Tour de Grand Gourmet: Cycling Tour North East Victoria

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival in Beechworth

   Arrive at Beechworth, check into your booked accommodation (4-star or character-filled B&B). Take the opportunity to explore this delightful town by foot or bike, with its historic buildings and stories of Ned Kelly and the Gold Rush of the 1850s. The tour operator recommends cycling to the Gorge, a 20-30 minute ride for great valley views.
   

   Beechworth has a great cafe scene; some of the tour operator's favourites are the Providore Cafe, 18 Camp Street, and the Cellar Door Wine Store, 62 Ford Street. This evening, you will enjoy your first of many treats with an evening meal at one of the growing list of recommended restaurants, which will set the scene for the coming gourmet treats on this tour.
   

   • Beechworth Accommodation
   • Dinner
2. Day 2Beechworth to Milawa

   After a full breakfast, your first-day cycling is to the food and wine hub of Milawa. Get ready, pack your bags and aim to set off around 10am, joining the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in Beechworth. Your first stop is at Pennyweight Winery, which is a 10-20 minute ride from the start of the rail trail, so you can't arrive too early! Organic wine tasting from this small family winery is a delight.

   Back on the Rail Trail, you'll roll all the way downhill until you reach Everton station. Departing the Rail Trail, you will head to Everton town itself and then over the Great Alpine Road to Milawa. Before lunch, however, a stop at the award-winning EV Olive farm for an olive oil tasting, then onward to the famous Milawa Cheese Factory for a platter lunch which includes their famous selection of cheeses. You can also visit next door to Woodpark Wines for a tasting. You are now in Milawa with a range of produce venues to visit. You can also stop at the Milawa Mustard Factory on the main corner on the way to visit Brown Brothers Winery.

   Your luggage will be waiting for you on arrival at the accommodation. Your evening meal is included and will be at a local preferred restaurant (food is included in your tour, with drinks to be paid for). Breakfast is also included the following morning.

   Today's ride is 30 km (18.6 mi) but you can extend this to 62 km (38.5 mi) with an optional extension of the route via Wangarratta if you prefer.
   

   • 18.6 miles
   • Accommodation in Milawa
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Lovely Lindenwarrah at Milawa

     One of the potential accommodations used on the tour, this boutique country hotel offers luxurious rooms in a fantastic location with superb views

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     Lovely Lindenwarrah at Milawa

     One of the potential accommodations used on the tour, this boutique country hotel offers luxurious rooms in a fantastic location with superb views

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     Lovely Lindenwarrah at Milawa

     One of the potential accommodations used on the tour, this boutique country hotel offers luxurious rooms in a fantastic location with superb views

3. Day 3Milawa to Myrtleford

   After a full breakfast, today you will tackle the only hill for the tour, Taylors Gap, on the way to Myrtleford. It's a slightly longer day's riding but with a relaxing stop for lunch at the beautiful Gapsted Winery. Leaving Milawa you'll initially retrace your path back to Everton, then rejoin the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, heading to Myrtleford. After a little effort up and over Taylors Gap, you cross the Great Alpine Road and shortly after Gapsted Winery awaits, and a gourmet platter lunch. The views on this section of the trail are stunning so have the camera at the ready. Gapsted can be hard to leave, but it's only a short easy cycle into Myrtleford and your accommodation for the night. An optional stop is another tasting at Michelini's Winery cellar door. Dinner tonight is booked for you and included in the tour and is a full restaurant meal.
   

   • 26.7 miles
   • Accommodation in Myrtleford
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
4. Day 4Myrtleford to Bright

   Today starts with a very brief cycle to your hearty breakfast at the Alpine Gate cafe, the first of a number of stops today on your cycle to Bright. Following the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, it's a much easier day on the bike, with frequent stops. Before you leave Myrtleford town, on the right-hand side is the Butter Factory, a must visit. A further 15 minutes following the trail on the left-hand side is the Myrtleford Pumpkin Seed Factory. Then onward another 20-40 minutes to Bright Berry Farm on the right-hand side (don't miss the fruit sundae!), and a very short further ride to Feathertop Winery for lunch. Stunning views of Mt Buffalo, coupled with a superb gourmet platter lunch awaits and is included in your tour. It's a gorgeous cycle into Bright, with optional stops at Ringer Reef winery, the Rail Trail cafe (amazing cakes) or the Bright Brewery upon arrival into the town, or a chocolate tasting tour at Bright Chocolate Bean & Bar. Tonight you will stay in lovely Bright with a final full restaurant experience at the local food institution Simone's Restaurant.
   

   • 18.6 miles
   • Accommodation in Bright
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Back to Beechworth

   After enjoying your breakfast and optional rides around Bright, Harrietville or the challenging Tawonga Gap, you will be collected together with your luggage and any purchases you have made and transferred back to Beechworth for the conclusion of your tour.

   
   
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   • Breakfast