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RE-REVISED TOUR 2021
Covid restrictions are affecting the possibility of crossing State borders. With that in mind, we have changed the 2021 tour to a Victorian Round Tour - same start date - February 21, 2021. Leg one follows the same route from Luna Park down to Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory. Then it loops into the Victorian Alps to finish at Wangaratta. Leg one departs Wangaratta on March 12 and heads to Echuca, Bendigo, Halls Gap, Port Fairy and returns to Melbourne via the iconic Great Ocean Road.
An itinerary with the new dates is available here
Managing Quarantine - Victorian Government has implemented a permit travel system for entry to Victoria. They use a traffic light zone system. If you have been in a red zone, one way to manage entry to Victoria is to spend 14 days in self-isolation in a green zone outside Victoria and then apply for a permit (does require a test). Permit Rules here
Covid-19 Policy
Cycle Across Oz will continue to run their calendared events at the discretion of the
Ride Organisers, unless and until there is some government edict banning
sporting events of this nature. The rides will be run according to strict Covid-19 policies. You can find those policies in the following document. Following these policies will be a condition of entry to the ride
Download Covid-19 Policy
RE-REVISED TOUR 2021
Covid restrictions are affecting the possibility of crossing State borders. With that in mind, we have changed the 2021 tour to a Victorian Round Tour - same start date - February 21, 2021. Leg one follows the same route from Luna Park down to Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory. Then it loops into the Victorian Alps to finish at Wangaratta. Leg one departs Wangaratta on March 12 and heads to Echuca, Bendigo, Halls Gap, Port Fairy and returns to Melbourne via the iconic Great Ocean Road.
An itinerary with the new dates is available here
Managing Quarantine - Victorian Government has implemented a permit travel system for entry to Victoria. They use a traffic light zone system. If you have been in a red zone, one way to manage entry to Victoria is to spend 14 days in self-isolation in a green zone outside Victoria and then apply for a permit (does require a test). Permit Rules here
Covid-19 Policy
Cycle Across Oz will continue to run their calendared events at the discretion of the
Ride Organisers, unless and until there is some government edict banning
sporting events of this nature. The rides will be run according to strict Covid-19 policies. You can find those policies in the following document. Following these policies will be a condition of entry to the ride
Download Covid-19 Policy
2021 - The Victorian Round Trip
Cycle Australia - 2021 Tour - The Victorian Round Trip
'Cycle Across Oz' is the leading long distance cycle touring business in Australia.
Everyone wanted to ride Melbourne to Sydney. Covid-19 said NO in 2020 and now 2021 is looking a problem.
Ever resourceful, CycleAcrossOz have re-planned a 2021 ride to stay in one state with The Round Victoria Ride replacing Melbourne Sydney Melbourne.
The revised 2021 edition will run from Luna Park in Melbourne along the South Coast to Wilsons Promontory before cutting back to the Victorian Alps and along the rail trails to Wangaratta. Part 2 will head from Wangaratta to Echuca, home of the old steamboat Murray River life, and then loop south through gold country in Bendigo and the Grampins and thence to the Great Ocean Road and back to Melbourne.
Set up in 2002, Cycle Across Oz has now run 14 cycle tours across and around Australia. These tours have included point to point tours covering pretty well every way across Australia and 2 major circumnavigations. 2018 saw a loop ride taking in the South Western corner of Western Australia over a 5 week period. 2019 was also a loop ride around Tasmania. The 2021 edition is also a loop ride but can also be run as a point to point if time is tight for you. The distances will be a bit longer than Tasmania and there are some hills, mountains even, especially on the leg up from the South Coast to Falls Creek
Everyone wanted to ride Melbourne to Sydney. Covid-19 said NO in 2020 and now 2021 is looking a problem.
Ever resourceful, CycleAcrossOz have re-planned a 2021 ride to stay in one state with The Round Victoria Ride replacing Melbourne Sydney Melbourne.
The revised 2021 edition will run from Luna Park in Melbourne along the South Coast to Wilsons Promontory before cutting back to the Victorian Alps and along the rail trails to Wangaratta. Part 2 will head from Wangaratta to Echuca, home of the old steamboat Murray River life, and then loop south through gold country in Bendigo and the Grampins and thence to the Great Ocean Road and back to Melbourne.
Set up in 2002, Cycle Across Oz has now run 14 cycle tours across and around Australia. These tours have included point to point tours covering pretty well every way across Australia and 2 major circumnavigations. 2018 saw a loop ride taking in the South Western corner of Western Australia over a 5 week period. 2019 was also a loop ride around Tasmania. The 2021 edition is also a loop ride but can also be run as a point to point if time is tight for you. The distances will be a bit longer than Tasmania and there are some hills, mountains even, especially on the leg up from the South Coast to Falls Creek
Can I do it?
Any reasonably fit person can do these trips - whether you are 25 or 70 (the age ranges for previous trips). The alpine region is a lot more hilly than other parts we have toured. So you will need to do more hill training and make sure your bicycle has good gearing to help you over the hills. You don't have to be super fit - just committed enough to ride 5 to 8 hours a day for at least 4 to 6 days consecutively and able to ride (or push) a few hills. Of course, making the ride as comfortable as you would like is your priority - increasing your mileage before the ride will help enormously. Doing some hill training is essential.
