Dropping in to check out the
local olives and mustards - Milawa Gourmet Region - North
Eastern Victoria.
Murray to Mountains Rail Trail - Cycling in
Ned Kelly's Footsteps - the
Victorian High Country!
Tour
Details:
Join
Bushranger Bikes for some 'Awesome Autumn'
cycling magic on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail
in the North Eastern Victoria high country in May 2012.
This trail is marketed as Australia’s Premier Rail Trail,
for many reasons, and lives up to them all.
You
can expect crisp clear skies, clean fresh air, unbelievable
Autumn colours, views and scenery unmatched anywhere else
in Australia, all to be enjoyed from your bike. The
region is steeped in the history of Australian Bushranger
folk law and the beautiful towns alone are worth a visit to this
region.
Bright is
a mix of history with an alpine flavour - it services the
Mt Buffalo and Mount Hotham areas and has an adventure
holiday feel and
vibe. We spend two nights in both Beechworth and Bright due to feedback from
previous tours where
everyone felt one night just wasn't enough to see the sights
and check out the shops!
Beechworth has retained all of its historical
buildings and landmarks including the Courthouse and Jail,
made famous by Ned Kelly.
The scenery and shopping are great and there is plenty to
see both walking and cycling around town.
Today
this region of Victoria is also famous for its fresh local produce,
including numerous vineyards and their award winning wines,
and you will have the opportunity to sample these delights
as you ‘cycle the trail’.
Then
its a transfer through to the
historic city of Bendigo where gold
and wine continue to shape the
culture and landscape. Bendigo
is a city of colour with amazing
flower displays and also a vibrant
student and education centre with
good shopping and historic
architecture. We spend two
nights in Bendigo and ride the
O'Keefe Rail Trail and some of the
local tracks and trails around and
through town - fantastic.
The
tour is a
Grade 2 - 2+
(easy
to intermediate)
and
runs over nine easily paced days commencing
with a pickup from the Wangaratta railway station on the afternoon of
the 12th. Usually everyone flies into, or organises
their way to, Melbourne and Bushranger will organise your
transfer to Wangaratta by train.
The tour finishes
in Bendigo on the morning of the 20th of May and we
arrange a
train transfer from Bendigo back to Melbourne.
Alternative
arrangements can be discussed.
For those
travelling from Brisbane, Bushranger can transport some of your gear to and from Victoria in the van and
trailer to make your trip just a little easier. Please
discuss bike transport and/or special low cost hire options
for this tour.
Leading the charge to lunch -
Gapsted Wines
Itinerary:
Day 1:
- Pickup from Wangaratta Railway Station (train transfer
from Melbourne will be arranged) and transfer
via mini bus to our great accommodation at the top of the
'High Country' at Bright. There will be time when we arrive
to check the bikes and get ready for the next days
riding and a relaxing tour dinner and briefing at a local
pub.
Meals:
Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
Nil
Day 2:
- This is a day of exploration around Bright with the
highlight being a drive up to the top of Mt Buffalo in the
morning for some great views over the Region and the
Victorian High Country, and the cycling start and 'high'
point on this trip. Time to unload the bikes for a
blast down from Mt Buffalo on the bitumen access road (for
those who are game and looking for an adrenaline charged
wake-up) - approximately 26kms of fully gravity assisted
riding pleasure!
The
afternoon provides some free time in Bright to explore the Oven's River Trail,
shopping, dropping in to the local Micro - Brewery and
sucking up the magic alpine scenery. The rail trail is
being extended from Bright to Wandiligong, an additional
6.5kms one way, and this would be an interesting additional
adventure on the bike.
Meals:
Breakfast and Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
26kms + any additional adventures around Bright
Day 3: - Bright to Beechworth is predominantly
downhill with a gentle climb up and over Taylor’s Gap and
then a pleasant gradient all the way to Everton. We grab a
morning tea break at Myrtleford or Gapsted Winery and roll in for a picnic
lunch stop at Everton Station, with maybe a fresh berry ice
cream from the Berry Farm (or a beer at the historical Ovens
Hotel) along the way. The last 16kms today from
Everton to Beechworth is a steady uphill and guaranteed to
get the breathing and heart rate up.
Our accommodation places us right in the middle of town with
easy access to many historic landmarks and all the great
cafes and shops. Plus if you are hungry when you
arrive in Beechworth it's a very short walk to the famous
Beechworth Bakery.
Meals:
Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
73kms
Day 4:
- The cycling plan is a loop ride on the magic Beechworth
Gorge road, and a visit to Lake Sambell and the Japanese
Gardens which will occupy the morning. After this
there will be some free time to explore and check out
historical Beechworth including Beechworth Goal, the
Courthouse and other historic buildings, the interesting
shops (I'm assured by those who have just been on this tour
that the shopping is great). There are numerous options for
lunch and we can recommend some of the fantastic local
Beechworth cafes, plus you will be able to visit and sample
local wines and produce at the annual Harvest Festival.
Ride distance for this day will be
10 to 20kms approx. Additional ride options for
the energetic and those with mountain bikes include a quick
blast around the trails of Beechworth Mountain Bike Park.
