Parkes : Gravel Fondo

Welcome to the FiRST edition of goodnessgravel Parkes - which will be held on Saturday 1 November 2025.

Join us for this Gravel Fondo event.

This will be our FOURTH event for 2025 and we cannot wait for you to join us.

We must continue to thank our riders for your support as without you, these events would not be possible.

We must also thank those who are volunteering over the weekend. There will once again be some fantastic individuals and local clubs who will be offered their support and helpful hands. You may not see them all over the weekend but there are dozens out there who will be helping make this gravel event a huge success.  

The last thank you must go to those who are our sponsors, Shimano GRX and Parkes Council are the Major Sponsors with Shimano Shoes, Heaps Normal, Bombtrack, Apidura Bags, Panaracer, Lazer, SMOOVE Lube, ASS Magic and Bowy Active being Silver. 

Let us make this event another fantastic success.

See Event Info for More Details

Why Parkes? 

As mentioned in the About Us Section, COVID has a lot to answer for. 

Due to not being able to travel OS for our tours, we contacted various NSW Rural Councils to see about visiting their regions to consult on their cycle tourism opportunities. 

Just what is in our very own Australian backyard?

There is so much gold in the Parkes Region. It is not just the event loops but there is also the riding out to 'The Dish', Bogan Gate (seriously) and Peak Hill. Come out and enjoy this fantastic area, lovely community and super-gravel roads..

We cannot wait to share even more goodnessgravel with you and looking forward to seeing you in 2025 to show off this glorious region. 

Now for a little write up on the courses: 

Saturday Gravel Fondo : 130km with 1,200m of ascent

Parkes > Cookamidgera > Mandagery > Eugowra > Cookamidgera > Parkes

Come and ride the Long Course out in the rolling hills of Parkes. This loop has a little bit of everything, tarmac, ascents + descents, great rest stops, villages and of course plenty of good(ness) gravel.

7:30am : Saturday morning, after leaving Harrison Park - 300m above sea-level (ASL) - riders will ride a bit of tarmac for the first 6km which is ‘flat’. 

Before you know it you will be on the aptly named The Welcome Road and onto some sweet gravel. This road heads Straight South before tic-taking to Pipeclay and Back Yamma Roads, you have now done ~15km with 73m of elevation gain … ie it’s flat!

Enjoy Ernie Hodges Road and watch the scenery change, from flat agricultural vistas to riding up and then parallel to the South West Woodland Nature Reserve until Cookamidgera. 

Here at ~35km is the First Rest Stop at the Cookamidgera Playground (360m ASL).

On the Long Course, you will come back through Cookamidgera later in your ride at ~116km.

Cooka Hills Road is next and enjoy the ~4km climb which averages 2.3% as you wind your way up and then down towards your next tarmac section.

There is another steady climb on Staircase Road and you reach the highest point for the ride at ~530m ASL. As you make your way towards the tiny township of Mandagery, expect a ~8km climb which averages 2.7% with one sharp rise of ~9.5% 

Once you turn off Mandagery Rd you will be back onto a fast gravel section along Waterhole Creek Road from ~56km > ~71km - enjoy!

The road turns back to tarmac ~74km and then comes the next split at ~76km.

Here the Long Course turns left and does a ~17km out and back to Eugowra. Waiting for you is another Rest Stop, this section is all on tarmac. 

In Eugowra (372m ASL) the local coffee shop will fill your water bottles, offer you a biscuit and coffee or cold drink as part of your event entry. There are also public toilets in town and friendly people. 

After retracting your tracks you will be back onto gravel at ~93km and riding towards Cookamidgera along Amaroo Way. 

Who said the Central West Region is flat. For ~13km you are ‘climbing’, it is only an average of ~1.5% but you will have plenty of KM’s in your legs and we hope that that there is no headwind.  

By ~110km (500m ASL) your hard work has paid off and it is predominantly downhill until ~116km when you reach Cookamidgera for your last Rest Stop. 

Then it is just ~14km before you arrive back at Harrison Park where you will be greeted with a complimentary Heaps Normal and sausage sandwich.

