VICTORIAN CYCLING ITINERARY – Saturday 29th April to Saturday 13th May
NB re transporting of luggage from Wangarrata to Myrtleford to Bright (and bikes & luggage & us back):
All luggage must have a name tag, together with place of accommodation in MyrtlefordieMyrtleford Holiday Park. The cost of $43.55 is for one bag each. I imagine that no-one will need more than one bag for the 4 nights we’ll be in MyrtlefordBright –if you do, please let me know and pay me $18 per extra bag prior to departure.
Riding times are estimateswithout stops.
Day 1 Saturday 29th April
To do:see note above re luggage tagging plusmaybe take food for tonight’s BBQ dinner and 3 breakfasts
Drive: to Hawks Nest (6½ hrs)
Stay:Hawks Nest Motel, 3 Yamba St, ph 49971166 Jenny
2 Double Motel Rooms – Ian & Gail, Julian
Spar Room – queen (Ruth) plus 2 singles (Faye & Judy)
Cam & Cec and Sue will be camping, Steve & Louise will meet us in Canberra
Cycle:Around Tea Gardens & Hawks Nest 24km 140m 1¾ hrs (can be shortened)
Dinner: BBQ
Day 2 Sunday 30th April
Check out of accommodation
Cycle:to end of Mungo Brush Rd,leave 7:30 am, and return 53km 103m 3½ hrs
Coffee/early lunch: Kelly’s Famous Bakehouse, 34 Tuloa Ave
Drive:to Canberra (5½ hrs)
Stay:Alivio Tourist Park, 20 Kunzea St, O’Connor, ph 62475466
Woodland Cabin – queen (Julian)
Park villa – queen (Ian & Gail), 4 king single bunks (Judy & Ruth on bottom, Faye on top)
Dinner:7:00 pmTu Do Vietnamese Restaurant, 7 Sargood St, O’Connor, eat in or takeaway ph 62486030, 5 mins drive from accommodation, BYO(bottle shop next door in IGA where you could also buy any food you need)
Day 3 Monday 1st May
Cycle:Black Mountain circuit 30 km 400m 2¼ hrs,leave 8:30 am
Cycle:15mins to Botanical Gardens (free entry open 8:30 – 5, allow 1hr in gardens, and thencycle 10mins to
Coffee: Museum Cafe, Lawson Crescent Acton, ph 62085000(opens 9:00 am, allow ½hr)
See:Museum (free entry open 9-5, allow 2hrs in Museum)
Cycle:to Arboretum (free entry) 50mins – allow around 2½ hrs at Arboretum
Lunch:Arboretum (buy here but eat in grounds)
Cycle:back to accommodation (45mins)
Dinner:6:30 pmMister Zee’s, 122 Bunda St Canberra ph 0400999399 (Middle Eastern), 10mins drive from accommodation, licensed
Day 4 Tuesday 2nd May
Check out of accommodation
Drive:to BarrineDve (10mins), leave 8:30 am
Cycle:Central and Eastern Loops of Lake Burley Griffin from Commonwealth Park, 15kms 100m 1hr
Coffee:38 Espresso, 4/2 Trevillian Quay, Kingston foreshore
See:1) Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Ave Kingston (free entry open 10-4)This may not now be open on a Tuesday (was when I originally did the Itinerary).NB for me - check prior to visit;
2)Australian of the Year walk (on Parkesforeshore 10mins cycle from glassworks;
3)National Portrait Gallery (free entry open 10-5), King Edward Terrace – allow 2 hrs for all stops
Lunch:12:00 pmBookplate (National Library), Parkes Place, reserve table online .