Meals:
Breakfast and Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
10 to 25kms
Day 5: - Today we start with repeating the 16km run
from Beechworth to Everton - but this time it's all downhill
and loads of fun. Then we follow the main trail to
Bowser Station and then on to the finish of this part of the
rail trail at Wangaratta (approx. total distance to this
point today is 42kms)
We are staying at Milawa tonight and this great little town
is in the middle of the gourmet region and has plenty to
offer - wine, cheese, olives and mustards to highlight a
few. Lunch will be in one of our favourite cafes
in either Wangaratta or Oxley, or at the Milawa Cheese Factory - depending on
how we are travelling.
From Wangaratta to Milawa is a leisurely 20kms on back roads
and a cycle trail via Qxley and we should have time in the
afternoon to visit Brown Brothers and other local vineyards and the other
delights that Milawa has to offer.
Our accommodation is great and places us right in the middle
of Milawa and in close
proximity to everything including the 'local' for a brilliant
dinner.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
Approx. 62kms
Day 6:-
After a leisurely and delightful home made breakfast we cycle off to Wangaratta on
another quiet back road where we pick up the Murray to
Mountains Rail Trail again and wind our way back to Bowser -
approx. 25kms of easy riding. At this point we leave
the trail, cross the main trunk line and pick up a quiet,
flat and very straight back road (the 29km Three Chain Road)
that will take us to the outskirts of epicurean Rutherglen,
and to the cellar doors of a number of award winning
vineyards. This area is famous for Muscats and Tokays,
which we can thoroughly recommend.
Parkers
Pies in the main street of Rutherglen is the recommendation
for lunch today and in the afternoon you can fill in plenty
of time visiting many of the vineyards.
Our
accommodation is on a vineyard and the restaurant provides
the opportunity to sample many of the local wines with a
fantastic 'wine smorgasbord'.
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
65kms
Day 7:
- Today we cycle a new section of the Murray to Mountains
Rail Trail that connects Rutherglen to
Wahgunyah which is settled on
Victorian banks of the Murray River. The trail is an
easy 9kms however we may have the option to cycle to a
couple of vineyards and across the Murray into NSW so this
will add a couple more kms.
Then it's time to load up the
van and trailer and head off to our evening destination -
Bendigo. Along the way we may drop back to Milawa for
lunch, onto Glenrowan for
a fix of Ned history and then cruise to historic and
charming Rushworth for afternoon tea.
You will also note other
disused rail lines along the way - potential future rail
trails?
Our accommodation in Bendigo
places us in close proximity to the city and makes for an
easy walk for some sight seeing and shopping.
Meals:
Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
12kms
Day 8:
- Today we ride the O'Keefe rail trail. We will drive
out to Axedale on the McIvor Hwy and unload the bikes for
the return cycling adventure on the O'Keefe. The trail
surface is gravel and in reasonable condition with an easy
gradient.
Along the
way you can expect great bush colours, as well as fantastic birdlife, and you may even be
lucky enough to be paced by kangaroos. We have even
seen the odd fox along this trail so keep your eyes open.
The trail
meets Bendigo at Lake Weerona and we will then pick up and
follow a bike path into the city via the gardens and then through
Rosalind Park to one of our favourite restaurants for a
relaxed lunch, overlooking the city. There is also a
great lookout and some historical places to visit while we
are in the park.
The
afternoon is yours to explore as you wish and with our
accommodation so close to the city it will be a great
opportunity to have a walk around and there is plenty to
see.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
Approx. 25kms
Day 9:
Depart Bendigo - It's time
to pack the bikes and gear in preparation for the finish of
the tour. Bushranger will drop everyone at the Bendigo train
station and arrange train transfer to Southern Cross station in Melbourne.
From here
you will be able to access the delights of Melbourne if you
choose to stay any additional days or catch a shuttle
service to the airport for the journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
included.
Total Cycling Distance:
Nil
Cruising the trail - Murray to
Mountains
What is included?
·
Accommodation –
8 nights – share basis, quality
accommodation;
·
Meals as outlined above;
·
Train transfers within
Victoria as outlined above;
·
All guiding and support including mechanical
advice/assistance etc.;
·
Vehicle support – including the option to carry the wine and
other goods purchased along the way!
·
Advice on packing and what to bring;
·
Advice on training and some preparation rides;
· Good company and lots of fun!
·
Bikes and equipment can be provided – contact for options
and cost.
What you need to organise?
-
Airfares or transport to and from Melbourne
(airport/railway station) or direct to Wangaratta if
that suits better, to
meet the start of the tour and finish of the
tour as required;
-
Meals not stated above;
-
Bike and cycling gear (or hire from Bushranger Bikes);
-
All your gear, clothing etc.
-
Travel insurance.
What’s it cost?
The cost of this tour is
from A$2595* (incl. GST) per person with
inclusions as detailed above. Single supplement is
$485.
What do I need to do to book my place on the
tour?
Places on this tour are
usually limited to six to ten people.
Please contact Bushranger Bikes (info@bushrangerbikes.com.au) to arrange for a booking
form to be sent to you.
Beechworth colour - North
Eastern Victoria
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