Registered riders will be emailed the Strava and Ride With GPS link including GPX file the week of the event

Saturday Gravel Fondo : 110km with 1,000m of ascent

Parkes > Cookamidgera > Mandagery > Cookamidgera > Parkes

Come and ride the Middle Course out in the rolling hills of Parkes. This loop has a little bit of everything, tarmac, ascents + descents, two rest stops and of course plenty of good(ness) gravel.

8:00am : Saturday morning, the Long Course has already left and soon you will be departing Harrison Park - 300m above sea-level (ASL) - riders will ride a bit of tarmac for the first 6km which is ‘flat’. 

Before you know it you will be on the aptly named The Welcome Road and onto some sweet gravel. This road heads straight South before tic-taking to Pipeclay and Back Yamma Roads, you have now done ~15km with 73m of elevation gain … ie it’s flat!

Enjoy Ernie Hodges Road and watch the scenery change, from flat agricultural vistas to riding up and then parallel to the South West Woodland Nature Reserve until Cookamidgera. 

Here at ~35km is the First Rest Stop at the Cookamidgera Playground (360m ASL).

On the Middle Course, you will come back through Cookamidgera later in your ride at ~99km.

Cooka Hills Road is next and enjoy the ~4km climb which averages 2.3% as you wind yourway up and then down towards your next tarmac section.

There is another steady climb on Staircase Road and you reach the highest point for the ride at ~530m ASL. As you make your way towards the tiny township of Mandagery, expect a ~8km climb which averages 2.7% with one sharp rise of ~9.5% 

Once you turn off Mandagery Rd you will be back onto a fast gravel section along Waterhole Creek Road from ~56km > ~71km - enjoy! 

The road turns back to tarmac ~74km and then comes the next split at ~76km.

Here the Middle Course turns right, missing the ~17km out and back to Eugowra.  

You are now riding towards Cookamidgera along Amaroo Way.  

Who said the Central West Region is flat. For ~13km you are ‘climbing’, it is only an average of ~1.5% but you will have plenty of KM’s in your legs and we hope that that there is no headwind.  

By ~93km (500m ASL) your hard work has paid off and it is predominantly downhill until ~99km when you reach Cookamidgera for your last Rest Stop. 

Then it is just ~14km before you arrive back at Harrison Park where you will be greeted with a complimentary Heaps Normal and sausage sandwich.

Registered riders will be emailed the Strava and Ride With GPS link including GPX file the week of the event

Saturday Gravel Fondo : 50km with 350m of ascent

Parkes > Cookamidgera > Parkes

Come and ride the Small Loop around the outskirts of Parkes.

Like the other loops, this course has a little bit of everything, tarmac, ascents + descents, a rest stop and of course plenty of good(ness) gravel.

8:30am : Saturday morning, the Long and Middle Courses have already left and soon you will be departing Harrison Park - 300m above sea-level (ASL) - riders will ride a bit of tarmac for the first 6km which is ‘flat’. 

Before you know it you will be on the aptly named The Welcome Road and onto some sweet gravel. This road heads straight South before tic-taking to Pipeclay and Back Yamma Roads, you have now done ~15km with 73m of elevation gain … ie it’s flat!

Enjoy Ernie Hodges Road and watch the scenery change, from flat agricultural vistas to riding up and then parallel to the South West Woodland Nature Reserve until Cookamidgera. 

Here at ~35km is your Rest Stop at the Cookamidgera Playground (360m ASL).

Most of your riding is done for the day and then it is ‘just’ ~14km before you arrive back at Harrison Park where you will be greeted with a complimentary Heaps Normal and sausage sandwich.

Registered riders will be emailed the Strava and Ride With GPS link including GPX file the week of the event

Post Ride 

Riders receive a complimentary sausage sling (vegan option available) and cold drink - cooked by the local Volunteer - at Harrison Park.

Please remember to ride responsibly, this is a ride not a race. Always ride within your limits and respect the road rules. Say “hello” to other riders while out on course and let them know you are passing by saying “rider right” – it makes a huge difference. 

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we ride. We pay respect to Elders past, present and aspiring. You are riding on the Country of the Wiradjuri people, traditional keepers of these lands, including the Lachlan River, for more than 40,000 years.