Victorian Tours and Rides:
 

Bushranger Bikes offers fantastic cycling and amazing adventures in the Victorian High Country and world renowned Wine Regions and Gold fields each year in Autumn and Spring.  In both seasons the colours are pure magic, the weather is crisp and clear, the historic towns absolutely beautiful, the people friendly, the cycling inspirational and the wine, food and produce fantastic, fresh, yummy and a real bonus!

Plus there is every chance we will get to play in the snow on the top of Mount Buffalo, where the scenery is literally breathtaking, as is the ride down!

My tours are a little bit indulgent with great food and fantastic accommodation, nice and relaxed cycling with some opportunities to stretch or challenge yourself - if you want to - and a load of fun.

Click on the links below to find out more about my back country cycling adventures in Victoria.  For information, dates, cost and booking forms  E-mail info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

Bushranger Spring Tours                                          Bushranger Autumn Tours

    Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Official Web Site                     Click here for additional Rail Trail media.

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

Next Autumn tour - 15 to 23 May 2013 - The Awesome Autumn Tour!

2013 Autumn Tour Overview - Fully Booked.

                                                       For information, dates and cost - E-mail info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

My Mountains to the Murray, Ned Kelly, Wine and Yarra Trail back country cycling adventure is rated Grade 2 - easy to intermediate, with great cycling, fantastic scenery, and loads of fun and produce sampling.  Category is bike path/road - possibly some gravel.

Autumn & Spring are an Explosion of Colour - Beechworth - North Eastern Victoria.

Summary:

This is Ned Kelly country and you can't explore it with anyone better than Bushranger Bikes.  One of my regular guides is even a relative of a Kelly Gang member!

The Murray to Mountains (M2M) is Victoria's best rail trail, and arguably the best in Australia.  In Autumn 2013 Bushranger Bikes is running a 8 night/9 day 'Awesome Autumn' tour to this fantastic region of Australia taking in the delights of the North Eastern Victoria high country, and then cruising into Melbourne on the brilliant Main Yarra Trail.

Starting in Rutherglen and heading up the Alpine Valley on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail I include 1 nights stay in gourmet Milawa and 2 nights stay in both fantastic historic Beechworth and beautiful Bright, allowing plenty of time to explore.  This is the land of vineyards, berries, tobacco, hops and bakeries and an abundance of local produce is waiting to be sampled.  I also include a day on Melbourne's fantastic Main Yarra River trail which offers a great contrast to the M2M trail and an opportunity to ride right into vibrant Federation Square and Melbourne city.

Accommodation will be in unique, good quality, boutique establishments with an emphasis on something different or historic, and the food is fantastic - a trade mark of Bushranger Bikes tours.

Beautiful Bright - North Eastern Victoria.

Some Details:

The Murray to Mountains rail trail and Main Yarra Trail are mostly bitumen surfaced (there are some well maintained gravel sections on the Yarra Trail) and the gradients are kind, which makes for fantastic cycling.  On the rail trail we will cover a distance of just over 130KMs in two days of cycling plus a leisure day in both Beechworth and Bright to explore in and around these beautiful historic towns, the Wangaratta - Milawa loop and the ride in from Rutherglen on the first day  will add another 120kms cycling.  The local towns offer some fantastic scenery, historic buildings and fantastic shopping and food - all easily accessible on foot and on the bike.  In Beechworth a highlight is riding the Beechworth Gorge road and visiting local vineyards, whilst Bright offers trails beside the Ovens River, great shopping, and a side trip up Mount Buffalo with an awesome gravity assisted 26km ride down.

Main Yarra Trail - The final ride on this tour is a great adventure on the bike ways following the Yarra River (42kms) into vibrant and cosmopolitan Melbourne city and Federation Square offering a different experience to the countryside and scenery of the Victorian high country.

At this time of the year the changing colours, crisp clear days and nights and the possibility of just a little snow on Mt Buffalo and the surrounding mountains (Bogong, Hotham and Feathertop) provide awesome scenery and magic memories.

All my tours to this region include visits to great local vineyards and a chance to check out local produce including olives, cheeses and mustards - food heaven!

