18 great bike rides in the Narooma - Tilba - Bermagui area of the New South Wales Far South Coast

Ride 8

Central Tilba to Little Lake

Return distance 14 kilometres

Easy grade

Start: Central Tilba Farm Cabins

Although this ride is only eight kilometres return, most cyclists will want to linger quite a while at the destination—a long, white, unspoilt beach, with a lake, and views of Mount Dromedary across the green hills.

If you are starting the ride from the Central Tilba Farm Cabins, just three kilometres west of the historic village of Central Tilba, turn left at the gate and ride to Central Tilba. Or you can start the ride at Central Tilba - there is usually ample parking at either end of the village. Make sure you take ample water and food with you, as there are no shops after you leave Central Tilba.

Ride the short distance to the ‘old highway’ at the end of the main street of Central Tilba. This road used to be the main Princes Highway before the Tilba bypass was constructed several years ago. Turn left, and go to the Princes Highway, about half a kilometre from the village.

Over the highway

On the opposite side of the highway, there is a sealed road—Sherringham Road. Ride along that for about a kilometre to a fork. Sherringham Road turns to the right, but keep going straight ahead.

Through three gates

Cycle for about another two kilometres to the first of three gates - a white wooden gate. There is a sign to the cemetery. Go through the gate and through the fields. As you will now be on private property, make sure you stay on the road. Don’t frighten the animals. Please leave all gates just as you find them.

After the second gate, the track becomes quite rough.

Once you are through the third gate, continue along the track past the cemetery, which you will now be able to see in the distance. Your destination is the hill overlooking the lake and the beach.

The headlands

The town on the headland to the south is Bermagui.

Just past the cemeteries, there is a fence, but with a space to walk through, and, beyond that fence, another fence and some wooden steps. A narrow path leads through the sand dunes to the long beach.

This is an ideal spot for lunch or refreshments, and a swim in the lake.  

Returning to Central Tilba

Unfortunately, this ride does not form a loop, so you will need to return along the same way that you came. But while in Central Tilba, look around. Enjoy a coffee and a cake while you take in the atmosphere of this truly historic village.

Map for Ride 8.