Advice: Top 10 Melbourne road rides

Brisbane ranges

A short trip from Melbourne up the Western Freeway (M8) will deliver you at Bacchus Marsh where a number of day rides are possible.

The first is a loop of the Brisbane Ranges. Leaving Bacchus Marsh on the Balliang Road, you’ll soon take a right and follow the valley to the top of the Glenmore Road. It’s a patchy but fun climb to the top of the hill before you rejoin the Ballan Road (C141) to Anakie and then head into the forest for the fast-flowing run to Steiglitz.

From this abandoned mining settlement the road snakes its way to Meredith and its pub, a good spot for lunch and a beer. From Meredith the roads get a little patchy as you cut up and down through the gorges to Mount Egerton and back to the M8 at Ballan.

At this point, you can return to Melbourne, or link up to another neat loop through around the Lerderderg State Park.

Lerderderg State Park

If you’ve ridden the Western Freeway (M8) from Melbourne, or just want to add another leg to the Brisbane Ranges ride, this loop around the Wombat State Forest and surrounds is a cracker.

Join the Gisborne-Melton Road (C704) at Bacchus Marsh and head to Gisborne where you’ll run over Mount Macedon and detour to the Memorial Cross. The northern side is a little challenging, especially when wet, but deposits you at Woodend where you continue onto Trentham via Ashbourne.

At Trentham you can visit the waterfalls before heading south (C318) to Blackwood and lunch at the old Cobb and Co. stop, now the Blackwood Pub.

If you’re keen to sample some dirt, turn left just out of town and cut through the Wombat State Forest, or follow the Greendale-Trentham Forest Road (C318) to Greendale, and back to the Western Freeway (M8).

Goldfields

Whether you’ve popped up from Melbourne, or wish to link either of the previous two rides, the trek through some of the forgotten roads and ghost towns of the Victorian Goldfields is an entertaining, though slightly longer loop north-west of the city.

Starting at Ballan, just off the Western Freeway (M8), you’ll cross the freeway and meander up to Daylesford. This is spa country and a great area for an overnight stay. If you want an early lunch, the Farmer’s Arms comes highly recommended.

A detour through Hepburn and Shepards Flat will place you on the Midland Highway (A300) to Castlemaine, the self-proclaimed hot rod Capital of Australia. Here, you can either continue on the Bendigo or climb the Pyrenees Highway (B180) through Chewton and back towards the big smoke.

If you’re pushed from time, take a right onto the Calder Freeway (M79) and head back to Melbourne, or cross the bridge and continue via Metcalfe to Mia Mia on the Heathcote-Kyneton Road (C326).

Don’t miss the turn off to the Burke and Wills Track, past the flight monument and around the back of the Macedon Ranges to Lancefield. From here, take the Lancefield Road (C325) back to the Sunbury Road (C743) and join the Tullamarine Freeway (43) back to Melbourne.

North-central region

If you’ve come from the Goldfields ride, or up from Melbourne, Lancefield is a good starting place for a great loop around the outskirts beyond the northern suburbs.

Head north out of Lancefield on the Melbourne-Lancefield Road (C325) and almost immediately take a right through to Pyalong. Cross the Northern Highway (B75) and head east toward Glenaroua and Seymour where a variety of pubs and fuel stops are available.

From here the roads become more challenging and, as you climb towards Highlands, the signage vanishes, so take care. It is, however, worth the effort and as you descend through Ghin Ghin there’s an opportunity to take the Goulburn Valley Highway (B340) back to the Hume Highway (M31), or on to Yea.

I prefer to head west briefly before heading south on the King Parrot Road via Strath Creek and down the Flowerdale Road (C382) to the old Flowerdale Pub for lunch. From here, take the Whittlesea-Yea Road (C725) back to Hume Freeway (M31).

Kinglake region

This ride’s hardly a state secret but with a little local knowledge there are some handy stretches around Kinglake and Yea that will make this loop more worthwhile.

If you’ve joined us from the north-central Loop, the obvious starting place is Whittlesea, or backtrack a little and come in from Broadford (see map link).

From here, grab some fuel and take the Broadford-Flowerdale Road (C382) via Strath Creek and Flowerdale towards the Melba Highway (B300). You can of course go to Yea, but it’s a main highway, and less entertaining.

Head south on the Melba Highway (B300) to the junction near Toolangi. You’ll pass through here again soon, so keep it in mind. Then, follow the road west down Myers Creek Road to Healesville, cut through town, and back up Chum Creek Road (C724) to the junction again.

From here, follow the road to Kinglake, head south via Saint Andrews (C746) and Panton Hill before arriving back in the ’burbs at Eltham or Warrandyte.

Yarra Valley

Working clockwise from our previous ride we find the Yarra Valley region abounding with riding roads perfect for the day trip from Melbourne.

If you’ve picked up from the end of the Kinglake Region ride, then Kangaroo Ground is a great place to start. From here, take the Eltham Road (C726) across to Yarra Glen and onto Healesville. There’s a neat back road that adds a little interest, and, conveniently, goes right past the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.

From here, continue through Healesville and head up the Maroondah Highway (B360) or “Black Spur” to the locals, towards Marysville. A right turn on the Acheron Way (C507) is recommended for those on multi-purpose bikes, or continue through Marysville and head south-east on the Marysville-Woods Point Road (C513).

