Why Gravel n Granite Should Be on Your Calendar

Gravel riding has always been about more than distance or speed – if it was it would be road riding. Instead, gravel is about adventure – choosing the quieter road, embracing uncertainty, and exploring lesser known routes. 

In May 2026, Gravel n Granite returns to Tenterfield in northern New South Wales with a weekend that captures that spirit of gravel, catering for racing snakes and those looking to party on the trail. It’s rugged, inclusive, and unapologetically challenging.

Set within the granite-strewn Great Dividing Range, the race includes National Parks and high-country backroads near the Queensland border. The Gravel n Granite is not a single race but a festival of riding –from families and those brand new to cycling to fit, strong riders looking for a podium. 

Across two days, riders can choose from five courses, ranging from family-friendly 11km Curry’s Gap Dash to the brutal but beautiful 91km Range Rumble, a testing course racks up more around 2000 metres of climbing. Gravel bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes and adaptive bikes are all welcomed, with courses designed to be demanding without being exclusionary.

What ties it all together is place. The Great Dividing Range features iconic riding locations such as Basket Swamp, Boonoo Boonoo and Curry’s Gap, where sealed roads dissolve into fire trails, creek crossings and fast descents. It’s big-country riding, and Gravel n Granite leans into that sense of scale and adventure.

The Saturday features three ride options: the 38km Basket Swamp Bash adaptive ride, the 66km Wellington Rocks and the big dog, the 91km Range Rumble. Sunday features a challenging hill climb event and the Curry’s Gap Dash 11km family event.

One weekend, five ways to ride

The beauty of Gravel n Granite is choice. Riders can tailor their weekend to suit their fitness, confidence and appetite for suffering – with all races culminating in that party atmosphere that defines the event.

At the pointy end is The Range Rumble, a 91km long course that leaves little room for error. Starting from the Tenterfield Showgrounds early on Saturday morning, the ride threads through town before heading north into Leeches Gully Road. It doesn’t take long before the smooth surface disappears and the real work begins.

Once inside Basket Swamp National Park, the Rumble becomes a relentless mix of steep climbs, rough fire trails, creek crossings and fast but technical descents. Riders climb again through Boonoo Boonoo National Park, where the views open up and the terrain demands focus. 

The Rumble’s elevation and long sections of unpredictable gravel mean that this is a course for experienced riders who are comfortable descending at speed on loose surfaces and grinding out sustained climbs. The reward is a genuine sense of completion – and some of the most striking scenery the region has to offer.

For many riders, the sweet spot will be The Wellington Rocks, a 66km medium course that still packs a serious punch. It shares the opening kilometres with the long course before carving its own line through Basket Swamp National Park. Expect fast climbs, sharp descents and technical sections through forest and creek beds, followed by a sting-in-the-tail climb on Lindrook Road. From there, it’s a high-speed bitumen descent back toward Tenterfield and a welcome roll into the finish.

With just over 1,500 metres of climbing, the Wellington Rocks is tough but manageable, offering enough challenge to feel earned without the full endurance hit of the long course.

Courses for all riders

One of the defining features of Gravel n Granite is its commitment to accessibility – without watering down the riding.

The Basket Swamp Bash is a 38km course designed to be welcoming to adaptive riders, while still delivering a genuine gravel adventure. Starting partway up the course network to avoid unnecessary road kilometres, riders drop quickly into fast downhill sections before rolling through a mix of gravel roads, rocky surfaces and a monitored creek crossing. With modest elevation and a flowing profile, it’s a course that prioritises fun and inclusion while still feeling like part of the main event.

For those who love climbing – or want to test themselves against a single, sustained effort – Sunday’s Mt Mackenzie Frenzy is a true test of climbing ability against the clock. The race is decided over the first 12km, climbing 710 metres on a sealed road to the summit of Mt Mackenzie. Once all riders have reached the top, the group descends together, carving back down the mountain at speed. For those who love to enter the pain cave, backing up one of Saturday’s events with this sharp effort is a must!

At the other end of the spectrum is Curry’s Gap Dash, an 11km family-friendly loop that trades suffering for scenery. Rolling through Curry’s Gap State Conservation Area on smooth gravel and gentle gradients, it’s a reminder that adventure riding doesn’t need to be extreme to be rewarding. Kids, beginners and casual riders are all part of the mix here, reinforcing the event’s broad appeal.

More than just a gravel race

The Gravel n Granite ensures a supreme racing experience, with the Race Village at the Tenterfield Showgrounds featuring food vans, local beer and wine, and a post-race atmosphere that encourages riders to stay, talk, and decompress together. Live music will set the scene for post-race shenanigans, and recovery stations round out the experience, turning the finish line into a social hub rather than a place to grab a medal and leave.

Camping on site keeps things simple. Riders can pitch a tent, roll out a swag or park a van just metres from the start line, with showers and amenities on hand. Tenterfield also features a range of accommodation options, from budget to boutique.

The Gravel n Granite doesn’t try to reinvent gravel riding, it focuses on what the discipline does best: varied terrain, personal challenge, and shared experience. Riders looking to push limits will find courses that demand respect, pacing and preparation. Riders chasing adventure will get big landscapes and quiet roads. Families and adaptive riders aren’t sidelined; they’re included in this epic weekend-long festival of bikes.

With registrations opening mid-February and the event scheduled for Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May 2026, Gravel n Granite is shaping up as one of the most complete gravel weekends on the Australian calendar. Not because it’s the biggest or the loudest – but because it understands that real adventure looks different to every rider.

Out here, amongst the granite boulders of the Great Dividing Range, there’s room for everyone.

Gravel n Granite details

WHEN? Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May 2026
WHERE? Tenterfield, NSW
DISTANCES 11km – 91km and something for everyone in between

Head to www.gravelngranite.com.au for more information