Bundanoon is now famous as the first bottled water free town. Bundy on Tap made headlines for the Australian village worldwide when, by consensus of the local store owners and community, Bundanoon banned bottled water sales in its shops and instead installed water fountains in the streets.
When you consider Bundanoon is the venue for the "Highland Fling" an annual mountain bike event that attracts thousands of thirsty mountain bikers in the warm month of November, its stance on water bottles is rather ironic. However, it seems to handle the irony and every year the village stages the Fling for serious riders, slow pedallers and kids. This year the dates are the weekend of 13-14 November 2010 and the Fling will support the use of reusable water bottles for riders.
The Event
The Highland Fling starts at Bundanoon and winds through beautiful countryside and neighbouring villages. There are a number of events for racers and those who just want a fun day out on a bike. Riders can enter as:
- a solo "Full Flinger" for the full 113 km timed race,
- "Flinging Threesomes", relay teams of three riders or, if pressed to make up a three, as a pair
- for the solo "Half Fling" event of 59 km.
- a 100 mile fling option (167kms), or
- the Casual Fling, a 15 km untimed participation ride, and
- a Sunday ride for kids.
In each race riders compete in age categories for various cash prizes and in the spirit of fun that pervades the event, the organisers say they award "loads of spot prizes for deeds done, fancy dress etc etc. It is not just about rewarding the winners." Bundanoon has a bike cafe with bicycle hire for those without their own wheels.
Bundanoon has Been a Destination for Trippers for Over 100 years
The village of Bundanoon was established in the then wilds of the Southern Highlands in the 1880s as Jordan's Crossing. It is now 90 minutes from Sydney down the M5 motorway but in the 19th century it was an outpost of timber loggers. The village adjoins the scenic Morton National Park, a wilderness of bush and deep sandstone gullies. Land grants were made in the 1880s and a community grew up. With the arrival of the train service from Sydney trippers started to come to the cool of the Highlands as a respite from the heat and humidity of Sydney to "see the views." The sign to that effect is still at the railway station.
Many guesthouses opened their doors, including Lynbrook built by the Grice family which is now a YHA hostel for backpackers and families. The guesthouses have been replaced with upmarket bed and breakfasts but the Arts and Crafts pub is still here as are the glorious views. The tradition of being a destination continues with the Highland Fling and Brigadoon, a Scottish festival of bagpipes and men in kilts in April. Brigadoon attracts 20,000 people a year.
The organisers of the Highland Fling are Wild Horizons. All the information about the arrangements for the Fling is on their website.
Something to do any Weekend - Learn to Fence, foil, epee or sabre at your local club.
Toni Bartush - Toni Bartush was a Barrister at the New South Wales Bar and a Solicitor in private practice, specialising in civil litigation. She was a ...
