Ride Start Date: 2022-10-10
The Audax WA feature ride in 2022 will be a semi-supported 1,200km randonnée starting in Perth and heading south riding through some of the most scenic country WA has to offer. While it follows a little of the route of the Perth-Albany-Perth ride, it offers a change of scenery for long time PAP riders with the route taking in Augusta.
The Perth-Augusta-Perth ride is scheduled to start at 5am Monday 10 October 2022.
1,000km and 200km rides are also on offer.
Registration is now open. Click here to register. Registration closes 7 October.
Ordering from the PAP kit store is now CLOSED..
FB group: Perth-Augusta-Perth
Email contact: PAP 2022 (pap@audax.org.au)
Ride Organiser: Wayne Hickman
Overview
Perth to first overnight sleep control in Nannup. From Nannup, cycle through tall timber country to Manjimup then Pemberton before arriving at the coastal town of Augusta. Then on through Margaret River wine country returning to Nannup for a sleep on the 2nd night. Pedal onto Bridgetown, Boyup Brook, Kojonup, Darkan to a third overnight in Collie. From Collie onto Harvey, then a flat cycle back through Mandurah following the cycle path to Perth.
1207km Route: RWGPS route link (subject to tweeking at this early stage)
Shorter routes, 1000km and 200km, are also on offer.
Photos: some of the sights, road conditions, locations and what you can expect along the route. (Some photos from PAP 2018, including images taken by A. Preston.)
Detailed description (some details may change slightly but you will get the idea)
Day 1 – Monday 10 October
Starting at the Observation Deck in South Perth. The stunning Perth City lights will be on display across The Swan River. Taking the PSP (Principal Shared Path) out of Perth for about 30km then onto quiet back roads through dairy farming country.
54km Mundijong where you can refuel at the local IGA. Dairy farms through to Pinjarra (100km) and a well earned coffee at the Dome or one of the many bakeries. 44km to Yarloop where a mobile control will be waiting for you with some snacks. Harvey is only another 13km on which has cafes, bakeries & a couple of IGAs.
Lots more dairy farms until Australind & back into built up areas. You will get views of the ocean and estuary before the large town of Bunbury (213km) with lots of cafes to choose from. Following the Ocean Rd for 4km then heading inland you will pass some fast food shops on way out.
242 km Dardenup. Last chance to top up water bottles for a while, shop maybe open or maybe not open. 252km Ferguson Valley Hall has toilet on right and water if you need. 262km Gnomesville a surprise to take your mind off all them damn hills.
Farm land gives way to forrest areas for a while on back roads to Kirup. Kirup to Balingup (14km) has a 110km speed limit in places so exercise caution along here. Balingup has a couple of cafes but they may be closed. When its quiet the country shops tend to close early.
The road to Nannup follows the Blackwood River … very scenic but also lumpy. 355km Nannup and a well earned sleep and hot food awaits you.
Day 2 – Tuesday 11 October
You will be riding through some of the best tall timber country WA has to offer.
413km Manjimup. 455km Pemberton & a very good bakery. 520km there maybe a secret control, there maybe food, there maybe water, there maybe vollies to give you lots of hugs and encouragement.
You will be riding on quiet roads for most of the day until Augusta (579km), cafes, bakery & BP Servo, even a pub if you are in need of bigger refreshment! Again be prepared for early closures. A small loop around Augusta to give you some estuary and ocean views & maybe even the lighthouse.
Its head down bum up time to get you to Margaret River in time for a feed at one of the many food establishments on offer. More dairy farms onto Rosa Brook Road which runs onto Mowen Road then bush & more bush & more bush all the way back to Nannup (698km).
Day 3 – Wednesday 12 October
After a good sleep with a belly full of food you will warm your legs up with a couple of small (ur) climbs out of Nannup. Very nice scenery of farms, timber & Australian bush all the way to a very nice decent into Bridgetown (744km). Lots of cafes, bakeries to top up your bellies then onto Boyup Brook (755km). Choice of cafes, pub & IGA for some pocket food for the long stretch ahead.
860km Kojonup bakery and cafes up … yes I’m sorry up the main street. Out of Kojonup and a left turn has you back onto quiet country farm roads to Darkin (942km). Head down bum up time for the ride to Collie (1005km) and hot delicious food and well earned sleep at the control.
Day 4 – Thursday 13 October
Collie to the finish is 200km, the first 40km out of Collie is through forrest and bush with a few lumps to keep your legs warm. Nice long downhill off the scarp then tha’ts all the hills behind you woohoo.
Harvey again, you were here on the way out 160km mark, remember where the bakery, cafe, IGA & Servo are. You will be cycling past dairy farms. Remember to look out for grape vines. There is a couple of kms on the Forrest Highway so make sure you ride in the hard shoulder as this has heavy traffic and a 110km speed limit.
Old Coast Rd brings you to Estuary Drive which has great views of the Peel Estuary and glimpses of Mandurah. The Leprechan Cafe(if open) makes a nice rest stop with toilets opposite. Around the Peel Inlet, under a bridge and follow the coast line all the way to Mandurah. Lots of cafes, bakeries, shops, toilets. Nice ice-cream shop with great assortment of flavours on the eastern foreshore. Gordon Road takes you to Mandjoogoordap Drive again ride in hard shoulder. Then onto PSP cycle path all the way back to Perth. There is a big BP servo at the 1167km mark if you are in need of food,drink, toilets.
Finish at the Bell Tower on the opposite side of Swan River from the start.
Registration for the 1205km, 1000km or the 200km routes is now open. Register here.
Registration closes 7 October 2022.
Cost
1205km $500
1000km $500
200km $16
This is a semi-supported ride.
Riders will be provided with breakfast & supper at the sleep controls (Nannup & Collie).
Luggage will be transported to the sleep controls and your mattress will be pumped up for you.
Planning is underway so more details to follow.
Audax WA’s feature ride in the past has taken a Perth-Albany-Perth (PAP) route showing off 1,200km of some of WA’s best and most scenic cycling country. Below are ride reports from previous feature rides.
Other reports of epic LRMs completed by WA Audax members can be found on the ‘Ride Reports’ tab on the Audax WA’s webpage.