The Brissie to Bright riding road trip!

Garto

Likes Bikes
Hi All,

A mate from work and myself have been chatting about heading off with our boys and bikes on a camping bike trip in September. We are both in Brissie and thought about heading to Bright for a few days making our way down the coast then over.

I haven't been there before and I am wondering if this is doable, and what the tracks at bright are like? I will have my 6 and 9 year old boys with me. As far as their age groups they are fair riders but unsure about the conditions of the tracks for kids there.

We had thought about stopping in at newcastle on the way and riding there for a day to break the drive up. Then over to bright for a few days, check out falls creek etc and then probably head home via dubbo, see the zoo and stay there on the way home. Looking to camp for most of it and possibly grab a room if we just pull up for a night somewhere.

Any comments on the weather at that time, places to stay, must see things or must ride tracks, suggestions for the trip, comments ect are extremely welcome.
 

dancaseyimages

Mountain bike pornographer
Should be pretty good in bright, they just ran the Pineapple Express there over the weekend.
 

Mattyp

Cows go boing
Depending on the snow season September could see Falls still covered in snow, I'm not really sure the riding there is kid friendly, think undulating Alpine rocky terrain, and whilst you can pedal up it's a bit of a slog so you'd want to book shuttles when they start operating again.
Bright (Mystic), is at much lower elevation so snow is not an issue but is similar in the pedal up and while I have seen kids ride up most ride the bus and froth their way down Hero/Shred Kelly trails. You can probably look up a YouTube vid of these to see what the trails are like.
Camp Crusty is the crustiest caravan park you'll ever visit, but it's at the bottom of the trails. If you're camping it is the cheapest and most convenient option in Bright for riding, if you're planning on staying in cabins just keep in mind they look like they are out of a prisoner of war camp.
 

caad9

Likes Bikes and Dirt
If Bright is the sole reason for the trip, awesome.
If not, theres surely a mutlitude of better options between Brisbane and Bright that would be warmer, offer more variety and don't charge you to ride.
Bright offers plenty in Summer with kids, as mentioned below, in Winter/early spring, not so much.

My suggestion would be south coast of NSW.

Trail networks galore and some flexibility to move if needed, also not Victorian alpine weather
 
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LPG

likes thicc birds
Bright is awesome for riding but that seems like a lot of driving with Kids. Keep in mind the below.

- You are talking about 14+ hours each direction from Brissy to Bright.
- Bright is great with kids as when the riding is over there are awesome swimming holes at the rivers, splash park etc. September will be too cold for these.
- Unless your kids like tech (and few do) you will be riding mostly the same trails every run at bright. Hero into shred Kelly's, maybe a deviation to lower hero or Down DJ for something different for the last 25%.
- The weather will be cold. Nights probably around 0 and the days 8 to 15. If you get rain (not that unlikely) you will be wet and cold and struggling to keep the fire going. Not much of a reward for ~ 30 hrs driving.

Personally I would make it later in the year when it is warmer and you can enjoy swimming. If you want to go that time of year I'd keep further North. Maybe Kiwarrak ( near Taree) and Barrington Tops? Barrington tops has awesome camping at the base of the trails which are shuttle only. Kiwarrak is not too far away and probably has good camping as well. They may be chilly but not as much as Bright and will be a days drive instead of 2.
 

geekman

Squid
Depending on the snow season September could see Falls still covered in snow, I'm not really sure the riding there is kid friendly, think undulating Alpine rocky terrain, and whilst you can pedal up it's a bit of a slog so you'd want to book shuttles when they start operating again.
I don't think trails are even open/shuttles operating until late Nov/early Dec at Falls. Usually the ski lifts keep turning until the end of the Sep school hols. Driving from Qld and its beautiful Spring weather to ride Vic seems crazy to me, Bright is one of my favorite towns in the state but I think you are underestimating how shit the weather is at that time of year. September is one of the wettest months of the year!
 
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dancaseyimages

Mountain bike pornographer
Bright is awesome for riding but that seems like a lot of driving with Kids. Keep in mind the below.

- You are talking about 14+ hours each direction from Brissy to Bright.
- Bright is great with kids as when the riding is over there are awesome swimming holes at the rivers, splash park etc. September will be too cold for these.
- Unless your kids like tech (and few do) you will be riding mostly the same trails every run at bright. Hero into shred Kelly's, maybe a deviation to lower hero or Down DJ for something different for the last 25%.
- The weather will be cold. Nights probably around 0 and the days 8 to 15. If you get rain (not that unlikely) you will be wet and cold and struggling to keep the fire going. Not much of a reward for ~ 30 hrs driving.

Personally I would make it later in the year when it is warmer and you can enjoy swimming. If you want to go that time of year I'd keep further North. Maybe Kiwarrak ( near Taree) and Barrington Tops? Barrington tops has awesome camping at the base of the trails which are shuttle only. Kiwarrak is not too far away and probably has good camping as well. They may be chilly but not as much as Bright and will be a days drive instead of 2.
You forgot the Bright Brewery, they do a mean pizza and a beer taster if your inclined that way, easy to ride into town past Krustys once youve finished a few runs.
Not far from Bright is also Yackendanda, recently posted on here with some trail rec's.
(1) Yack tracks - what's your recommendation | Rotorburn
 

LPG

likes thicc birds
You forgot the Bright Brewery, they do a mean pizza and a beer taster if your inclined that way, easy to ride into town past Krustys once youve finished a few runs.
Not far from Bright is also Yackendanda, recently posted on here with some trail rec's.
(1) Yack tracks - what's your recommendation | Rotorburn
Good call, the brewery is great. They basically have a fenced in area that kids run around so you can enjoy yourself while the kids have fun. Last time I was there with the family my 2 year made some random friends and was just following some 3 year olds looking at flowers and rolling around in the grass.
 
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