Although this ride is only fourteen kilometres return, most cyclists will want to linger quite a while at the destination - a long, white, unspoilt beach.
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, if you prefer to avoid the hill on your return, 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 - 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 track. 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. Your destination is the hill overlooking the lake and the beach.
The headlands
The town on the headland to the south is Bermagui.
There is a stile in the fence past the cemetery. 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. Little Lake is shown in the photograph here.
History of the Tilba area
Are you interested to learn more about the history of the Tilba area? Many people interested in history will want to spend a little time at the Tilba District Cemetery - actually two cemeteries close together.
There are several well-known names from the early days of Tilba - Bate, Negus, Corkhill.
You would have cycled a short way along Corkhill Drive to get to the headland.
In 1890, William Henry Corkhill, accountant, cheesemaker and farm manager of Tilba Tilba, began photographing life in and around Tilba. Over the next twenty years he took thousands of pictures of his family, friends and neighbours.
In 1975, Corkhill's daughter offered the remaining collection of glass plate negatives-about 1000 in number-to the National Library in Canberra. Only 840 of the plates retained printable images, but the record they contain of life in a small but thriving rural community at the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth century is fascinating.
A copy of the full collections of photographs has been made.
The 20 year span of the Corkhill collection, now with added information and artwork, shows us life in this community as it unfolds and develops. The images show the founding and development of the well-known and very popular town and district. Important milestones and events in family and social life are commemorated in photographs of weddings, picnics, sports days, theatre and drama groups and the Tilba District Agricultural Show. We see people going about their work on farms, in the cheese factories and at the mines, in shipping, early forms of transport, gold dredging, blacksmithing and commerce. We see proud householders standing in front of tents or slab huts or substantial houses.
The 20-year record of a small stable community of large families reveals the rhythm of community life.
Three local residents have spent over 3000 hours processing the images and associated work. The sympathetic restoration to remove dirt and dust has kept the beauty of the old pictures intact. Using digital technology and darkroom expertise, the prints are now available on the best archival paper. The work is on permanent display in Tilba.
The remaining Corkhill Collection of photographs can be viewed - and copies purchased - from the Xanadu gallery in Central Tilba.
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 before returning to the Central Tilba Farm Cabins for your overnight accommodation, stay a while in Central Tilba and look around. Enjoy a coffee and a cake while you take in the atmosphere of this truly historic village.
Download the map for Ride 8.
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, if you prefer to avoid the hill on your return, 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 - 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 track. 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. Your destination is the hill overlooking the lake and the beach.
The headlands
The town on the headland to the south is Bermagui.
There is a stile in the fence past the cemetery. 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. Little Lake is shown in the photograph here.
History of the Tilba area
Are you interested to learn more about the history of the Tilba area? Many people interested in history will want to spend a little time at the Tilba District Cemetery - actually two cemeteries close together.
There are several well-known names from the early days of Tilba - Bate, Negus, Corkhill.
You would have cycled a short way along Corkhill Drive to get to the headland.
In 1890, William Henry Corkhill, accountant, cheesemaker and farm manager of Tilba Tilba, began photographing life in and around Tilba. Over the next twenty years he took thousands of pictures of his family, friends and neighbours.
In 1975, Corkhill's daughter offered the remaining collection of glass plate negatives-about 1000 in number-to the National Library in Canberra. Only 840 of the plates retained printable images, but the record they contain of life in a small but thriving rural community at the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth century is fascinating.
A copy of the full collections of photographs has been made.
The 20 year span of the Corkhill collection, now with added information and artwork, shows us life in this community as it unfolds and develops. The images show the founding and development of the well-known and very popular town and district. Important milestones and events in family and social life are commemorated in photographs of weddings, picnics, sports days, theatre and drama groups and the Tilba District Agricultural Show. We see people going about their work on farms, in the cheese factories and at the mines, in shipping, early forms of transport, gold dredging, blacksmithing and commerce. We see proud householders standing in front of tents or slab huts or substantial houses.
The 20-year record of a small stable community of large families reveals the rhythm of community life.
Three local residents have spent over 3000 hours processing the images and associated work. The sympathetic restoration to remove dirt and dust has kept the beauty of the old pictures intact. Using digital technology and darkroom expertise, the prints are now available on the best archival paper. The work is on permanent display in Tilba.
The remaining Corkhill Collection of photographs can be viewed - and copies purchased - from the Xanadu gallery in Central Tilba.
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 before returning to the Central Tilba Farm Cabins for your overnight accommodation, stay a while in Central Tilba and look around. Enjoy a coffee and a cake while you take in the atmosphere of this truly historic village.
Download the map for Ride 8.
Little Lake, with the backdrop of Mount Dromedary, and the long white beaches in front of the lake, make an ideal spot for refreshments and a swim.
One of the attractions of this short ride is the endless green fields.
The very reason for coming on this bike ride. The lake (Little Lake), the ocean, the peace of the green fields, the quiet, and the headlands all contribute to the serenity of this area.
18 great bike rides in the Narooma area of the NSW South Coast
The views that make cycling to Little Lake worthwhile.
Which ever way you look, Mount Dromedary is a significant feature on the landscape on this ride.
There's a good chance you will have the whole beach to yourselves.
Accommodation at the Central Tilba Farm Cabins is central to all the rides around Central Tilba
The Central Tilba Farm Cabins provide the ideal base for your cycling holiday while in the Tilba 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, Central Tilba
Central Tilba to Little Lake
Return distance 14 kilometres
Easy grade
Start: Central Tilba Farm Cabins, Central Tilba