At (nearly) the end of the asphalt take a right on the Reefton Road (C511) and descend the twists and turns to Reefton, Warburton and Launching Place where you can continue on the Warburton Highway (B380) towards Melbourne, or via the Don Road (C506) back to Healesville.

The Dandenongs

Melbourne’s nearest “mountains” are brimming with riding roads perfect for those short on time. The Mount Dandenong Tourist Road is an excellent place to start and can be done on its own, or in combination with the following little loop.

From Montrose, cross the 633m Mount Dandenong via the ‘Tourist Road (C415) and head to Olinda. Before hitting Sassafras, turn left onto the Perrins Creek Road towards Kallista and take the Kallista-Emerald Road through to Emerald.

Elevations Cafe in Emerald is a friendly place for lunch and a good pause before heading west on the Belgrave-Gembrook Road (C412) with the Puffing Billy tourist train towards Upper Ferntree Gully.

From here, turn north again towards Sassafras and when you enter the town make a left down the Mountain Highway (28) to The Basin. Depending which part of Melbourne you’re from it’s an easy run back down the Mountain Highway to Canterbury Road or jump on to Eastlink (M3, toll road).

Bunyip region

Overseas tourists will marvel at the tale of the Bunyip, our own version of the Yeti or Sasquatch, you might say. Whatever folklore says, the ride around this so-named state forest is a good’un.

Depending where in Melbourne you’re coming from, the ride may start north of south of this point, but for convenience let’s start at BP Officer (outbound) where food and fuel are easy to come by.

Follow the Princes Freeway (M1) briefly before heading up the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road (C411) and Gembrook Road (C424) through to Launching Place. If you’ve picked up on this location from the Yarra Valley ride, then this might be a nice addition to your weekend ride.

From Launching Place follow the Warburton Highway (B380) to Yarra Junction and take Little Yarra Road (C425) south towards Noojee. I recommend taking the Nayook-Powelltown Road via Nayook and Neerim Junction which pops you on the Main Neerim Road (C426) back towards the Tarago Reservoir.

At Neerim South, turn west on Jacksons Track for an undulated run towards Jindivick and great coffee and cake at the Jindi Caf. It’s a short stretch from here back to the Princes Freeway (M1) at Longwarry where heading west will get you back to Melbourne.

Mornington Peninsula

This loop is home turf for yours truly and forms part of route I use when road testing bikes for www.bikesales.com.au.

The Mornington Peninsula abounds with great roads, brilliant wineries and breweries, and food stops to die for. I recommend starting the ride at Frankston, which is accessed via the Nepean Highway (3) or Eastlink (M3, toll road) and Peninsula Link (M11).

From Frankston take the Nepean Highway (3) south until you reach Beleura Hill Road. It’s hard to spot, but it avoids the main street of Mornington which is often gridlocked. From Mornington, the Esplanade (C783) follows Port Phillip Bay south through Safety Beach before becoming the Point Nepean Road (B110) at Dromana.

At Dromana, take a left up McCulloch Street (C789) and head up the hairpins of Arthurs Seat. There are views back to the city from the top where a right turn along Purves Road will lead you to Browns Road and on to the Boneo Road (C777) at Boneo.

The Boneo Road takes you past Cape Schank Lighthouse to Flinders, its pub and fabulous pier before heading north through Shoreham on the Frankston-Flinders Road (C777), and westward again on the Red Hill-Shoreham Road.

The old coldstore at Red Hill South is now the Red Hill Epicurean with great coffee and pizza. It’s also the last stop before venturing back to Frankston via Dunns Creek Road (C788) and Peninsula Link (M11).

Around the bay

Whether you pick this one up from the Mornington Peninsula ride, or follow the map from the city, you’re guaranteed an easy ride with great views. Bear in mind the ride involves travel on the Searoad Ferry -- http://www.searoad.com.au -- between Sorrento and Queenscliff, which at the time of publication costs $35 one way.

Work your way from Melbourne through Saint Kilda and down Beach Road (33) until it intersects with the Nepean Highway (3) at Mordialloc. Cross Pompei’s Bridge and head south towards Frankston and Mornington where the Nepean Highway becomes the B110 (but is still called the Nepean Highway).

Turn right at Beleura Road and join the Esplanade (C783) at Mornington to follow Port Phillip Bay around to Point Nepean Road (B110) which continues to the ferry terminus at Sorrento.

Continuing the ride from the Queenscliff side of the heads you’ll take the Bellarine Highway (B110) briefly before heading north along the Portarlington-Queenscliff Road (C126) toward Saint Leonards and Portarlington, rejoining the main road again at Curlewis.

Then, the Portarlington Road (C123) runs you straight into Geelong, where you can enjoy a cruise around the Western Beach Esplanade before joining the Princes Freeway (M1) for the straight-line slog back to Melbourne.

Alternatively from Queenscliff you can get across the Bellarine Peninsula via the Bellarine Highway (B110) and straight towards Geelong (saving around 30 minutes), or head west via the Ocean Grove-Barwon Heads Road (C129) and Barwon Heads Road (C121) to join the Great Ocean Road at Torquay. But that’s another story.