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!
20
to 27 May 2011
(dates to be confirmed
to coincide with the annual Beechworth Harvest Festival).
Tour
Details:
Join
Bushranger Bikes for some 'Awesome Autumn' riding magic on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail
in the North Eastern Victoria high country in May 2011.
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 and 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 towns alone are worth a visit to this
region.
Beechworth has retained all of it’s historical
buildings and landmarks including the Courthouse and Jail.
The scenery and shopping are great and there is plenty to
see both walking and cycling around town.
Bright is
a mix of history with an alpine flavour - it services the
Mt Buffalo and Mount Hotham areas and has a magic feel and
vibe. We now spend two nights in 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!
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’.
The
tour is a
Grade 2
(easy
to intermediate)
and
runs over eight easily paced days commencing in Wangaratta
with a pickup from the railway station on the afternoon of
the 20th. Usually everyone flies into, or organises
their way to, Melbourne and Bushranger organises the
transport to Wangaratta by train, with the tour finishing in Melbourne
after riding the Main Yarra Trail. We can assist with
trains into the city or drops at the airport on the morning
of the 27th and other specific pickup and drop
arrangements can be discussed.
For those
travelling from Brisbane, Bushranger can transport your bike
and some of your gear to and from Victoria in the van and
trailer to make your trip just a little easier.
Leading the charge to lunch -
Gapsted Wines
Itinerary:
Day 1:
- Pickup from Wangaratta Railway Station (train transfer
from Melbourne will be arranged if required) and transfer
via mini bus to our vineyard accommodation in one of
Australia's iconic wine and gourmet towns - Rutherglen. There will be time when we arrive
to check the bikes and get ready for the next days
riding plus a visit to the cellar door or a wander down town
for some sampling and supplies.
Meals:
Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
Nil
Day 2:
- Ride from Rutherglen to Bowser (35kms) on quiet back roads and
then on to the rail trail for an easy ride to Beechworth
(approx. 34kms distance) on a well graded and surfaced
trail. We will have a relaxed picnic lunch at Everton
Station before we tackle the last 16kms - 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:
69kms
Day 3: - 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
the attractions of some local vineyards.
The annual
Harvest festival will also be in full swing in town and this
is the ideal way to sample everything the region has to
offer - one one convenient location.
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 & Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
12kms plus and additional rides
Day 4:
- Beechworth to Bright, with a lunch stop at Gapsted Winery
and maybe a fresh berry ice cream from the Berry Farm (or a
beer at the historical Ovens Hotel).
It’s all downhill from
Beechworth to Everton (16kms) followed by a gentle climb up
and over Taylor’s Gap and then a pleasant gradient all the
way to Bright. Gapsted Winery provides a fantastic
lunch and is a pleasant place to break our ride for the day
and once again our accommodation is something
really special.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
73kms
Day 5: - This is a day of exploration around Bright
with the highlight being a drive up to Mt Buffalo for some
great views over the Region and the Victorian High Country.
The it's time to unload the bikes for a blast down from Mt
Buffalo on the access road (for those who are game and
looking for an adrenaline charged wake-up) - approximately
26kms of fully gravity assisted riding pleasure!
Other
options in Bright include exploring 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 & Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
26kms plus any additional rides
Day 6:-
After a leisurely breakfast we load the minibus and
head back down the Alpine Valley, checking out some of the
local vineyards and produce suppliers along the way. There
are usually some great bargains and always some room in the
trailer to take those extra 'supplies' back to Brisbane.
Lunch is at the Cheese factory in Milawa (great chocolates
here as well) and there should be time to drop into visit the Olive and
Mustard shops, and maybe Brown Brothers wines.
Then it’s time to kick back in the van for a leisurely drive
through to our accommodation on the outskirts of Melbourne
in close proximity to the commencement of the Main Yarra
Trail, the highlight of Day 7.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
Nil
Day 7:
-
Time to explore the great Yarra River
Trail into Melbourne city, a real high point of this tour.
The cafe we have organised for lunch on the way is fantastic
and you will think that you have been teleported to Italy.
There will be a little time to have a look around Federation
Square and listen to the amazing bells before we grab the
train from
Melbourne back to the accommodation.
Meals:
Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Total Cycling Distance:
42kms
Day 8:
Depart Melbourne - It's time
to pack the bikes and gear in preparation for the finish of
the tour. Bushranger can drop you to a local train
station for a ride to the city in the
morning or the airport mid morning.
Meals: Breakfast
Total Cycling Distance:
Nil
Cruising the trail - Murray to
Mountains
What is included?
·
Accommodation – 7 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 from the finish of the
tour at Melbourne;
-
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$2290* (incl. GST) per person with
inclusions as detailed above. Single supplement is
$485.
There is a 10% discount for
Bushranger Gang members. Want to know more about joining
‘The Gang’ – e-mail
jon@bushrangerbikes.com.au
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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