Tarra–Bulga National Park Walk

Remembrance day is a time to look back and be thankful to all those who served this country. I like to get away  so  headed out to lush Tarra–Bulga rainforest in Gippsland for some reflection time. Does make a tough walk a little easier when I think of our heroes of war.

Hiked from Tarra–Bulga National Park visitor centre in tiny Gippsland township of Balook to Tarra Valley National Park Picnic Area,

Distance- 20.8km
Duration- 3hr 52mins

Lyrebird Walk Mirboo North

Stratford Knob Reserve

 Stratford on the River festival is on at the moment, so this ride video had to have a little William Shakespeare :)

mapmyride data

LAKE SIDE NATIONAL PARK Loch Sport Victoria Aus

 The Lakes National Park is a bushland reserve bordered on three sides by Lakes. We explored the area on bicycle, covering 33 km along gravel Lake Side Tracks. Checked out Lake Reeve Nature Trail featuring the Lookout Tower with magnificent views of the Gippsland Lakes system. Rode via Lake Victoria Track through sandy bush trails .. with many soft patches ... 10km of the track (after Emu Bight Camping area) is signed "4WD only". It was a rugged tough ride with lots of pushing. The peaceful bushland picnic area at Point Wilson Jetty was a most welcomed sight. We returned to the carpark via the very corrugated gravel Lake Reeve Road.

Distance- 33.5km
Duration- 2hr 50mins



Paddling on the Macalister River

Put the kayak in at the Port of Maffra near the the Beet Museum. Successful in boat entry. River meanders around rich dairying agricultural area, Paddled upstream but didn't get to Bellbird Corner at the Newry Creek junction but had a great couple of hrs paddling.

Bairnsdale to Bruthen (part of East Gippsland Rail Trail)

Bairnsdale to Bruthen is the first 32km section of the magnificent 100 Km Bairnsdale to Orbost rail trail. Start at Howitt Park in Bairnsdale, ride around Howitt park untill you see the Rail trail sign. The first 9km from Bairnsdale to Nicholson is sealed path and remaining 25km to Bruthen is along smooth gravel surface. Trail runs through picturesque farmland with views of Tambo Valley.

Distance- 63.57 km (return)
duration- 3hrs 54min
Total climbing- 218m

Cat 4 Climb to Agnes Falls

Agnes Falls are the highest single span falls in Victoria.

Surface -   sealed road
Distance-  18.61 km
Duration-  1 hr 26 mins
Climbing- 221 m

Bunurong National Park

Today we rode from Inverloch to Bunurong Marine National Park in Southern Gippsland.We have in the past explored some  panoramic Bass Strait coastal (here). Today we explored one of the State of Victoria's thirteen Marine National Parks the 'Bunurong Marine coastal Reserve & National Park'. Regular readers would be aware of my dislike of cycling on roads or preference of staying away from cars.But today's ride along the coastal tourists route  was one I've been looking forward to for some time.  We did it midweek and thankfully traffic was light. The bike path along the esplanade is great and the numerous carparks & places to pull over to check out the scenery made for a great ride.

Distance- 21.55 km 

Surface- Concrete Bike path & Bituman Road

Climbing - 82m

Time- 1hr 37:52

Map my ride data here

The Bunurong Marine National Park extends along approx 5 km of coastline on the Inverloch - Cape Paterson Rd, and extends offshore for approximately one kilometer. Thousands of dinosaur bones have been lifted from this area. The name "Bunurong" refers to the original Aboriginal occupants of the area.

Holey Plains State Park - Rosedale, Victoria, Australia

On a previous visit to Holey Plains we rode from Harriers Swamp to Holey Hill Fire Lookout loop (Holey Hill blog here). This time we rode from "Harrier Swamp to Merriman Creek" picnic area, still enjoying the banksias & eucalypt forest.


Surface-   Smooth gravel
Distance- 23.5 km (14.6 miles)
Time -     2:20:59
Total Climbing- 215m 
Map My Ride Data here

We returned via Chessum Track and turned right along West Boundary Track (a flat ride until @2:53 on video)



To get to Harriers Swamp Campground from Rosedale head South 1.5k on the Willung Rd, turn left at 'State park' sign onto the Rosedale-Stradbroke Rd,  travel about 6km , turn right onto gravel road at West Boundary Track sign, travel about 1km then turn left onto Long Ridge Track, that takes you to Harriers Swamp (camping ground on left & picnic area on right)

You Yangs Regional Park

This park is well known to myself for the great MTB trails, but the Park also has some great walking trails.
Distance - 10 klm walk
Duration - 1 hr 47mins

Started from the Park Office car park along the Big Rock Walk, up to the granite rock peaks,  then crossed over to the East-West Walk looping around & returning back down the Big Rock trail. Sadly the Flinders Peak steps track is still closed due to flood damage . More info on Park here

Rokeby to Neerim Rail Trail

We started our ride at Rokeby (north of Warragul and well known as the first sprint of the Baw Baw Classic) The trail winds its way from Rokeby up to Neerim, following a cutting of a section of the old Warragul to Noojee rail line (1890-1958) The first 4km of trail passes through  bushland of the Crossover Regional Park, and passes the original site of the Crossover station. The trail then deviates up and around the Crossover Trestle Bridge (restoration not complete) and, after receiving some much needed directions from local farmer,  we continued up into Neerim (along the yet to be completed trail) The last section of trail follows the Main road and provides fantastic valley views of Mount Baw Baw and Bunyip State Forest.

