Ride 2021 - South Coast and Victorian Alps

• South Coast and Victorian Alps: Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory to Orbost to Omeo to Porepunkah to Wangaratta: February 21, 2021 to March 9, 2021. 1,345 kms, 8,964 m climbing and 4 exploring/rest days.

The full tour began in Melbourne and headed south along the South Coast before heading North and crossing into the Victorian Alps. Then it is onto the rail trail to end in Wangaratta.

The South Coast ride started at Luna Park in Melbourne and then went down cycling mecca, Beach Road. From here it was onto Frankston and Mornington Peninsula to the ferry terminal to cross over to Phillip Island.  Then the tour moved onto the Gippsland coast and headed down to the fabulous National Park at Wilsons Promontory, the most southerly point of mainland Australia. 

The next leg took the riders along the Gippsland coast through the towns of Yarram and Stratford and onto the Princes Highway for a while skirting the lakes at Lakes Entrance. This is pastoral country with the beaches not far away. 

The third leg started to see changing landscapes as the riders looped up inland toward Orbost and then back to the sea at Marlo. Then they doubled back inland toward Orbost and Bruthen before crossing into the Victorian Alps with a bush camp on High Bogong Plain and the descent into a well earned two day rest at Porepunkah.  Last day was rail trail ride to Wangaratta on a gentle uphill grade as befits a rail trail

This trip brought together a huge slice of what Victoria has to offer the tourist. Wilderness, mountains, beaches, craggy cliffs, settler history, waves, unique fauna and flora, towering forests, pastoral lands, inland lakes, tumbling and lazy rivers, big blue sky, amazing stars.