Australia’s number one cycle destination is gearing up for another bumper season, kicking off officially on Friday 26 October with the opening of Ride High Country – 7 Peaks, the annual road climb challenge returning for a full six months until 28 April 2019.
Tourism North East’s hugely popular Strava-integrated 7 Peaks app will be available for download from 20 October for cyclists preparing to ride the seven Victorian alpine peaks of Mt Buffalo, Mt Buller, Dinner Plain, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mt Baw Baw and Lake Mountain.
As well as being a digital passport for recording completed rides, the app offers comprehensive information about ride segments and maps and provides automatic entry into this year’s Ride High Country – 7 Peaks grand prize of a trip for two to the 2019 Tour de France with Wide Open Road Tours.
Last season, close to 10 000 rides were registered with 321 cyclists conquering all 7 Peaks. Riders came from every State and Territory to tackle the climbs, including Adelaide man, Terry Golding and son Will (pictured in the French Pyrenees) winners of this year’s grand prize.
Cycle tourism continues to boom in the High Country. Last year more than 120 000 cycling visitors headed to region, adding more than $70 million to the local economy. As a result, growth in cycle-related businesses across road, MTB and Rail Trail cycling has been exponential with 10 tour operators now leading multi-day cycling getaway tours across the region and a rapidly growing number of new Ride High Country Preferred businesses offering shuttle services, bike hire, bike friendly accommodation and cycle-friendly cafes.
This season Ride High Country visitors can choose from a range of cycle escapes including:
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Ultimate bikes, beers & bakeries road trip with MTB Adventures, a fully guided eight-day tour taking in the High Country’s best mountain bike trails
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Cook, Cycle, Feast experiences from the Myrtleford Cycle Centre including the new Rolling Gnocchi Cycle Tour
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Spend a weekend hiking up Mt Buller and riding a bike down with – Mt Buller Hike & Bike
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Cycle the peaks by day and feast by night with Wide Open Road’s 4 Days 4 Peaks Vic Alps tour
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Take a Three Peaks Weekend Tour with Rocky Valley Bikes
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Explore the amazing food and wine offerings along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trails with Tour de Vines and Mulga Bicycle Tours