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Novaljsko polje
St. Anthony's church - Novaljsko polje - St. Anthony's church
TRAIL DIFFICULTY
- easy
SUGGESTED TYPE OF BICYCLE
- gravel, MTB, trekking
Novaljsko Polje is a natural green oasis that is in stark contrast to the rocky, lunar-like landscape typical for the eastern side of the island below Velebit. It owes its lush and diverse vegetation, eye-catching Mediterranean landscape and abundant wildlife to its fertile soil. Although this bike route is easy, it has a couple of slightly more demanding upward and downward slopes, which makes it appropriate for families, older adults and less skilled cyclists.
The track starts and ends by the little St. Anthony’s Church located in the fragrant ambiance of Novaljsko Polje’s green oases, olive trees and oleander flowers. Following the bike markings, an easy ascent takes you to your first point – “Boškinac” Hotel, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2020. After a brief and slightly more difficult ascent, we arrive to an elevation situating the modern hunting lodge “Jarebica” where you can catch a unique view of Novaljsko Polje just down the hill. The full panoramic view and a bird's eye view of Novaljsko Polje are the hotspots of this unique track on the island of Pag. An easy descent leads to the heart of Novaljsko Polje as you pass through the natural landscape of the coastal area, down extraordinary single tracks as well as wide gravel paths. We pass through a quiet area surrounded by lush plant and animal wildlife of Novaljsko Polje. If you take a look around the area, you may notice a frightened rabbit dashing off, a fox on the prowl, a turtle relaxing in the grass or perhaps a sheltopusik soaking up the sun rays.
The track takes us to a paved main road of Novaljsko Polje with smaller puddles on each side that may overflow onto the road in case of heavy rainfall. This road takes us back to our starting point or St. Anthony’s Church. The idyllic surroundings are complemented by a puddle overgrown with reed, a small rest stop with benches and tables, as well as a fresh water spring. The shade of the tall canopy makes it an ideal place for a break, regeneration and a lasting memory of Novaljsko Polje.