Every tour is a little different. The 2021 tour has a number of short days and no rides longer than 115 kms (72 miles). In all, there are only 6 days with rides 100 kms and over (65 miles) and only 2 days at 110 kms (70 miles) - one on each first leg. The South Coast leg is more arduous with the climb into the Victorian Alps while the Great Ocean Road Leg is more undulating than mountainous - there are some climbs. The outward leg has one spell of 6 days consecutive riding between rest days - shorter days but hilly. The inward leg has two spells of 4 days riding - a little more cruisy.
Cycle Across Oz provides a unique opportunity to travel very cost effectively in Australia without risk and without losing that pioneering feeling. The trip is primarily a camping trip. We use 4 star caravan parks wherever possible, which have good facilities for dealing with camp life. We are planning two National Park camping stops - one at Wilsons Promontory and one in Victorian Alps - both on the outward leg. On many nights, you can choose to upgrade your own accommodation by staying in a cabin or motel room. You do need to be comfortable in a tent as on a few of the nights you have only the tent as an option.
Rather than provide all your food needs, we have had great success in leaving food under your control. We will be providing evening meals on specific nights along the way - 8 in all for the whole trip. There are a few breakfasts too. We also provide coffee and tea and biscuits and local treats for morning and afternoon breaks (when a ride includes an afternoon break). For the remainder of the time, you can then choose your own budget, your own styles of food and your own mix of eating out or eating in. Typically what riders have done is provide for breakfast in camp and lunch on the road and use local facilities (the pub or club or restaurant in town) for evening meals. The van does have cooking facilities and most caravan parks have too, making it possible to cook in camp should you so choose and whenever you choose.
What kind of bike?
You need to be comfortable on your bike. You need to be able to get over some hills. Road surfaces are good, meaning road bikes are workable. There are some hills to climb and some are pretty steep. There are some hard packed gravel surfaces but road bikes should cope just fine. Make sure your bicycle has appropriate gearing, say 11:32/ 50:34 for a double chainring bicycle. A triple will work even better. On past trips, we have had a range of road bikes, more conventional touring bikes, hybrid bikes and mountain bikes. The unusual bike brigade has been represented by a Moulton, a Bike Friday and a Thorn tandem. Whatever you choose, your bike should be in good mechanical shape as there are long stretches between bike shops. You do need to be able to carry 2-3 litres water, provisions and spares for a day - no more than a pannier or handlebar bag will be needed.
Any reasonably fit person can do these trips - whether you are 25 or 70 (the age ranges for previous trips). The alpine region is a lot more hilly than other parts we have toured. So you will need to do more hill training and make sure your bicycle has good gearing to help you over the hills. You don't have to be super fit - just committed enough to ride 5 to 8 hours a day for at least 4 to 6 days consecutively and able to ride (or push) a few hills. Of course, making the ride as comfortable as you would like is your priority - increasing your mileage before the ride will help enormously. Doing some hill training is essential.
Every tour is a little different. The 2021 tour has a number of short days and no rides longer than 115 kms (72 miles). In all, there are only 6 days with rides 100 kms and over (65 miles) and only 2 days at 110 kms (70 miles) - one on each first leg. The South Coast leg is more arduous with the climb into the Victorian Alps while the Great Ocean Road Leg is more undulating than mountainous - there are some climbs. The outward leg has one spell of 6 days consecutive riding between rest days - shorter days but hilly. The inward leg has two spells of 4 days riding - a little more cruisy.
Cycle Across Oz provides a unique opportunity to travel very cost effectively in Australia without risk and without losing that pioneering feeling. The trip is primarily a camping trip. We use 4 star caravan parks wherever possible, which have good facilities for dealing with camp life. We are planning two National Park camping stops - one at Wilsons Promontory and one in Victorian Alps - both on the outward leg. On many nights, you can choose to upgrade your own accommodation by staying in a cabin or motel room. You do need to be comfortable in a tent as on a few of the nights you have only the tent as an option.
Rather than provide all your food needs, we have had great success in leaving food under your control. We will be providing evening meals on specific nights along the way - 8 in all for the whole trip. There are a few breakfasts too. We also provide coffee and tea and biscuits and local treats for morning and afternoon breaks (when a ride includes an afternoon break). For the remainder of the time, you can then choose your own budget, your own styles of food and your own mix of eating out or eating in. Typically what riders have done is provide for breakfast in camp and lunch on the road and use local facilities (the pub or club or restaurant in town) for evening meals. The van does have cooking facilities and most caravan parks have too, making it possible to cook in camp should you so choose and whenever you choose.
What kind of bike?
You need to be comfortable on your bike. You need to be able to get over some hills. Road surfaces are good, meaning road bikes are workable. There are some hills to climb and some are pretty steep. There are some hard packed gravel surfaces but road bikes should cope just fine. Make sure your bicycle has appropriate gearing, say 11:32/ 50:34 for a double chainring bicycle. A triple will work even better. On past trips, we have had a range of road bikes, more conventional touring bikes, hybrid bikes and mountain bikes. The unusual bike brigade has been represented by a Moulton, a Bike Friday and a Thorn tandem. Whatever you choose, your bike should be in good mechanical shape as there are long stretches between bike shops. You do need to be able to carry 2-3 litres water, provisions and spares for a day - no more than a pannier or handlebar bag will be needed.