It was my first ride for some time,
Ride details at Map my Ride



great to see locals so dedicated to helping visitors enjoy their trails especially the Friends of Crossover Trestle Bridge,

Discovery Trail East Gippsland

picturesque ride that follows the route of the historic Mississippi Creek Tramway near Lakes Entrance, Victoria, Australia

George Bass Coastal Walk in Gippsland Victoria

We accessed the 'George Bass Coastal Walk' from the railtrail opposite the Kilcunda pub on the Bass Highway, After 1hr 30mins along a slashed grass track for 9km on the cliff tops with spectacular panoramic views of Bass Strait, perpendicular bluffs, beautiful secluded beaches & wildlife, we arrived at the Punchbowl lookout platform, On the return to Kilcunda we stopped a while at the beach walk section. weather conditions were favourable for hiking but a little coolish to backpack beach towel and bathers (waters not recommended for swimming anyway)

(ps. George Bass was the first European explorer to sight the Victorian coastline in 1797)

section of Dandenong Creek Trail

Nothing more relaxing than cycling along beside water. As work took me to Melbourne on the weekend, I planned a bike ride along the Bay trail, but I must say if you're not riding solo, the fun of conversation is reduced by weekend crowds. Hence, I wasn't disappointed when we decided to investigate the Dandenong Creek Trail, with overcrowding not being an issue, it was a most enjoyable relaxing flat ride.

Distance- 27km Carrum to Dandenong (and return)
Surface- mostly smooth Gravel
song title on video- 'Here She Comes' by Skipping Girl Vinegar
 (band named after my childhood love a Vinegar Sign with neon animated Skipping Girl)

MTB'ing around Foster in Victoria

The township of Foster in South Gippsland has a great network of singletrack. Accessed just off the Great Southern Rail Trail is the 'Cement Hill Natural Features Reserve', with lots of up and down floaty single tracks and a fun trail seesaw. Exploring further into the bushland we found some technical sections with unavoidable tree root jumps, bridge crossings, energy zapping climbs & epic descents. There was also lots of my preferred gentle meandering around bush walking tracks & rail trails. Foster is well worth a visit.

view Map data here

ps ... town has two bakeries

Keep Climbing Those Hills

We know the only way to a little fitness is to keep climbing hills, so we decided to spend a couple of hours around Erica mtb park, although not my favorite surface (and elevation LOL) the trails were fantastic. Even the trails the Gippsland MTB club held an event on (in wet conditions) last week were in good condition. We rode for 2.5 hours, including a lap of 'crazy snake' trail (video) and were both totally knackered, but will definitely be back,

Mansfield to Bonnie Doon rail trail

After two days of solid rain and hectic winds, we deemed unsafe a planned ride along some MTB tracks at Mt Buller. (Even though the National Down Hillers were racing, we did hear snow was seen up the mountain during the day)  So we opted for the nearby Mansfield rail trail. And after being confined to a motel room unable to do any activity,  my legs took a while to warm up so most of the 40km ride was at an easy pace.
           The 20km Mansfield to Bonnie Doon trail is part of the Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail (still under construction on completion to Tallarook, it will be the longest (134km) rail trail in Victoria) It is a scenic trail through farmland, lots of sheep grazing with great views of surrounding ranges, it crosses lots of bridges including the States longest rail trail bridge over Lake Eildon at Bonnie Doon

Start- Mansfield Station (tourist information centre)
Distance - 20km (40km return)
Surface - mostly sealed bitumen

Bruthen to Nowa Nowa Rail trail

Bruthen to Nowa Nowa trail is a 30km section of the East Gippsland Rail Trail (Bairnsdale and Orbost) not having sat on the bike for a couple of months, it may have been a little ambitious to attack a 4 hour ride,
but as the saying goes 'you'll never know if you don't try', but it wasn't long before I felt tingling in my arm and feeling nothing everywhere else. but the result of infrequent long rides didn't dampen my excitement on getting to see the 'Stoney Bridge' and Nowa Nowa, but the thunderstorm & rain on the return trip was very dampening. I'm sure the locals at Nowa Nowa thought it strange to see cyclists heading back to Bruthen at the start of a thunderstorm, but thankfully the lightning passed quickly. I drive Bruthen to Nowa Nowa on a regular basis, so I knew the trail would be a climb, but surprisinly, although constant at times, it wasn't too steep, and the eucalyptus 'gum trees' of the Colquhoun State Forest made for a pleasant ride.

Distance - 29km (58km return)
Surface - smooth gravel
Time - 3hrs 48mins

Everyone loves a wedding

With some trepidations from family, My son and new daughter-in-law planned there own beach setting wedding. I had a few 'bite my tongue' moments in the preceding months, mainly due to several venue changes. But I must say, to all involved from the celebrant to the cheers & chocolate 'mudcake' wedding cake, the Wedding went off with many smiles, And I hope the all the joy of the day is the beginning of a lifetime of happiness, as they were truly a beautiful couple.

Meeniyan "trestle bridge"

Got to love remnants of rail history along rail trails. none better then an historic rail bridge. Just west of Meeniyan towards Koonwarra, The Great Southern Rail Trail crosses the Tarwin River on a 240m long steel "trestle bridge" that runs beside the original 1892 trestle bridge. Cycling with views of old rail remnants, to me, is more exciting then cycling on top of them.   
        The smooth gravel surface ends about 6km out of Meeniyan. Work is still needed on the final 2km of trail through the narrow valley over 3 bridges (currently closed until after a planned highway realignment in the area) so to get to Koonwarra requires a ride along the busy highway for approx three kilometres.
From Koonwarra the trail heads to Leongatha (Approx 8km)