My tours to North Eastern Victoria and the Yarra are simply magic!

Beechworth Gorge - Beechworth, North Eastern Victoria

                                                                                    E-mail info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

Other dates and custom group tours are available, including Southeast Queensland and New Zealand mountain bike tours - please contact Bushranger - info@bushrangerbikes.com.au for more information or to discuss options.

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Spring - Mountains to the Mighty Murray & The High Country Rail Trail - the lure of Ned Kelly, Wine & Produce - Gourmet Adventures and Cycling in the Victorian High Country!

In Autumn and Spring each year Bushranger Bikes runs back country adventure cycling tours in the Victorian High Country (Murray to Mountains Rail Trail) and, depending upon the particular itinerary, I also include either the High Country Rail Trail (Wodonga) or the Yarra River Trail (Melbourne).  These tours are rated Grade 2 - easy to intermediate.  Category is bike path/road - with some gravel.

Next Spring tour - Late October 2013 - Fantastic cycling, scenery, wine & produce!  M2M plus the HCRT - Brilliant!

2013 Spring Tour Overview:

                                                      For information, dates and cost - E-mail info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

Spring is an Explosion of Colour and perfume - Bright - North Eastern Victoria.

Summary:

The Murray to Mountains (M2M) is Victoria's best rail trail, and arguably the best in Australia.  Bushranger Bikes is running a 8 night/9 day 'Stunning Spring' tour to this fantastic region of Australia taking in the delights of the North Eastern Victoria high country, including 2 nights stay in both beautiful alpine Bright and fantastic historic Beechworth, a night in gourmet Milawa and a night in epicurean Rutherglen - vine & wine central.

This region is the land of vineyards, tobacco, hops, berries and bakeries and an abundance of local produce is waiting to be sampled.

Then it's off to explore the High Country Rail Trail which skirts the shoreline of Lake Hume on the Murray River. The recent rains have filled the lake and it is now a sight to see, and with the completion of the 660 metre long bridge across Sandy Creek inlet this trail that runs between Wodonga and Old Tallangatta is a great ride.

Accommodation will be in high quality boutique establishments with an emphasis on something different or historic, and the food is fantastic - a trade mark of Bushranger Bikes tours.

Spring colour - cruising the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail - North Eastern Victoria.

Some Details:

This tour runs from Bright in the North Eastern Victorian high country to the mighty Murray River - Ned Kelly country - following the rail, wine and food trail down the Alpine Way to Milawa and Wangaratta.

Both Bright and Beechworth offer some amazing scenery, historic buildings and fantastic shopping and food - all easily accessible on foot or by bike.  Bright has trails beside the Ovens River, great shopping, and your tour starts with a side trip up Mount Buffalo and awesome gravity assisted 26km ride down.  In Beechworth the highlights include riding the Beechworth Gorge road, unique shops and great Australian history, and visiting some local vineyards and tourist spots. The leisure days in both Beechworth and Bright offer an opportunity to explore in and around these beautiful historic towns. 

Then we pick up some quiet back country roads that will lead us through to the vineyards of Rutherglen and a new section of the rail trail that runs to Wahgunyah on the Murray River and the NSW boarder.  This tour includes some great cycling on the trails on both sides of the Murray River around the boarder town of Corowa and back over Federation Bridge to the very impressive All Saints vineyard.

Then its a short transfer through to the High Country Rail Trail which connects Wodonga and Old Tallangatta.  We spend two nights in this part of the region with a full day cycling and exploring the beautiful High Country Rail Trail which follows the shore of Lake Hume for approximately 45kms. 

The Murray to Mountains rail trail is fully bitumen surfaced and the gradients are kind, which makes for fantastic cycling.   The High Country Rail Trail offers an easy undulating gradient and well formed gravel trail that follows the shoreline of Lake Hume through parks, over bridges and to small towns.

My October tours take advantage of the brilliant new growth colours and and crisp days and nights of Spring in this beautiful region of Australia and all our tours to this region include visits to award winning local vineyards like Brown Brothers Winery at Milawa and a chance to check out local produce including delicious berries, olives, cheeses and mustards - food heaven!

