Bicycle Tours in Australia: Bicycling Victoria: 17-day (TourzPlus(TM))

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1 Overview OVERVIEW Explore beautiful Southeastern Australia on this 17-day tour. This tour includes the scenic highlights of Victoria's high country, vineyards, and the Grampians Mountains. Bike through old gold-mining towns and along the Great Ocean Road on the Southern Coast. HIGHLIGHTS Victoria's high country, Vineyards, The Grampians, Old gold mining towns, The Great Ocean Road TOUR FACTS Includes Countries Begin/End Arrive/Depart Total Distance Daily Distance Rating Use of a quality speed bicycle, 17 days, 16 nights accommodation, 16 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 13 dinners(excluding drinks) Australia Melbourne/Melbourne Melbourne: Tullarmine Airport (MEL) / Melbourne: Tullarmine Airport km ( miles) km (28-76 miles) DATES & PRICES Dates 1 Price Single Supplement* *We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the single supplement rate. This fee will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available this fee will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour.

2 DAY 1 Melbourne Highlights Melbourne We meet at 5:00PM in Melbourne to fit bikes. Your tour leader will tell you a little about Victoria and what you can expect to see and do in the days ahead. Melbourne has an excellent bike path to South Melbourne and from here along the coast to St Kilda, a round trip of 25km. Distance: Test Ride. Meals: D DAY 2 Melbourne to Marysville Highlights Westerfolds Park, Yarra Ranges National Park From downtown Melbourne leave the city on the 33.5km Yarra Bike trail following the river and through several parks to Westerfolds Park. From here we take backroads to the wine growing region of Yarra Glen for lunch. Finish the day with a challenging climb up over the Black Spur in the Yarra Ranges National Park. Distance: km (41-72 miles). Terrain: Easy to Eltham then more challenging hilly country with a long moderate climb over Black Spur. DAY 3 Marysville to Mansfield Highlights Victorian farmland, Our Lady of Mercy convent A day winding through the open Victorian farmland. See a former Our Lady of Mercy convent in idyllic surroundings. Distance: km (36-69 miles). Terrain: easy, gently undulating. 2

3 DAY 4 Mansfield to Wangaratta Highlights King River, wine region A lovely climb on a quiet road up the edge of the alpine range before a long gentle descent beside the King River to Wangaratta. This is a region famous for fine wines and it is a gateway to the mountain country. Distance: km (40-72 miles). Terrain: Gentle followed by steeper climb before descent into Whitfield for lunch then essentially flat., L DAY 5 Wangaratta to Bright Highlights Beautiful ride through the countryside A unique day's riding entirely on a sealed rail trail though magnificent countryside. Distance: 51-81km (32-50 miles). Terrain: Typical gentle rail inclines with an overall uphill to Bright. DAY 6 Bright Highlights Rest day, Mt Buffalo Our hotel is in the heart of Bright, among beautiful old trees. Optional trip to Mt Buffalo. We will take you to the top of Mt Buffalo and let you enjoy the 30 km descent by bike. Distance: Optional. 3

4 DAY 7 Bright to Beechworth Highlights Views of Mt Beauty, old gold town of Yackandandah The day starts with an 8 km climb to Tawonga Gap (895m) with rewarding views of Mt Beauty followed by a superb descent into the scenic Kiewa valley before more gentle climbing to the quaint old gold town of Yackandandah. We finish with a final climb to Beechworth. Distance: km (54-70 miles. Terrain: Hilly start and finish with lots of downhill in between. DAY 8 Beechworth to Rutherglen and Bendigo Highlights Chiltern, wine tasting in Rutherglen Downhill all the way to Chiltern for a quick coffee, then an easy flat ride to Rutherglen for wine tasting. Meet at the Rutherglen Information Center for the approx. 270km van ride to Bendigo. Distance: 45 km (28 miles). Terrain: Downhill then flat. DAY 9 Bendigo to Moonambel Highlights Old gold-mining town, tree-lined roads A long but relatively easy ride though ironbark gum lined rural roads with several very attractive old gold-mining town for refreshment on route. Optional pickup points at Maryborough and Avoca. Distance: km (46-76 miles). Terrain: Mildly undulating with some flat sections on mostly minor roads with little traffic. 4

5 DAY 10 Moonabel to Halls Gap Highlights Grampians National Park Pleasant rural countryside to Stawell then a wooded flat road with ever nearing views of the Grampians. Our hotel tonight is located in Grampians National Park with spectacular natural scenery and native fauna in tranquil surroundings. Distance: km (38-56 miles). Terrain: Mildly undulating with no major climbs. DAY 11 Halls Gap to Dunkeld Highlights Brambuck Aboriginal Centre, views of the Serra and Mt William ranges and Mt Abrupt This morning we take a walk in the Grampians Wonderland and visit the Brambuck Aboriginal Centre. The Grampians tourist road climbs the Diving Range then descends along the Wannon River valley giving spectacular views of the Serra and Mt William ranges and Mt Abrupt. There is an optional detour of 17km via Victoria Valley. Distance: 66 km (41 miles). Terrain: Wooded, undulating with two moderate climbs. DAY 12 Dunkeld to Port Fairy Highlights Ride to the coast Ride over the open countryside on tiny back roads through sheep and cattle country to the historic seaside town of Port Fairy. Distance: 98 km (61 miles). Terrain: Flat to gently undulating. 5

6 DAY 13 Port Fairy Highlights Rest day Enjoy a relaxing day in the seaside town of Port Fairy on the South Coast of Australia. Our hotel is located close to the beach and just minutes away from walking trails. Distance: Test Ride. DAY 14 Port Fairy to Port Campbell Highlights Ride along the coast, Port Campbell The day begins with a magnificent ride on a coastal bike path across the dunes, and finishes with a stunning cliff top ride into Port Campbell. Along the way we will take a quiet back road to the attractive Childers Cove Bay for a morning break. Distance: km (48-66 miles). Terrain: Flat to gently undulating. DAY 15 Port Campbell to Apollo Bay Highlights Otway National Park We travel through a wide variety on scenery ranging from majestic coastal rock formations to the rain forest of the Otway National Parks ranges. Distance: 98 km (61 miles). Terrain: Hilly, but a very rewarding day. 6

7 DAY 16 Melbourne Highlights Beaches and bluffs Today we ride epitome of an ocean road. Any closer and you would be riding in the surf. Magnificent coastal riding and beaches. Distance: 75 km (47 miles). Terrain: Plenty of small and medium rises over bluffs. DAY 17 Farewell in Melbourne Highlights Coastal views, swim in the ocean You may wish to swim with dolphins or seals before the end of our tour. There are superb coastal and city views and a bicycle path for most of the way. We will be pleased to supply transport to the Melbourne airport. We wish you bon voyage, happy biking and hope to see you again one day. 7