Strathbogie – Mt Wombat Cycling Return

What is so secret about Mt Wombat? You would think every local knows about it, most have driven up to the summit to take in the magnificent views and returned home again. Well, maybe the question should be rephrased. How many have really seen Mt Wombat? The views are only part of the story. When driving you miss so much. You have to either cycle or walk for the full forest, granite and wildlife experience. If you are used to time on a bike, a mountain bike or hybrid will do the job. The 16km return from Strathbogie Township is a great way to pass a rewarding half day of exploration. Granted it is a steady incline and the final approach may require some walking your bike. You will not be disappointed and it is all downhill on the way back.Otherwise, ebikes are perfect for this route. You will still get your workout, granted with more comfort. That final steep approach will be taken in your stride. Stopping along the way to soak up the forest experience will be hard to resist. If cycling isn’t an option or you want an even slower immersion in the landscape, walking is the way to go. Park at the intersection of Mt Wombat Rd and Mt Wombat Lookout Rd for a lovely 5.5km summit return. It is truly as pretty as can be.See what secrets you can discover in Mt Wombat Forest.No matter which method of transporting yourself you choose, make sure you are appropriately equipped for self reliant cycling or walking. Carry food, water, First Aid, nav aids and be SunSmart.

Mackrells – Spring Creek Loop, Strathbogie Cycling

Good for MTB, hybrid or ebike, this is a 14km loop starting from Strathbogie Township. Head out of town along Euroa – Strathbogie Rd, turn right into Mackrells Rd (dirt), right again into Creek Junction Rd, right again into Spring Creek Rd. The roadsides are heavily treed. The vistas are of the rolling hills and pasture atop the Tableland. It is very pleasant cycling.

Strathbogie Cycling: Euroa – Geodetic Loop

Hub & Spoke / Bump & Grind Cycling Route

Route Name / Address: 
Euroa – Geodetic Loop

Mode: 
Gravel grinder, MTB, Hybrid, eBike

Start / Finish locations: 
Euroa Railway Station Railway St., Euroa 3666

Map:
GPS -36.749156, 145.568173

Difficulty: 
Easy – intermediate. 

Distance:
34km. 2 hours.

Elevation:
159 – 184m

Topography:
Flat

Surfaces: 
Good condition bitumen
Good condition gravel
Reynolds Rd is a two wheel dirt track that may be rutted. Dust and gravelly drifts in summer, muddy in winter 
Flooding is common when there has been a bit of rain.

Description and Features:
A nice and flat, often gravel, loop for taking in the surrounding countryside. This is a broad grazing and cropping plains landscape with the Tablelands as backdrop. Pleasant roadside vegetation with some grand paddock trees. The occasional small stream crossing. You may spot some wildlife like the Goanna above.

Riding conditions: 
Not much traffic. Exposed to the elements.

Options:
Pranjip Rd is an bitumen alternative to the rough bit of Reynolds and Wood Rd.
Anti or clockwise

Anticlockwise Cues:
Start Euroa Railway Station
Right Scott St
Left Elliot St
Left Handbury St
Straight Drysdale Rd
Left Creightons Siding Rd
Right Nelsons Rd
Right Geodetic Rd
Right Angle Rd
Left Reynolds Rd
Right Wood Rd
Right Cowells Lane	
Left Siems Rd
Straight (almost) Rowe St
Right  Elliot St
Left Scott St
Left Euroa Railway Station

Amenities (Euroa):
Car parking
BBQ
Fuel
Shops
Seating
Parkland
Playground
Picnic tables 
Public toilets
Potable water
Accommodation
Historic features
Sports Reserves
Swimming Pool
Railway station
Road signs
Alternative routes
Flora and fauna habitat

Cautions:
Soft shoulders
Limbs may fall
Embankments
Uneven ground
No potable water
Slippery surfaces
Subject to flooding
Road surfaces vary
Snakes may be active
Beware of vehicle traffic
Mobile reception may be unreliable
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Restrictions:
Take rubbish with you
Native flora and fauna are protected
Riders must: use formed roads only

Strathbogie cycling #strathbogiecycling

Goulburn Broken Cycling – Winton Wetlands

An enjoyable day of open space riding, described below is a 34km loop around Winton Wetlands. There are various options to explore for longer or shorter rides. If coming by train via Benalla, add approximately15km for the return ride to and from.

Bump & Grind Cycling Route

Winton Wetlands Loop

Start / Finish locations: 
Mokoan Hub & café car park
652 Lake Mokoan Rd, Chesney Vale VIC 3725
https://wintonwetlands.org.au

Mode: 
ebike, hybrid, MTB, gravel

Map:
GPS -36.439730401400716, 146.06316433156667

Difficulty: 
Easy

Distance:
34km. There is scope for various routes and extensions

Elevation:
163 – 189m

Topography:
Flat

Surfaces: 
Largely gravel, except the final sealed leg back to the car park along Lake Mokoan Road.
Note: if the weather is or has been wet, minimise use of Nelson Road. It can be very slippery and muddy. It can be closed to vehicles.

Description and Features:
You can pick up an excellent cycling guide from the café. 

Composed of numerous ephemeral wetlands and grassy woodland, Winton Wetlands is a the largest wetland restoration project in the southern hemisphere. The site is interesting whether wet or dry. It was dry for this visit. It is home to many bird and animal species. When wet, a special attraction is that the site teems with water birds and raptors (see the last photo in the series for when wet from 2017). 
The interpretive displays along the various routes share insightful environmental, historic and cultural information. There are Art in the Landscape installations at a number of locations along the way. This is an outstanding place for photography.

