Published on April 30, 2024
Ride Profile
Perfect for a coffee or cellar door ride. Millthorpe is a small town about 25mins drive SE of Orange. Popular with tourists, it’s home to beautiful tree-lined streets, two storey terraces and historic buildings. It’s an easy place to spend a few hours wandering through the shops or having a bite to eat at one of the cafés or pubs. And to cap it all off it is home to three excellent cellar doors – Angullong, Slow Wine Co and Tamburlaine.
The best way to get there (using the quietest roads) is to head South from Orange. I’ve created this route to head out Huntley Road past the Airport, then turning right to head to Forest Reefs. A shorter route would take you via Spring Hill but Millthorpe Road can be very busy in both directions with little shoulder.
From Forest Reefs it’s directly East to Millthorpe before returning the same way, but heading up Spring Terrace Road and back in to town via Forest Road.
The route is lightly rolling, there are a couple of small climbs but generally it’s a ride with little elevation gain.
Note: this route is on-road, shared with traffic, so please be careful drinking and riding. The sections of road closer to Orange (Huntley & Forest Roads) can be reasonably busy with cars travelling at 100kmh so consider a lift back to Orange if you need it.
Road Condition & Traffic
Fully sealed. Generally quite good condition, although expect the usual sections of patched road. Traffic is normally light, although can get busy close to Orange. Single file recommended in busier areas.
Which Bike?
Perfect on a road, gravel or touring bike.
Bike Hire
DG Cycle Co have a good selection e-bikes to hire.
When to Ride
On the weekend or later in the week (from Thursday) is probably best if you want visit the cellar doors or do a bit of shopping. Check out the excellent Millthorpe Village website for details on opening days & hours.
The Cellar Doors
Three excellent cellar doors all a short walk from each other in the heart of Millthorpe.
Angullong
Ride Orange sponsor! Highly recommended. Tastings at the Crossing family’s beautiful bluestone cellar door in Millthorpe. A wide range of truly excellent wines (including Italian varietals such as Sangiovese and Sagratino), grown on the southern slopes of Mt Canobolas.
Open: 7 days
Food: no
Bookings: not required
Slow Wine Co
A family vineyard producing some excellent wines with their small batch / slow wine philosophy including Riesling and Pinot Noir. The wines are made by Will Rikard-Bell. Award-winning cellar door, with tapas on Fri / Sat nights. Labels are quite nice too 😉
Open: Fri to Sun
Food: cheese boards, tapas on weekends
Bookings: recommended, required for tapas
Tamburlaine
Organic and vegan friendly, produce a broad range of wines from their Orange and the Hunter Valley vineyards. Housed in the old general store, the cellar door was named Orange’s Star Cellar Door in 2021 by Gourmet Traveller. Features Sam’s Bar on Saturday nights.
Open: Thu to Sun
Food: tasting plates
Bookings: recommended
Food & Coffee Options
Cafés: Providore is excellent and open 7 days, The Old Mill (Thu to Sun) and Millthorpe Chocolates Café (Thu to Sun) are also good options.
Restaurants: Tonic is excellent and is open for lunch on weekends.
Pubs: Millthorpe Hotel serves pizzas and pub classics.
Supermarket: Ashcrofts on Pym is open 7 days.
Alternative Routes
Tallwood with a (detour to Millthorpe) is the route favoured by local bunches, Millthorpe via Byng if you prefer the gravel option.