Cycle:back to start (10 mins)
Drive:to Wangaratta (4½ hrs)
Stay:Painters Island Caravan Park, Pinkerton Cres, ph 03 5721 3380
2 Bed Ensuite – double (Steve & Louise), double & single bunk over (Julian)
Delux family cabin – 2 bedroom, queen (Ian & Gail), 2 singles & bunk over 1 single (Judy)
Deluxensuite twin – 2 singles (Ruth & Faye)
To do:Get supplies and/or dinner – Woolies is 1 km from caravan park, Ovens St
Dinner:BBQ or eat in
Day 5 Wednesday 3rdMay
To do:Take picnic lunch (or buy in Rutherglen to eat in Wahgunyah)
Drive:to Rutherglen (½hr), leave 8:30 am
Cycle:Chiltern circuit (pps 52 & 108)39 km 200m 2¾ hrs
Coffee: at Chiltern (#1Hub 6262 Main Street or #2 Chiltern Bakery27 Conness St)
Cycle:back to Rutherglenvia Chiltern Valley Rd;
Cycle:RutherglenWahgunyah circuit – 9 km to Wahgunyahon rail trail
Lunch:picnic lunch on river at Wahgunyah
Cycle: over Murray River to Corowa thenback to Rutherglen via All Saints Rd, Up River Rd & Humphreys Rd 22km 100m 1½hrs
Afternoon: free time (what there’s left of it)
Dinner:6:30 pm#1 Rinaldo’s Casa Cucina 8-10 Tone Rd 03 57218800 (8mins drive) - licensed
Day 6 Thursday 4thMay
Drive:to Whitfield (¾hr), leave 8:30 am
Coffee:The Whitty Cafe
Cycle:to Lake William Hovell and return 43km 250m 3hrs
Lunch:1:00 pmTheWhitty Cafe
Afternoon: free time
Dinner:BBQ
Day 7 Friday 5thMay
Drive:to Bandiana (¾ hr), cnr Anzac Pde and Goshawk Way (south side) – if you programme 4289 Anzac Pdeinto your GPS you will find approximate starting point – leave 8:00 am
Cycle:Bandiana to Old Tallangatta return 78km 600m 5½hrs
- Bandiana to Huon 16km gravel, average condition, can flood
- coffee at Kangaroo General Store, just past Bonegilla railway siding, ½ hour from start
- Huon to Sandy Creek 2km gravel, good condition – option to stop here and wait for rest of us 38km 121m
- Sandy Creek to Tallangatta 9km sealed, good condition
- lunch at Tallangatta(#1 SconnedJammed, 49 Towong St, cash only; #2 MJ’s Bakery, 39 Towong St)
- Tallangatta to Mitta Mitta River 6km sealed, good condition
- Mitta Mitta River to Old Tallangatta 2km gravel, good condition
Dinner:6:30 pm#9 The Vine Hotel 27 Detour Rd 0357212605 (6mins drive)
Day 8 Saturday 6thMay
Drive:to Beechworth(½ hr), leave 9:00 am
Cycle:The Gorge (p 59) 7.3km 180m ½hr (for a swim if you’re game);
Coffee:10:15amback in Beechworth at the bakery
See:Beechworth Chinese Gardens (350m from bakery on cycle to Stanley route), allow ½hr
Cycle:to Stanley 22km 330m (4.5 km climbing) 2hrs
Lunch:1:30pmat the pub
Afternoon: free time
Dinner: BBQ or eat in
Things to do in free time: Maybe just rest,or do some washing – or if you need to do more: visit King George V Gardens, Ovens St (10mins walk from accommodation); Merriwa Park, Ryley St (5mins drive or 7mins cycle); Wangaratta Art Gallery, Ovens St; or for more ideas check out TripAdvisor.
Day 9 Sunday7thMay
Check out of accommodation – luggage to be picked up and taken to Myrtleford
To do:Please have name tag on luggage with its destinationMyrtleford Holiday Park
Take breakfast for at least tomorrow morning (or buy in Myrtleford) and make lunch (or pick up at Milawa – lots of yummy produce available)
Cycle:Wangaratta to Milawa24km 62m 1¾ hrs leave8:00am
Coffee:10:00amSnow Road Produce, 1604 Glenrowan-Myrtleford Rd
See in Milawa:
1) The Olive Shop, 1605 Snow Rd (bakery is also here if you need to get bread for lunch – cheese & olives?)
