Victorian Rail Trail 6-Pack: Coast, Craters and Gold

The tour is 6 days long with all 6 days being cycling days.

This tour is for cyclists looking for a relaxing experience with traffic-free riding, great scenery and time to enjoy other non-cycling highlights of the regions visited. A great way to see a range of Victoria’s regions in one trip.

Longer and shorter rides are possible each day with the riding being on well graded hard-packed gravel in most cases. The terrain is flat to undulating with some hills (rail grades).

The tour operator is happy to accommodate non-riding partners and part-timers who only want to ride part of each day or only certain days. They will generally try to allocate pickup points along the route every day. The entry price will be the same for part-time riders and usually non-riders as well depending on their tour plan.

The bus is there to support the tour and also pick up riders who need to jump in for any reason. In some locations along Rail Trails there is no vehicle access, however the vehicle will be stopped at strategic locations where the track is accessible by the road, helping riders with water, snacks and information. You will also see the support vehicle at morning teas and lunch stops. Riders may get in the support vehicle at the meet-up points if they would like to skip a section of the ride or if they have fallen well behind schedule. Times for morning departure and stops such as morning tea and lunches will be given on the profile maps and are based on a steady speed (not fast), depending on the terrain.

For safety reasons, the tour operator tries their best  to stick to the schedule and keep the group within a reasonable distance of each other and the support, mechanics and medical team. The bus is also sometimes used for part-time riders who only ride certain sections of each day – these are often partners of someone else on the ride. This vehicle can be quite popular on some days – especially long days or days with big hills! There is no shame in riding in this bus so if you are considering a tour and are ‘in the ball-park’ in terms of your fitness and preparedness, but not 100% sure if you will be up to it on the toughest days, just go for it – our vehicle and staff will be there to help out. It’s better to give it a try than to miss out altogether. If you feel that you are extremely far off the fitness level required and cannot commit to enough training that will get you fit in time then you may be better off booking a later ride or a different type of tour – just let us know.

The Tour Operator does not have their own fleet of bikes but can point you in the right direction of some local hire companies.

If you are bringing your own bike, a comfortable hybrid or mountain bike is suitable. Semi-off-road tyres are recommended due to gravel surfaces (slick road tyres not suitable for some of the surfaces). Front suspension may add some comfort but is not a requirement. Front mudguards are not compatible with the vehicle bike racks; please remove these prior to coming on tour. Whatever bike you select, ensure you are comfortable riding the daily distances and average speed of the tour.

It is recommended you bring a soft bag or backpack. It's advised not to bring a suitcase as they are bulky, difficult to stow on board vehicles or trailers and heavy. You may be required to lift or carry your own luggage from time to time, e.g. into accommodation. The tour operator expects your bag to be no heavier than 15kg, making it easy to manage for you and the staff. Any excess luggage may need to be stored or forwarded on to your final destination at your own expense. Information about what to pack is included as part of your Pre-Departure information. Generally, it is advised that you pack as light as possible.

It's suggested that you carry a spare tube, a full water bottle and your own personal goods such as phone, wallet and rain gear, on your bike with you. The Tour Operator will transport your luggage, drawstring day bags, food & extra water. A more detailed list of things to bring and not bring is on our ‘Tour Preparation Guide’ which is sent out to you before the ride.

This tour has been specifically designed for those who want to ride off-road and at their own pace. For non-regular cyclists it is recommended that you train for the ride, as even though you may be physically fit, you should still spend some time getting your body (and different body parts) used to being on a bike for extended periods. This may pose a bigger challenge than cardio or aching muscles. Although a high level of specialist off-road skills and experience is not required for this tour, it is recommended to do some off-road training if possible.

Remember, a support vehicle is always available for those who wish, or need, to be transported for a portion of any day. As a rough guide, try to get to a point where you can average 15-20 km/hr on flat paths, and build your kilometre total distance in training to be out on the bike for 2-3 hours (roughly 40km) for two days straight. This will usually put you in a good position to be ready for your tour. The more training you do, the more you will enjoy the cycling.