howard Street.
24km from start
At the end of the cycleway, turn right into Howard Street, riding past the Coffs Harbour Racecourse and stables. Follow the road to the end and turn left onto the sealed track over a headland leading to the Jetty Foreshores. Enjoy the fabulous views from the top of Beacon Hill over all of Coffs Harbour. At the end of the track, turn right into Camperdown Street, cross the railway bridge, and turn left onto Jordon Esplanade to finish back at the Jetty.
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