Central Tilba is small hamlet south-west from Narooma which can be reached along some beautiful and quiet gravel roads. Paved sections start and finish the ride but in between is wonderful, undulating gravel through a green and forested landscape. If you arrive early enough in the morning Tilba is still asleep so the main road is quiet, like you have it all to yourself. Cycling is a beautiful way to see this small part of the south coast of NSW.
A farm just outside Tilba
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 640, 40mm, f/16 and 1/100 SEC])
Central Tilba and surrounding areas have a population of about 350 people, so it is quiet sort of a place, especially just after sunrise on a Sunday morning in June. On the journey to Tilba there were people out walking dogs or getting their own exercise but the road was mainly quiet. The road went up and down but no climb was too steep and the views were superb. I was often cycling through forest but getting closer to Central Tilba cleared areas with houses built safely on the steep slopes appeared. Large rocky outcrops daubed with masses of lichen also started to break up the scenery. I maintained a steady cadence despite some climbs, taking in the lovely views all around me. Arriving in Central Tilba, with the ABC Cheese Factory on my left, meant I had another short climb up to the main area of the town where the Dromedary Hotel and other historic buildings were located. I paused for a moment at the town’s war memorial, contemplating the names in the stillness of a June dawn. The quiet of the town in the early morning meant that it was easy to appreciate the town for its simplicity, and its buildings from an earlier era. Pedalling along in a sedate, easy fashion was the perfect match for this town that moved at its own pace, especially on a Sunday morning.
Back in Narooma with Gulaga in the background
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 100, 40mm, f/16 and 1/100 SEC])
Of course it was nice to be back in Narooma and no ride is complete without a pedal out to the inlet entrance. It was a glorious morning, a the perfect end to a scenic ride.
I would absolutely recommend the simple ride from Narooma to Tilba. Get on to the Old Highway then turn left onto the Wagonga Scenic Drive. As you descend look out for Engine Road on your left and follow that to Punkulla Tilba Road and keep on that road until you arrive in Tilba. The ride goes through some lovely nature and it is a refreshing start to the day.