Cycling’s sleeping giant

The Blackwood River cuts its way through multiple shires before dispersing its water into the Great Southern Ocean at the southern most tip of the Margaret River Region, in the beautiful South West of WA. Along its banks, around its hills and traversing its flats are cycling routes of numerous kinds to suit different types of bikes and disciplines. Historically home to epic stage races like the Tour of Margaret River (road) and Cape to Cape (MTB), the region is now being recognised as a premier destination for cyclists with a love of gravel and a passion for exploring.

Nannup

Central to the region is the Shire of Nannup, and Nannup the town is our host venue for SEVEN in 2022. Nannup lies at the heart of South West Boojarah country. For more than 50000 years, the Wardandi and Bibbulmun Noongar people walked this ancient land. They stopped and rested along the riverbanks at Foreshore Park in Nannup, which was one of their most important meeting places.

The shire has an 87% coverage of trees and hundreds of kilometres of interconnecting trails suitable for riding. Nannup is also the halfway town for the internationally recognised Munda Biddi Trail, and home to the new Tank 7 Mountain Bike Park, which has the best single track in WA. Although relatively small, Nannup has plenty of personality, you will find several charming cafes, a couple of grocery stores and a bakery. The town also has its own brewery now, in the Nannup Brewing Company. It’s best book at table if you want to sit down for a meal on the weekend of the event. Download the free Experience Nannup app to discover more about this gorgeous little cycling town.

Nearby

The relatively small township of Nannup will accommodate riders participating in the Gravel World Series with the support of surrounding towns like Margaret River, Bridgetown, Balingup, Greenbushes and Busselton, all of which are approximately 40 minutes away by car. The region as a whole is destined to become the next bucket list location for cyclists of all types. Put simply, there is something for everyone. Visiting riders compare their experiences to those in Europe or in North America, but in fact the experience is unique: its Australia, but not as people think they know it.

After the race

Away from the event there is plenty to do in the region, here are a few suggestions:

  • Visit the world famous wineries of the Margaret River Region.
  • Ride sections of the Munda Biddi Trail from Nannup, the official halfway town of this 1000km trail between Perth and Albany that traces through magnificent undeveloped natural habitat.
  • Take in a cultural tour and learn about the region’s history from an indigenous perspective.
  • Sign up for a surfing lesson and experience some of WA’s iconic surf breaks.
  • Walk the longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere and visit the underwater observatory at the Busselton Jetty.
  • Take your MTB or hire one to experience the single track Tank 7 trails in Nannup or The Pines in Margaret River. If you are feeling even more adventurous you can head out to the spectacular Linga Longa Bike Park.
  • Take a Bush Tucker Tour on the Margaret River.
  • Hire a houseboat on the Blackwood River.