The M2M Rail Trail and the ever expanding trail experiences on offer in North Eastern Victoria are really taking off and it’s easy to see why – the cycling is superb, the scenery brilliant and the region has so much to offer as an ‘indulgent but active’ holiday destination.  My tours to North Eastern Victoria High Country are simply magic!

The magic of the vines - Gapsted, Alpine Way, North Eastern Victoria

                                                                                       E-mail info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

Other dates and custom group tours are available, including Southeast Queensland and New Zealand mountain bike tours - please contact Bushranger - info@bushrangerbikes.com.au for more information or to discuss options.

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News Articles about the trail: - Click Here

The Sunday Telegraph writer, Veronica Matheson wrote a feature article on the Murray to Mountains trail - Trailblazing in Kelly country, December 11, 2005
Check out what she had to say - click here!

Simon Troman sampled the delights of the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail on a trip he titled 'a tasting tour'.  Simon commented that 'this was a marvellous trip with views, atmosphere, wine and food'.  Check out his article  in the Jan - Feb edition of Australian Cyclist magazine.

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Trailblazing in Kelly Country

By Veronica Matheson, The Sunday Telegraph

December 11, 2005

CRUISING along the much-lauded waterways of France is a popular tourist pastime. Holidaymakers spend their nights in a canal boat, then hop on a bike by day to explore the countryside.

Paths of glory ... cyclists enjoy stunning views off the beaten track

Markets, vineyards, and tempting food are essential to the daytime pedalling experience.

But, while north-eastern Victoria has no canals, the region has plenty to offer with sparkling, clean rivers, historic towns including places where bushranger Ned Kelly once roamed, a stunning mountain backdrop and a magical rail trail for tourists.

Defunct railway lines have become safe bike paths where cyclists have no problems weaving in and out of traffic to explore breathtaking scenery in the alpine foothills to Mount Buffalo and Mount Feathertop.

It is an out-of-town experience where holidaymakers become fit without knowing it, while feasting on the freshest produce the area can provide, trying local wines and bedding down in an eclectic range of accommodation.

The route is along 98km of trails connecting Wangaratta with Beechworth, Myrtleford and Bright.

The Beechworth and Ovens Valley railway lines were the first branch lines built in country Victoria. The first train to Beechworth was in 1876 and the last in 1977; and the first train to Bright headed out in 1890; and the last in 1983.

At the same time, the Ovens Valley railway line was used for passenger services until 1952 and continued goods services until the 1980s.

Some of the old train stations have been converted into shelters with toilet stops and drinking water for the rail trail bikers.

Cycling along the well-surfaced, and meandering rail trails doesn't have to be a race, more a fun experience, or a get-together of friends who travel at a relaxed pace.

The rail trail has attracted more than 40,000 users in the past 12 months, with 99 per cent taking to the trail on bicycles, either touring and staying in different places each night or taking day trips along the trail from a central location.

While in north-eastern Victoria, there are many more ways to extend the holiday. For starters, it is possible to catch a bus to the top of Mount Buffalo and ride back down by bike, or take a break for a river swim, or a mountain walk or do a spot of fishing for the next meal.

Many consider the ride from Beechworth to Everton one of the most seductive rides in Victoria. A highlight of the 15km rail trail ride is that it is all downhill and passes through native bushland.

It takes about 35 minutes, but can be much longer if stopping off to check out the flora (the scent of soaring gums adds to the experience) and fauna (cockatoos, kingfishers and rabbits are plentiful, as are noisy magpies).

A further excuse to dawdle is a much-needed stop at Pennyweight Winery's inviting cellar door to sample the organic wines. Pennyweight's back gate is right on the Rail Trail, 5km out of Beechworth; details at www.pennyweight.com.au

Also handy to the rail trail is Gapsted Wines, which provides an opportunity to sample great antipasti platters as well as checking out the cellar door. Jazz on Sundays; see http://www.gapstedwines.com.au/

A good diversion is to head to Milawa for cheese, mustards, berries, olives, and the wine treats at Brown Brothers.

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