Le Tour de 'Nong

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Where: Dandenong Ranges, just outside of Melbourne

Length: 36km

Difficulty: easy

Terrain: hilly, some very steep sections

Surface: well made gravel, some rougher tracks. One steep rocky downhill which can be easily avoided. Recommended XC mountain bike or gravel bike with wide tyres.

What: picturesque rainforest, fun tracks and descents, cafes and eateries

THE RIDE

Take your time. Chortle, meander. Suck in the clean air and recharge the batteries. This highly congenial ramble is a great sample of what the Dandenong Ranges are about. Hidden gullies, tall tree ferns, squawking parrots and hefty mountain ash. There's a smattering of great places for food and coffee too. It's just out of the city, but it's a world of its own. This ride stays away from the high traffic roads. It finds the gravel gems and the out-of-the-way tracks. There are a few fun downhills. A mountain bike or a fat-tyre gravel bike will give you the best chance to enjoy these, but it could be done with some narrower gravel tyres too (you'll just be a bit slower). Go ahead. Enjoy.

To read a personal narrative of this bike ride, check out my story published on Cycling Tips: A ride of loss, love and longing among the mountain ash.

Note: at 11.8km there is a very steep and rocky downhill. You will need a mountain bike and some skill to get down. To avoid this join Ridge Road, go down hill and rejoin the route only a kilometre or less further on.

Note: in June 2021 storms caused widespread damage in the Dandenongs. Visit Parks Victoria to check any changes of conditions.

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ATTRACTIONS

Too many to list! Visit this link to view tourist information.

ACCOMMODATION/CAMPING

Visit Melbourne website (Dandenong Ranges accommodation)

WHEN

Any time of year, although it is often very wet and cold. In winter it snows sometimes. But it can also be very hot in summer, so be aware of fire danger before you go: https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

GETTING THERE

The start point is a short road ride from Boronia train station. Visit Metro Trains for timetables.

OTHER RIDES LIKE THIS ONE

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Length: 155km

Difficulty: moderate/hard

Terrain: mixture of hills and flat

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Mountain Ash and Hydro Power
Mountain Ash and Hydro Power

Where: Yarra Ranges, central Victoria

Length: 101km

Difficulty: moderate

Terrain: undulating, with one big descent and one big climb. Moderate gradients.

Surface: mostly well-groomed gravel. About 10km of rougher track. Short section of sealed road. Can be done on a gravel bike, but that 10km would be a bit rough. A mountain bike would be easier.

What: plenty of beautiful, tall mountain ash forest with many ferns. Crystal clear rivers. One of the better free camping spots around. One very long and satisfying descent. Historical areas. Victoria’s tallest tree.

Le Tour de 'Nong
Le Tour de 'Nong

Where: Dandenong Ranges, just outside of Melbourne

Length: 36km

Difficulty: easy

Terrain: hilly, but no huge climbs

Surface: well made gravel, some rougher tracks. One steep rocky downhill which can be easily avoided. Recommended XC mountain bike or gravel bike with wide tyres.

What: picturesque rainforest, fun tracks and descents, cafes and eateries

The ABC: Ada-Bunyip Chronicle
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Where: Bunyip State Park, Yarra Ranges, Yarra Valley. This ride takes in much of the area of the proposed Great Forest National Park.

Length: 169km

Difficulty: hard

Terrain: very hilly until the Warby Rail Trail

Surface: almost entirely unsealed. Rough sections. Mountain bike or big-tyred gravel-type bike recommended. The author tackled it on a fat bike.

What: amazing temperate rainforest, good climbs, fun descents, lookouts, wildlife, giant trees, wet and dry eucalypt forest, comfy campsites with fireplaces, a feeling of total isolation and a couple of logging coupes

Goldfields Track
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Where: Ballarat, Daylesford, Castlemaine, Bendigo—Central Victoria

Length: 202km

Difficulty: moderate/hard

Terrain: hilly

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Dargo High Plains
Dargo High Plains

Where: the high country, eastern Victoria

Length: 304km

Difficulty: hard

Terrain: very hilly

Surface: everything from sealed road to rocky/muddy tracks. Rough and steep sections. Can be done on a gravel-type bike, though some may prefer a MTB. Wide tyres will help. 

What: high mountains, pretty rural areas, beautiful forest, gourmet regions

Disclaimer: should you choose to cycle this route, you do so at your own risk. Although all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure its accuracy at the time of writing, Adventure Cycling Victoria cannot guarantee that the information herein is 100% correct. The information published is meant as a guide only, and should be combined with your own due diligence and planning. Adventure Cycling Victoria and its contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individuals following this route.