Food is never far from a cyclists thoughts and Victoria’s North East has your riding, and eating, destinations covered. This great list of day rides and weekend packages on offer in Victoria’s High Country this cycling season has just been released and includes destinations like Beechworth, Rutherglen, Bright, Myrtleford and Mansfield. The area is great for cycling from spring through autumn, while the region’s culinary villages offer food and wine worth pedalling for.
Explore Rutherglen’s food-friendly wines and regional produce on the Seasonal Food Foray a progressive lunch by bike. The Pickled Sisters Café will wave you off with a seasonal hamper of four dishes to be paired with a glass of wine at four iconic wineries, on a 20km cycling route via the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and quiet country roads.
Myrtleford’s Cycle Centre will host a series of Cook-Cycle-Feast day rides over summer, including 15 – 20km of cycling along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Choose from the Bread & Butter Bicycle Tour (featuring hands-on bread making and lunch at Delize Café Deli), Coffee Bean Roast ‘n’ Ride (featuring a roasting session at Coffee Chakra and lunch at Happy Valley Hotel) or Gnocchi on Wheels (featuring hands-on pasta making and lunch at Delize Café Deli).
Gather your girlfriends for Pedals, Pilates and Lattes, a boutique two-night getaway at Bright’s Leader Reef accommodation. Get invigorated with a pilates session by the pool or fire, before a gentle 20km bike ride along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to Feathertop Wines, then reflect on your active day over dinner prepared for you in-house by a local chef.
Base yourself in Beechworth to pedal the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail down to the Milawa Gourmet Region on Riding High’s signature Golden Gourmet self-guided day tour. This intermediate 45km ride includes a private lunch at the historic Ladson’s Store in Tarrawingee, now the home of the Correll family, before more food and wine stops finishing at Sam Miranda Winery. You can boo this at Riding High
At All Terrain Cycles in Mansfield, book in a self-guided 22km Bike to Bridge ride along the Great Victorian Rail Trail to Bonnie Doon. Pedal alongside scenic farmland, through shady tree tunnels and finish your ride crossing the historic 385m Bonnie Doon bridge. Have one of Mansfield’s cafes/providores pack you a picnic to enjoy on the shores of Lake Eildon or lunch at family-friendly Bonnie Bar. Check out the All Terrain Cycles for details of costs and bookings
What we like most about these rides, well ok, aside from the riding and eating, is that you can slot them into your itinerary when it suits you!