The
Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail runs for 83 kms from Wangaratta to Bright, in Victoria. Add in a couple of side trips and you can cycle for 106 kms - all on off-road sealed paths. This has to be Australia's premier rail trail. David and I first cycled part of it with our then young sons in 2003. Since then we have returned again and again. If you want an easy, scenic introduction to long distance cycling or just some pleasant half day rides, the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail is perfect.
One day soon I will write a guide to the trail, but for now we're too busy pedalling. All you get today is photos. ( I finally wrote the guide click
here to read it.)
We timed our visit to coincide with the Bright Flower Festival, probably the prettiest time of year to cycle the trail. We aren't tackling the whole trail, just dipping our toes in the best bits. A heads up here - all the really lovely countryside is between Everton and Bright.
Bright to Porepunkah
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| One of the prettiest sections of the trail is right in Bright |
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| The trail runs beside lots of quirky little gardens and farms. |
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| Mum and Dad taking the kids for a walk. |
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| I have no idea whether this guy is a llama or an alpaca, but he was cute. |
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We didn't eat here but it did look inviting.
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Eurobin to Myrtleford
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| The old Eurobin Station is an easy place to park the car and do a short scenic section of the trail. From here it doesn't matter which way you go. Both directions are interesting. |
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| This place had some fascinating old things - a real trip down memory lane, ruined only a little by the fact that I got a puncture nearby. |
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| This was taken between Eurobin and Porepunkah on an earlier trip. It is a great display, don't you think. |
Harrietville
Harrietville isn't strictly on the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail, but I really wanted to put these photos of waratahs in. The waratah is the Floral Emblem of New South Wales. The first photo is easily recognizable but the flowers in the second photo are also waratahs.
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| I am yet to meet a kangaroo who isn't as curious about me as I am about him. |
Click on the following links for my reviews on Victorian bike trails: -
I love the idea of cycling, but I am so scared of riding bikes lol, that old saying "its just like riding bike" is not the case for me, because every time I get on a bike I feel like I have to relearn everything haha! I know my husband would LOVE to do this and I really would love to see the bike display on the fence!
ReplyDeleteYou could always get a tandem or one of those recliner bikes. There are so many bike hire places on this trail you would be sure to find something you would be comfortable on. There is even a bike bus you can book to come and pick you up if you don't want to ride the return journey. In Sydney we have an organisation called 'Gear-up Girl' which runs short courses for women who want to re-learn how to cycle.
DeleteFantastic. With ever changing scenery like that it would be a lot easier to keep peddling. I am glad you stopped often to share it with us. Love the llama, then I read your caption and realised I don't know the difference either.
ReplyDeleteHaha - I could probably google the difference but it's nice for some things to remain a mystery.
DeleteI think that's an alpaca, not a llama. The llamas are a little taller and they usually have a darker color, although they look very similar to the alpacas. There is a llama farm next to my son't house, in Oregon. I get to see them very often when I travel there. Australia is such an exotic place! You probably don't realize it because you live there, but for us is like another world.
ReplyDeleteAustralia is a lot more diverse than people realise but like the US it is huge - impossible to see it all on one trip.
DeleteYour pictures are beautiful and colourful! I'm always interested in seeing where people cycle and hearing about their adventures. This looks like a nice and relaxing ride :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a great, easy cycle. Of course you can always make it hard by going too far - lol.
DeleteLooks like a lovely day out - and a perfect time of year to visit with the Jacarada in full bloom!
ReplyDeleteI know they look like Jacarandas and it is the right time of year but they weren't Jacarandas, they were another tree which looks very similar. I think their name begins with 'B' but I am not sure.
DeleteI love these places like Myrtleford, Bright and Harrretville. Nice to see you cycling perspectives of these beautiful villages.
ReplyDeleteWe had lunch in Harrietville today on the way to Omeo and Paynesville and it was just lovely.
DeleteBeautiful photos! I can't imagine taking a bike ride and stumbling upon a bunch of kangaroos, so cool!
ReplyDeleteJust last night we cycled past a large mob at Paynesville in Victoria. We were told they are there all the time. I put the photos up on Facebook and Google+ if you are interested.
DeleteIt's a beautiful place! And so many cute animals are there!
ReplyDeleteSpring is a great time to be in this part of Victoria.
DeleteI really like that there's off road sealed trails for you to bike on. The city where I live is trying to get more bike friendly, but it's all commuting bike lanes right next to cars with nothing but a painted line on the road to separate the two. I've been leary of doing road cycling, but I think I'd enjoy the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail. It's so pretty! I like that display of bicycles on the fence, and NSW has a beautiful flower representing it. Thanks for linking up with #WkendTravelInspiration.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean by the bike lanes right next to cars. We have a lot of those in Sydney too and they are very scary. More and more countries are developing Rail Trails which are old railway lines which have been turned in to cycling/walking/horse riding trails. Maybe you should google RailTrails and see if you can find some.
DeleteNext I'm in Australia, I do want to do some biking trips so I'll look forward to your guides!
ReplyDeleteI can highly recommend the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. If you want to combine cycling with seeing koalas and kangaroos, D and I spent the day cycling around Raymond Island in Victoria. It was just fantastic.
DeleteLyn, I love the area around Bright - when we used to live in Melbourne we used to frequently visit the area. While we never did the rail trail your photos bring back good memories of the area.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever get to Raymond Island. We are there now and it is just fabulous.
DeleteThis looks like a really great trip! I've been to Melbourne but haven't explored elsewhere in Victoria. I have a lot left to see!
ReplyDeleteVictoria has a lot to offer. The area we are in now, East-Gippsland Lakes is just lovely.
DeleteGorgeous springtime!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-visit-to-madame-tussauds.html
My pleasure.
DeleteWe love rail trails and Murray to the Mountains certainly looks like a nice one. We might be wishing for the nice level riding paths while we are pedaling up and down the hills of Sicily the next two weeks.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about that. We drove about Sicily a few years ago and I remember a lot of hills. Good luck - I hope you have a great time.
DeleteSeems it is a really beautiful route for anyone.All these captures are stunning and I really like the photo with ducks and ducklings.It is a so lovely thing to see....
ReplyDeleteI couldn't resist those ducks. A day or so ago I got a lovely photo of a black swan with two little signets. I just have to work her into a blog post now.
DeleteBeautiful signs of springs. Looks like a great trip.
ReplyDeleteIt was - but we are now almost home again.
DeleteThat looks like a beautiful ride! I really like the kangaroos - they always seem so comical to me. The flowers on the trees are lovely and you did a really good of capturing them.
ReplyDeleteI love the way kangaroos always seem to look straight at you. It is like they are posing for the camera. If you can catch them awake koalas are the same.
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