Tassie East Coast Gravel Adventure FAQ's

With the Après Vélo Cycle Tour, you will always have at least one ride guide on the road with the group. Depending upon the group size, there may be two ride guides. We understand that everyone has different levels of fitness and therefore we often break into two groups, with a ride guide leading each group.

We ask all customers to pay the required deposit when they book, which confirms their reservation. The balance is due 120 days before departure. If you book less than 120 days before departure, we will ask you to pay the full price upfront.

Cancellations may occur. However, the boutique nature of our tour keeps our groups small, so this is unlikely. If we do have to cancel the tour due to insufficient participants, Covid-19 or for some other unforeseen circumstances, we will naturally provide you with prior notice and refund monies paid to date. However, we will not be liable for any flight or insurance costs you have incurred, as well as any other incidental bookings / reservations you have made.

It is a requirement that insurance is taken out for your tour of Tasmania at the time of booking, as this should then cover you immediately, should anything occur between the time you book and departure/return.

100%. We cherish the opportunity of designing bespoke tours for groups of friends, corporate clients, teams and families.

We will be riding on a mixture of gravel surfaces as well as bitumen. A gravel bike is required for this tour. We recommend as a minimum, 40mm tubeless Gravel or MTB tyres to minimise punctures throughout your journey. Bikes should also be disc brake equipped. 

Après Vélo and Beardy worked together for many years whilst he was living in Sydney. Beardy relocated to Tasmania in 2018.

Beardy is a cycling photographer that has captured the worlds highest profile cycling races such as the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia which he has documented via his website beardyscaravan.com.

The Mt Barrow climb. At 15.5km with a 6.3% average gradient.

Day 2 - 94km with 1878m of elevation. See our Itinerary for our daily agenda.

The Tassie East Coast Gravel Adventure is not a smash-fest. We are here to Live the Ride safely and take in the beauty that Tasmania has to offer. The rides are not 'flat' nor smooth so expect climbing, undulations and loose gravel on each ride.

This is not a tour for beginners.  Riders should be able to back up +100km days. If need be, we will split the rides into two groups, to cater for different speeds.

Weather in Tasmania can be unpredictable and plays a big part with each ride.
Therefore each rider must be prepared for rainy weather and colder temperatures. Tasmania can have four seasons in a day.

The easier the better! It’s better to have too many gears than not enough. For 1x, a large ratio cassette such as a 11-50T is ideal with a small front chainring 34T or smaller. For 2x, a Semi Compact 32/48T or Compact 34/50T with an 11-34T cassette.

Wheels designed for gravel riding are best with a higher spoke count and wider profile. Alloy are more durable and easier to fix on the go. However gravel specific carbon wheels are okay.

Tasmania is widely regarded as one of Australia's premier cycling destinations—and for good reason.

With quiet roads, spectacular coastlines, ancient forests, rugged mountains, world-class gravel routes and some of the cleanest air on the planet, Tasmania offers a cycling experience unlike anywhere else in Australia.

Absolutely.

Tasmania has become one of Australia's most sought-after cycling destinations thanks to its quiet roads, low traffic volumes, incredible scenery and endless variety of terrain.

Tasmania offers something increasingly difficult to find elsewhere—space.

Unlike many mainland destinations, roads are quieter, landscapes are less developed and the riding feels wonderfully authentic.

Cyclists can enjoy:

Tasmania's weather is famously unpredictable—and that's part of its charm.

It's not unusual to experience sunshine, cool mountain air, light showers and blue skies all within the same day. For this reason, layering your clothing is the key to staying comfortable throughout the ride.

Tasmania is blessed with some of Australia's most spectacular natural scenery.

Highlights include:

Packing for Tasmania requires a little more flexibility than many cycling destinations.

We recommend:

Tasmania offers excellent cycling conditions from spring through autumn, with each season providing a distinctly different experience.

Tasmania is exceptionally bike-friendly.

The island has developed a strong cycling culture, with many local communities welcoming cyclists throughout the year. Drivers are generally respectful, while cafés, wineries and country towns have embraced cycle tourism.

Après Vélo can arrange premium rental bikes for all of our Tasmania tours.

Our Tasmania tours have been designed to cater for a range of cyclists.

Tasmania is home to some of Australia's finest gravel riding.

Rather than rough or highly technical trails, much of the riding takes place on wide, well-maintained gravel roads with firm "champagne gravel" surfaces that are enjoyable, confidence-inspiring and incredibly scenic.

Tasmania's weather is famously unpredictable—and that's part of the adventure.

Locals often joke that you can experience four seasons in one day, and there is more than a little truth in that. Conditions can change quickly, particularly when travelling through alpine regions such as the Central Highlands.

Tasmania offers something for almost every cyclist.

Some days feature gentle rolling countryside and coastal roads, while others include more challenging mountain climbs or longer gravel adventures.

Absolutely.

Many of our guests travel with partners who don't ride.

At Après Vélo, we believe Tasmania deserves to be experienced slowly.

Our tours are about far more than simply riding from A to B. They're about discovering quiet roads, hidden gravel gems, local producers, boutique wineries and unforgettable landscapes that many visitors never find.

Après Vélo offers four unique Tasmania cycling tours, each designed for a different style of rider.

Tasmania has earned a reputation as one of Australia's premier cycling destinations thanks to its quiet roads, breathtaking scenery and extraordinary diversity of terrain.

Tasmania is home to some of the finest gravel riding in Australia.

Rather than rough, highly technical trails, much of the riding takes place on wide, well-maintained gravel roads with firm "champagne gravel" surfaces that are smooth, confidence-inspiring and incredibly enjoyable to ride.

Absolutely.

Many of our guests join us having spent most of their cycling lives on the road.

Tyre choice depends on which Tasmania tour you're joining.

For our Tour de Tassie and Grupetto Tours, a quality road bike fitted with 28–32 mm tyres is ideal. These provide excellent comfort on Tasmania's quiet roads while comfortably handling the occasional champagne gravel section.

Tasmania is wonderfully varied.

Some days feature gentle rolling farmland and coastal roads, while others include longer climbs into mountain ranges or the Central Highlands. The elevation is very much part of Tasmania's character, rewarding riders with spectacular views, quiet descents and an incredible sense of achievement.

Not necessarily.

If you're joining our Tour de Tassie or Grupetto Tour, a road bike is the perfect choice. These tours are predominantly ridden on sealed roads with only occasional sections of smooth champagne gravel.

One of the joys of cycling in Tasmania is the opportunity to experience its unique wildlife in its natural environment.

Absolutely.

E-bikes are welcomed across all four of our Tasmania tours and have become increasingly popular with guests wanting a little extra assistance on longer climbs or simply to conserve energy for the days ahead.

Tasmania offers a cycling experience that's difficult to replicate anywhere else in Australia.

There's certainly something rewarding about planning your own cycling holiday. However, riding independently also means taking responsibility for every aspect of the journey—from navigation and logistics to accommodation, mechanical issues and unexpected situations that inevitably arise.