Akuna Bay (clockwise) via St Ives
- Group:
- B2
- Distance:
- 63km
- Route Description:
- Leave Lane Cove and head towards Epping Rd via Rosenthal Ave, Birdman Ave and Longueville Rd. Turn right on to Epping Rd and then turn left on the Pacific Highway.
Follow the Pacific Highway through Chatswood, Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon. At the Mona Vale Rd intersection turn right and ride up Mona Vale Rd to St Ives.
Follow Mona Vale Rd through St Ives and into Terrey Hills. At Terrey Hills, turn left onto McCarrs Creek Rd. Continue on McCarrs Creek Rd down to the Akuna Bay turn off and follow Coal and Candle Drive past the Toll booth. Continue on Coal and Candle Drive, descend to Illawong Bay then along Akuna Bay. Ascend Coal and Candle Drive to the West Head turn off, then follow West Head Rd down to McCarrs Creek Rd.
Turn right at McCarrs Creek Rd and ascend back up to the Thai Restaurant at Terrey Hills. At the intersection of McCarrs Creek Rd and Mona Vale Rd, turn right and follow Mona Vale Rd back through St Ives to the intersection with the Pacific Hwy.
Turn left on the Pacific Highway, and follow it back through Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Roseville and Chatswood. At the Epping Rd intersection, turn right and then turn left onto Longueville Rd, take the first right into Birdwood Ave, and follow this back to Burns Bay Rd, Renegade and the Cafe.
- Ride Description:
- There are two routes around Akuna Bay, this ride is considered the easier of the two options as the exit is a more gentle slope. Even so, Akuna Bay still comprises of two climbs, Akuna Bay East, McCarrs Creek Rd (short), enough to still test your legs.
After leaving Renegade, the group will head north up the Pacific Highway to Mona Vale Rd, turn right and then ascend the hill that Mona Vale Rd welcomes you with. The traffic should still be light this time of the morning. If the group has splintered on this climb, they will pull into the Caltex Service Station just past the Cowan Rd intersection for a brief regroup. If there are only small gaps in the bunch the front runners may just ease up to bring the group back together.
Just after the Richmond Rd intersection, there is a short descent followed by a short climb. On the approach to this descent, the group will claim the left hand lane due to rubbish and overhanging branches in the shoulder. After this descent, there is a climb out the other side past St Ives Showground, it is only short and the group will often take it easy to allow those who aren't mountain goats to rejoin once over the top. The rest of the trip along Mona Vale Rd is pretty straight forward, there is a good shoulder with virtually no hills, expect a reasonable pace along here.
On turning into Terry Hills, the group may stop briefly at the Thai Restaurant if it is hot to top up water bottles as this is the last tap of drinkable water, otherwise, they will keep riding along McCarrs Creek Rd. Follow McCarrs Creek Rd to where it joins Coal and Candle Drive and follow this down into the National Park, past the Toll Booth and down towards Akuna Bay. This section is quite fast but care is needed if the road is damp from dew or rain, there are also a few tight bends towards the bottom.
Coal and Candle Drive follows the bay around and is quite pleasant but that soon changes as you climb up towards West Head Rd. Turn right at West Head Rd intersection and descend down to McCarrs Creek Rd, turn right for the climb back up. Ride out at your own pace and regroup at the Thai Restaurant before heading out for the Cafe.
Head back to Mona Vale Rd, turn right and head back along Mona Vale Rd. As this is slightly downhill, expect a reasonable pace, but as always in the busier areas, the group will be kept together, as always when riding along Mona Vale Rd, watch out for the short climb back up to St Ives.
After that, there is the heavier traffic to contend with through St Ives, and then the fast descent down to the Pacific Highway. At this point there is a mere 10km along the Highway before enjoying your much deserved coffee at the Cafe.
