
Why not make the Shimano MTB Grand Prix at Kinross State Forest a weekend away and explore the Orange region? Amazing hotels, pubs and experiences await to recover from the race and to escape the everyday grind! Here are all the event details and information about this newest of #rockytraildestinations!
About the Shimano MTB GP

When: 15 February 2020
Where: Kinross State Forest
Hosting Club: Orange MTB Club
This is classic cross-country lap racing at its best – race solo or in teams for four or seven hours – this is the very first Rocky Trail event in Orange and it is the opening race for our 2020 season!

For the first time Rocky Trail heads to Orange and we will be racing at Kinross State Forest with thanks to the local Orange MTB Club and supported by the Orange City Council.
Orange City Council mayor Cr Reg Kidd said the community of Orange is keen to welcome mountain bike enthusiasts to Orange in the new year.
“Orange has a growing reputation for hosting events for the cycling community. An event like this will attract competitors and spectators
from across the state.” – Mayor Cr Reg Kidd
The Shimano GP series may just be the most inclusive cross-country racing series in Australia! From the first time between the tape to people who have spent a lifetime training for power output, we have you covered.
This will be most likely be your last chance to race on these infamous mountain bike trails, before the scheduled logging activity by NSW State Forests, so come and enjoy the lush pine forest trails.

As the original home trails of the Orange MTB Club the Kinross mountain bike trail network is located just 5 minutes out of town and they are pure flowy trail goodness with that distinct fresh pine forest smell. Scroll down to find out more about the new Lake Canobolas MTB Park.
We’ll be sure to use every bit of terrain on offer and will showcase the amazing mix of pine forest and native vegetation that surrounds the event centre.
Links:
A weekend in Orange

With hundreds of historical sites, wine trails, dining experiences and natural wonders to choose from it can be hard to know where to begin your visit to the Orange NSW region.
“The beauty of a weekend in Orange is that there’s so much to do between events. Whether it’s a visit to a local vineyards, a relaxed meal at a cafe or a browse around the shops, families coming to Orange in February have many options.” – Mayor Cr Reg Kidd
The official Visitor Portal is called Orange360 – they have done the work for you and shortlisted the very best attractions and things to do in Orange and its surrounding villages. Discover a range of itineraries which have been designed to maximise your precious holiday time when you visit Orange and get the most out of the region, to suit any budget or taste.
Here are some highlights!
Accommodation
Selecting the right accommodation is intrinsic to creating the perfect getaway, and can truly elevate your holiday experience. Catering to all tastes and budgets, accommodation in Orange NSW offers visitors an excellent variety of hotels, bed and breakfasts, boutique luxury stays and so much more.

Top 10 things to do all year round
- Spend the afternoon touring the region’s finest cellar doors
- Experience fine dining in a country setting
- Lake & Mountain Drive
- Visit a farmgate
- Discover the historic village of Millthorpe
- Visit one of Orange’s glorious and fun parks and gardens
- Sample and stock up on local produce
- Experience a hot air balloon in Canowindra
- Explore the picture-perfect village of Carcoar
- Experience the Orange Regional Museum Precinct

Things to do – Portal
Hundreds of historical sites, wine trails, dining experiences and natural wonders to choose from.
- Arts & Culture
- Beer, cider and distilleries
- Drives and Itineraries
- Family Fun
- Fruit Picking
- Golf
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Markets & Shopping
- Spa & wellness
- Tours
- Walks, Trails & Bike Tracks
- Wine & Food

Orange WINE Region
Tucked among rolling, vine-covered hills and winding country lanes, lies the emerging wine region of Orange NSW. Widely recognised for its vibrant food and wine culture, it is home to acclaimed small producers, restaurants and cafes, handcrafted beer and ciders and perhaps above all, high quality wines. Find more about the wine region…
!!! Special Offer by Highland Heritage Estate !!!
Voted Cellar Door of the Year, Highland Heritage boasts an expansive vista overlooking the Wellwood Estate. When our crew visited the vineyard we learned that it sits on rich basalt soils and the elevation of 890m above sea level make for premium cool climate award winning wines.
What’s On at the vineyard: This weekend sees the start of the estate’s Blackberry season and were you are able to pick your own sweet, juicy berries that this warm summer has produced! Containers for ‘pick your own’ are $10 (aprox 1 kg) and $6 (aprox 500g) available at Cellar Door.
The estate and cellar door is OPEN 7 DAYS 10 – 5PM – Rocky Trail Racers get 10% off at the cellar door on wine purchases.


Restaurants & Cafes
Capitalising on its location within ‘Australia’s Food Basket’, menus all over town brim with local seasonal produce. Visitors will find something to suit their palate whether they are looking for chic shared plates in a small-bar atmosphere or beautiful, honest country cooking in a classic heritage homestead. Find out more about the culinary delights in the region…
Head out to some of the fine dining establishments housed in Orange wineries, and gaze upon grapevine-lined valleys as you dine in rustic ambience.
Back in town though, it’s not all contemporary country fare. A new generation of restaurants has swept Orange, including upmarket Korean BBQ in a stylish fit out, wildly popular southern American barbecue, and a hip new Mexican taqueria with an inventive selection of tacos, tequila and craft cervezas.
Don’t miss some of Orange’s exceptional bakeries, serving up artisan breads, pastries and a near-iconic lemon meringue tart – and great coffee too!

Villages surrounding Orange
Discover the unique character of 20 of Orange’s surrounding villages, each with their own distinct landscapes, flavours and colourful histories. Take the time to explore all these villages have to offer – rustic cellar doors with magnificent views, meandering country lanes lined with gumtrees and bridle tracks; fine dining with warm country hospitality and orchard farmgates. Hit the road and discover what makes up the rich tapestry of these communities. Find out more…

What else is on that weekend of 15 February?

Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival
Something for the visiting family while you race! The birthplace of the beloved Australian poet, Orange NSW and the surrounding region celebrate Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival each February to coincide with his birth date on February 17, 1864. What better way to celebrate this great Australian’s life and work than through a Festival in the district in which he was born. Check out the event website and festival programme!

Newcastle Permanent’s Cinema Under the Stars – Orange
Newcastle Permanent’s Cinema Under the Stars is Australia’s largest free outdoor cinema program and it’s returning to Orange’s Botanic Gardens! The event kicks off with a fantastic line-up of family friendly entertainment and activities before the blockbuster movie Aladdin screens at sundown. So pack your picnic, gather your tribe and join them for a free evening under the stars! – Sat, 15 Feb, 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Vivaldi Mozart Paganini
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience one of Germany’s finest Ensembles Chamber Philharmonia Cologne performing at the Uniting Church in Orange – Sat, 15 Feb, 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Blayney Farmers’ Market
The Blayney Farmers’ Market is located in Carrington Park, Blayney, NSW and held on the third Sunday of every month rain, hail or shine. The market features seasonal fruit, vegetables, fresh organic meats, plants and flowers, bread, eggs and much more from local producers. Everyone welcome! – Sun, 16 Feb, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
With thanks to the:
Orange MTB Club
Located only 3 1/2 hrs from Sydney and Canberra, Orange is the perfect spot to meet up and expereince mountain biking in the hills surrounding our highest peak – Mt Canobolas.
With logging activity scheduled for Kinross, their new official home is at Lake Canobolas Mountain Bike Park situated 10kms to the West of Orange. Orange is a thriving regional town with a population of 40,000 people. It is a popular destination for mountain bikers and is well known as a food and wine destination. Find out more…

See you in Orange!

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