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Victorian Tours and Rides:


Autumn - Murray to Mountains Rail Trail - Cycling in Ned Kelly's Footsteps - the Victorian High Country!


Next available tour - 20 to 27 May 2011 (dates to be confirmed to coincide with the annual Beechworth Harvest Festival) - The Awesome Autumn Tour!

The Bushranger Bikes cycling tour in the Victorian High Country and the Yarra River Trail run in May  each year.  It is rated Grade 2 - easy to intermediate.


 


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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FACT FILE:

Bushranger Bikes runs fully supported tours to the ‘Murray to Mountains’ Rail Trail in May each year.  The finish of the tour is in Melbourne after exploring the Main Yarra River trail, providing the opportunity to look around the shops or perhaps spend an extra day (or two) in cosmopolitan Melbourne.

Cost: From A$2290 per person*  Single supplement $485.

There are limited places on these tours (maximum of 6 to 10 cyclists) so if you are interested e-mail Bushranger NOW! - info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

* Prices are subject to change and can be impacted by rising fuel costs and fluctuating exchange rates.

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