Cyclists cross a bridge in the Snowy Valleys, where quiet roads and river routes are drawing growing interest. Photo: Vanessa Hayden.
A stretch of road south of Tumut is doing something unusual – it’s being talked about in the same breath as the Tour de France.
There are no crowds lining the roadside, no team cars, no finish-line sprint, no podium – just a narrow ribbon of bitumen dropping off a plateau and winding into the Argalong Valley.
For those who ride it, that’s enough.
Cycling in this part of southern NSW has long been tied to the alpine routes of the Snowy Mountains – steeper climbs, higher elevations and well-established riding around the ski fields.
But head west and the landscape shifts – open roads, lighter traffic and varied terrain that lends itself to a more fluid style of riding.
Argalong Road is one of the clearest examples.
“It’s the closest I’ve felt to that Tour de France kind of ride,” long-time recreational cyclist Andrew Vile said.
About 30 minutes out of Tumut, in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains, the road bends with the land rather than cutting through it – rising, falling and then unwinding into a 600-metre descent into the Argalong Valley.
“It’s incredible to find a sealed road in that sort of country,” Andrew said.
“The twisting switchback is brilliant. It delivers a 600-metre descent from the plateau to the valley below, offering just enough gradient to be interesting without intimidating.
“This road would have to be one of the best finds in our years of riding,” he said.
Argalong isn’t marked out as a destination. It sits within a wider network of back roads, rail trails and river flats that have long been part of the Snowy Valleys landscape, but are only now starting to be recognised for what they offer cyclists.
For years, the region has been better known for agriculture, forestry and its proximity to the Snowy Mountains.
That’s beginning to change.
The opening of the Tumbarumba–Rosewood Rail Trail has drawn steady numbers into the area, with tens of thousands of riders using it since it opened.
Around it, a cluster of businesses – accommodation, bike hire, cafes – has grown to meet demand.
That interest is reflected more broadly across the Snowy Valleys, through events such as the Snowy Valleys Cycle Challenge and the Tumut Cycle Classic, as well as the development of mountain bike parks in Tumut and Tumbarumba.
Together, they point to a region where cycling is becoming a more visible part of how people are visiting and moving through the area.
Beyond the organised rides lies a network that wasn’t built for recreation, but works for it anyway – quiet roads connecting small towns, long stretches running alongside the Murrumbidgee and Tumut rivers, and climbs that open out into higher country before dropping back into valleys such as Argalong or the Gilmore.
Around Tumut, mapped road rides start straight out of town, linking valley roads, dam routes and longer loops through surrounding farmland.
“In some parts you’re right alongside the river,” Andrew said.
“There’s nothing between you and it. You can stop whenever it’s safe and walk down to the water.”
Burgeoning interest in rides like this are the reason that Andrew and his wife Marion, sheep farmers from the southern Riverina district, set up AV Cycling Tours in 2025.
The pair had been group cycling for some 20 years and after a decade of organising outings for them and their friends they decided to do it professionally.
“It was early 2000s when Marion and I started organising one-day rides for friends and family across north-east Victoria and southern NSW,” Andrew said. “As demand grew, we bought an old minibus on Gumtree, built a bicycle trailer and started running multi-day tours in the region.”
What began as informal rides grew steadily, shaped by trial and error and the practicalities of moving groups through country that isn’t set up for point-to-point cycling.
After COVID, the couple upgraded to a 14-seat Toyota HiAce and rebuilt their trailer to accommodate heavier e-bikes, continuing to support rail trail groups, service clubs and cycling groups along the way.
Andrew said growing demand led them to make a business out of what they loved best.
They’ve spent the past year fine-tuning itineraries, trialling different scenic routes and establishing relationships with accommodation providers, tourist attractions and food and wine businesses to ensure everything is taken care of on their tours.
“We’ve developed these tours not just for cyclists, but for people who want to experience beautiful areas in a different way, with everything organised and taken care of for you,” said Marion.
Their routes include multi-day rides through the Snowy Valleys, as well as a longer Upper Murray tour based ride out of Corryong, drawing on the same mix of back roads and rail trails.
“There’s a lot of variety in a relatively small area,” Andrew said. “You’re not riding the same thing all day.”
They’ve even got electric bikes on offer for cyclists who might like to try a cycling experience but are not that keen on the more challenging aspects of riding up and down hills.
It’s all playing into a bigger plan that Snowy Valleys Council foreshadowed when it developed its regional tracks and trails masterplan, aimed at linking towns, trails and landscapes into a more connected network for both visitors and locals.
So while you might not be riding the Tour de France anytime soon – you can still find something that feels a little like it, just west of the ranges.