Riding conditions: 
The whole route is very exposed. It can be very cold and very hot. Check the weather beforehand. 

Options:
Ride to and from the Wetlands via the Benalla – Mokoan Discovery Trail.

Anticlockwise Cues:
Take the dirt track east parallel with Lake Mokoan Rd to the old dam wall
Left North Rd
Left Flynns Rd
Right SW Track (or follow Flynns all the way to Nelson Rd if wet)
Left Nelson Rd
Left Winton North Rd
Left Boggy Bridge Rd
Left Lake Mokoan Rd back to car park

Amenities:
Car parking
Café (check opening hours Mob: 0497 939 507)
Playground
Seating
Picnic tables 
Public toilets
Waterways
Walking tracks
Wineries nearby
Historic features
Alternative routes
Accommodation nearby
Fishing (licence required)
Camping (booking required)
Trailhead, map & Interpretive signs
Railway station at Benalla
Flora and fauna habitat

Cautions:
Open water
Soft shoulders
Limbs may fall
Embankments
Uneven ground
No potable water
Remnant fencing
Slippery surfaces
Subject to flooding
Road surfaces vary
Snakes may be active
Tracks may not be clear
Beware of vehicle traffic
Mobile reception may be unreliable
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Restrictions:
No dogs
No firearms
No hunting
Take rubbish with you
No firewood collection
Do not remove soil or rock
Historic relics are protected
Native flora and fauna are protected
Do not remove timber from standing trees
No fires in the open. There is a communal fire pit at The Nesting Ground camp site, otherwise gas cooking is recommended. 
Closed for camping on days of total fire ban
No 4WD or motor bike access
Drivers/riders must: use formed roads only, be licensed, be registered

Strathbogie Cycling: Violet Town – Boho Foothills Loop

Violet Town Railway Station start and finish
Hub & Spoke Cycling Route

Route Name: 
Boho Foothills Loop

Start / Finish locations: 
Violet Town Railway Station Corner Primrose and Cowslip St., Violet Town 3669

Mode: 
eBike, road, hybrid, MTB

Map:
GPS 145.7164 -36.63884
 
Difficulty: 
Intermediate: modest rises

Distance:
23km

Elevation:
179 – 252m

Topography:
Undulating terrain

Surfaces: 
Good condition bitumen

Description and Features:
A pleasant loop that follows the line between the base of the Strathbogie Tableland and the plains surrounding Violet Town. Broad vistas, attractive landscapes, pleasant foothills and roadsides of aged River Red Gums.

Riding conditions: 
Largely exposed to the elements

Anticlockwise Cues:
Start Violet Town Station
Head south east along Cowslip St
Straight Urmston St
Cross Hume Fwy
Straight Harrys Creek Rd
Left Hayes Rd
Right Boho Rd
Left Boho Church Rd
Left Smiths Rd
Left Boho Rd
Right Hayes Rd
Right Harrys Creek Rd
Straight Urmston St
Straight Cowslip ST
Finish Violet Town Station

Amenities (Violet Town):
Car parking
BBQ
Fuel
Shops
Seating
Parkland
Waterway
Playground
Picnic tables 
Public toilets
Potable water
Walking tracks
Accommodation
Historic features
Sports Reserves
Swimming Pool
Railway station
Directional signs
Information signs
Off leash dog play
Flora and fauna habitat

Cautions:
Limbs may fall
Uneven ground
No potable water
Subject to flooding
Road surfaces vary
Snakes may be active
Beware of vehicle traffic
Mobile reception may be unreliable
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
Be equipped for self-reliant riding 

Restrictions:
Take rubbish with you
Historic relics are protected
Native flora and fauna are protected
Riders must use formed roads only

Cycling: Longwood – Pranjip Rd Loop

 Hub & Spoke Cycling Route
  
 Route Name: 
 Longwood: Pranjip Rd Loop
  
 Mode: 
 Road / Hybrid / eBike
  
 Start / Finish locations: 
 White Hart Hotel, Longwood
  
 Map (satellite): 
Longwood – Pranjip Rd Loop
 Difficulty: 
 Easy
  
 Distance:
 29km
  
 Elevation:
 136 – 179m
  
 Topography:
 Flat terrain plains country
  
 Surfaces: 
 Bitumen, some ridging from tree roots in places
  
 Description and Features:
 The township is well worth exploring before or after. The wide un-trafficked streets lend themselves to pleasant cruising around. This route takes you into sheep grazing country, occasional swampy areas, past a few creeks, along wooded roadsides and through open pasture
 Þ   Roadside and patches of Grey Box and Casuarina woodland
 Þ   Bridged creek crossings
 Þ   Return alongside Pranjip Creek
  
 Options:
 Clockwise or anti clockwise
  
 Amenities (Longwood):
 Car parking
 Shop and Hotel
 Seating
 Parkland
 Playground
 Picnic tables 
 Public toilets
 Accommodation
 Historic features
 Sports Reserves
  
 Cautions:
 Soft shoulders
 Limbs may fall
 No potable water
 Road surfaces vary
 Snakes may be active
 Be mindful of vehicle traffic
 Roads may be subject to flooding
 Mobile reception may be unreliable
 Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart 
 Be equipped for self-reliant riding  
  
 Anticlockwise Cues:
 Start: car park opposite White Hart Hotel
 North Longwood-Pranjip Rd
 Left Pranjip Rd
 Left Longwood-Shepparton Rd
 Left Grimwade Rd
 Right Longwood-Pranjip Rd
 Finish White Hart Hotel