2) Walkabout Apiaries, 1531 Snow Rd;
3)Milawa Cheese Co, 17 Factory Lane (alternative entry from Oxley flats Rd);
4)Milawa Mustards, 1597 Glenrowan-Myrtleford Rd;
5) Brown Brothers Vineyard, 239 Milawa-Bobinawarrah Rd;
– allow 2hrs for sightseeing
Cycle:to Myrtleford 43km270m 3hrs, opportunities to cycle side-roads (p 20), leave by 12:30 pm
Lunch:picnic on the way, place to be decided – Pioneer Bridges Rest Area, probably the nicest (2.4km from where we turn left onto Markwood Everton Rd, ¾hr from Milawa), Bowman’s Forest (about 25km from Milawa or ½hr from Everton)
See:1) Log Tobacco Kiln, Great Alpine Rd, Rotary Park Myrtleford (opposite Motel on Alpine at start of River Trail – cycle this trail into Myrtleford)
2) The Big Tree, Smith St
Stay:Myrtleford Holiday Park, Lewis Ave Myrtleford, Ph (03)57521598 Steve & Kim
Standard cabin, queen (Ian & Gail), sofa bed (Julian)
2 bedroom cabin, double (Cam & Cec), double + bunks (Sue (dbl) & Faye (bunk))
2 bedroom cabin, double (Steve & Louise), double + bunks (Ruth (dbl) & Judy (bunk))
To do:Get anything you need for breakfast (Foodworks is 2min walk)
Dinner: 6:30 pm#4 Bastoni Pizzeria 12-24 Clyde St (entrance on Great Alpine Rd next to Piazza, 6mins walk)0357511478, licensed
Day 10 Monday 8th May
Check out of accommodation – luggage to be picked up and taken to Bright
Cycle:Happy Valley Loop 37km 330m 2¾hrs (5km climbing) leave 8:00 am
Coffee: after ride at Myrtleford, Coffee Chakra 105 Myrtle St 03 57521133
Cycle:Myrtleford to Bright 32km 150m 2½ hrsleave 11:30 am
See:1) Pumpkin Seeds Australia 5061 Great Alpine Rd (20mins from Myrtleford)
2) Bright Berry Farm 6300 Great Alpine Rd Eurobinfor ice-cream 0357562523 (¾hr from Pumpkin Seeds Australia)
Lunch:1:30 pmat Porepunkah – Great Alpine Produce & Trading 3 Nicholson St Porepunkah (½ hr from Berry Farm)
Cycle:to Bright 20mins
Stay:Riverside Holiday Park 4-10 Toorak Ave03 5755 1118 Nick
Villa 19 – 3 bedroom, queen (Ian & Gail), 2 king single (Ruth & Judy), 2 large bunks (Sue & Faye);
Villa 18 – 3 bedroom, queen (Steve & Louise), queen (Cam & Cec), 4 large bunks (Julian);
Afternoon: Free time or do Canyon walk (see tomorrow)
Dinner:6:00 pmThirteen Steps 14 Barnard St 03 57501313 (8mins walk), licensedCLOSED TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
Day 11 Tuesday 9th May
Coffee:9:30am Cafe Velo rear of 2 Ireland St 0437518848
Cycle:Buckland Valley 38km 200m or as far as we want (p 72) 2½ hrs
Lunch:1:30pm Blackbird Cafe 95 Great Alpine Rd Gavan St 03 57501838
Walk:Canyon 3km 1½ hrs
Dinner:6:30 pm Sol e Luna 106 Gavan St 03 57501861 (9 mins walk) licensedCLOSED SUNDAY
Day 12 Wednesday 10th May – 2 alternatives
1)
Coffee:9:30 am Coral Lee 8 Barnard St 03 57555113
Cycle:to Wandiligong 14km 59m 1hr return
Lunch:1:00 pm Cherry Walk 8 Anderson St Bright 0357552318
See:Bright Chocolates (open 10-5) 8/3 Riverside Ave 03 57501235 – hot chocolate?
Dinner:6:00 pmBright Brewery 121 Great Alpine Rd 03 57551301 (7 mins walk); OR
2)
Cycle:leave 8:30 am to Harrietville 50km 258m 3hrs return
See:views of Mt Feathertop at Germantown lookout just east of Tawonga Gap turnoff
Coffee:Bellas Cafe 231 Great Alpine Rd Harrietville 03 57592781
Lunch:1:00 pmCherry Walk 8 Anderson St Bright 0357552318
See:Bright Chocolates (open 10-5) 8/3 Riverside Ave 0357501235 – hot chocolate?
Dinner:6:00 pm Bright Brewery 121 Great Alpine Rd 03 57551301 (7 mins walk)
Day 13 Thursday 11th May
Check out of accommodation – LEAVE BY 8:00 am (or possibly 7:30 am)
Bikes + bodies transferred back to Wangaratta (1hr)
Drive:to Mudgee (7hrs) (Ian & Gail, Faye, Sue & I)
Stay:Mudgee Riverside Caravan Park, 22 Short St, ph 63722531
2 bedroom villa – double (Ian & Gail), 2 singles (Faye & I)
Dinner:My Thai 69A Market St, 63729898 (take-away or eat in), licensed or BYO wine
Day 14 Friday 12th May
Coffee: 10:00amAlbyEsthers 61 Market St Alleyway (2mins cycle or 5mins walk)
Cycle: to de Lusso Estate Winery leave 10:30 am 32km 342m 2½ hrs
Lunch:1:30 pm de Lusso Estate Winery, Eurunderee Lane
Cycle:back to caravan park 15km 41m 1hr
Dinner:Mudgee Brewing Co 4 Church St, 63726726 (6mins walk)
Day 15 Saturday 13th May
Drive: home (8 ¾ hours) – leave whenever you bloody well like!!