We were camping near Barham on the Murray River. The Visitor Guide suggested cycling through the Gunbower National Park forest from Cohuna to Koondrook. That was all the invitation I needed.
To make sure it was feasible, Derek and I had done the track in the 4WD the day before, so we knew it would be around 30 kilometres and that once I got to the River Track along the Murray River it would be difficult to get lost. Nevertheless, I packed the satellite phone in my bike bag just in case.
Gunbower Island is a large floodplain bounded by the Murray River and Gunbower Creek. Gunbower Creek breaks away from the Murray River near Torrumbarry and re-enters it at Koondrook. My ride would cross the island from Gunbower Creek to the Murray River and then follow the River Track all the way to Koondrook.
It was still chilly when I headed out on Cohuna Island Road and then turned left onto Rifle Butt Track. After three and a half kilometres of mostly corrugated gravel, I took the right fork in the road onto Five Sleeper Track. What was the story behind that name?
It was a relief to be on the softer packed dirt of Five Sleeper Track.
There were a few very muddy sections,
but they were easy to get around on a bicycle.
River Track
After nine kilometres I reached the River Track and there was the Murray River.
From here the track was mostly corrugated gravel with some softer dirt sections in between. Some parts of the track ran alongside the river
and then there would be lightly wooded stretches a little away from the river.
Occasionally there would be a glimpse of somebody’s camp.
A couple of emus crossed the road ahead of me and later some kangaroos. Galahs were busy in the grass alongside the track.
At almost 28 kilometres I came to the old bridge that took me across Gunbower Creek and off the island.
It was only another kilometre to coffee at the Long Paddock Food Store in Koondrook. In the 29 kilometres from Cohuna to Koondrook I had climbed only 71 metres. The jarring of the corrugated surface of much of the track had been tough but it had been worth it for the wildlife and the views of the Murray. After a rest I cycled the last 3.4 kilometres back to our camp on Gunbower Creek.
If you would prefer a shorter ride there are lovely tracks along Gunbower Creek and the Murray River at Koondrook. From there you can cross into Barham in New South Wales by a specially designated footbridge and enjoy more river trails there.
Another great Murray River track is at Kings Billabong Mildura or an adventure idea with a difference is Cycling the Yorke Peninsula (in South Australia) on the Walk the Yorke trail.
