And that was New South Wales: almost. This is the last full stage in NSW and with Goondiwindi on the horizon over the border in Queensland, it’s a sure sign that the Australian leg of Around The World is nearing the end. There are just nine stages left in Australia after this one before the journey picks up again in New Zealand. 421 is another stage that heads north east on its way to the border. And it’s another lumpy stage with precious little flat tarmac although there is more ascending than descending so it might actually feel like a downhiller.
The rollout is downhill for four miles to the Spear Gap Camp. But that’s merely the precursor for the biggest and longest climb of the stage to the Oaklea Camp at eight miles. With a summit of almost nine hundred feet, it offers the highest elevation of the stage.
There’s then a lumpy seven mile descent back down to just above seven hundred feet at Mungle Scrub at fifteen miles. The Newell Highway then climbs back up another hundred feet to The Bore Camp at eighteen miles before the longest descent of the stage kicks in. That one drops down over three hundred feet to the Hohns Road junction at twenty one miles, which leaves just enough time for one further up/down to the finishing line at Battle Hill Rest Area.
Distance: 23 miles / 37 kilometres
Ascent: 705 feet / 215 metres
RGT Magic Road: ttDKyYZWwopb
Max elevation: 871 ft
Min elevation: 526 ft
Total climbing: 704 ft
Total descent: -959 ft
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