Dish To Dish - Tidbinbilla to Parkes

A journey that intertwines the camaraderie of the road with a celebration of science, history, art, poetry, cozy accommodation in charming country towns and treats you to breathtaking vistas at every turn.

Our NEW Dish to Dish Tidbinbilla to Parkes 10-day Tour marks the debut of a series of exclusive small group (14 max) fully supported cycling tours available to new and existing Members of Bicycle NSW.

From the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex’s 70 metre antenna to the legendary CSIRO Parkes radio telescope Murriyang, colloquially known as ‘The Dish’ and inspiration for the movie of the same name, this is a journey that intertwines a cycling adventure with a celebration of science, history, art and poetry with the diverse natural and agricultural landscapes of the ACT and South West and Central NSW.

As we pedal back through time, we find history on display in the old towns and villages shaped by the riches unearthed in the NSW gold fields that transformed the colony of NSW. This was a time of confidence that saw Sir Henry Parkes, a five times Premier of NSW, successfully advocate for the unification of the six Australian colonies to form the Commonwealth of Australia, with Canberra emerging as the National Capital. For his leadership in advancing the cause of nationhood he was accorded the title ‘Father of Federation’. The suburb of Parkes in Canberra, which is home to the Federal Parliament, and the New South Wales town of Parkes, are named in his honour. So rather than simply a journey from Dish to Dish, this tour could equally be dubbed Parkes to Parkes.

Poetry weaves into our story, with Banjo Paterson's upbringing in Binalong and Henry Lawson's connection to Grenfell infusing our route with literary richness. Paterson, who was influenced by the colourful characters (swagmen, bushman, drovers, shearers and bullockies) he met and Lawson, who has been hailed as one of the pioneers in capturing Australia's emerging national identity, paint vivid portraits of the Australian spirit through their verse.

Today, agriculture forms the backbone of the economy with our route passing through rich grazing and cropping country - sheep, cattle, wheat, barley, and canola. The orchards and vineyards surrounding Young, the Cherry Capital of Australia, stand as an illustration to the region's agricultural diversity.

This is very pretty country, and one thing is for sure, in September it should be very green and possibly a bit pink with cherry blossoms, and yellow if the canola is in flower.

This journey isn't just about the kilometres ridden, it's about the stops along the way offering glimpses into the essence of Australia that will resonate long after our wheels stop turning.