Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club

SWANPOOL Strathbogie TATONG Violet Town CINEMA Long Weekend CAMPING TOUR

Sat, Jun 6 · 9:00 AM AEST

Violet Town Cafe, 37 Cowslip Street, Violet Town, AU

Long weekend in SWANPOOL, starting and finishing in VIOLET TOWN. Two nights at the Albert Heaney Oval, with camping, showers, toilets, kitchen, bbq, heating, TV, internet. BYO camping gear, or travel tent-free and sleep inside. $15 per night. I will have more details on the venue soon.

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

Early ALBURY (7:07am) train from SOUTHERN CROSS (reservations required). With no reservations for bikes, spaces for about 9 bikes on this 3-car Velocity service (maybe double that if it becomes a 6-car service) are on a ‘first in-first served’ basis - arrive early. Being a long weekend, I’d recommend car pooling to VIOLET TOWN (~180 km / 2 hr NE of Melbourne CBD) if you can.

Train arrives Violet Town @ 9:07am. Very limited time for a quick snack at Cafe.

PEDAL OFF @ 9:45 AM:

(70km, +1000/-1000vm, 25% gravel. HARD)

Scenic, HILLY ride from Violet Town up in to the ranges to STRATHBOGIE General Store for a well earned lunch break around 1pm (30km), then afternoon ride down to SWANPOOL (40km)….

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55169831

Shorter 50km / 750vm route, skipping Strathbogie here….

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55169920

The nearby SWANPOOL Roadhouse & General Store is open for takeaway food till 7pm, and supplies till 8 (also Sunday)

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

(33km, +270vm, 35% gravel, medium)

Morning tea at Antiques on Swanpool. Leisurely loop ride to TATONG TAVERN for lunch, possibly exploring enroute some of the old train line remains, Moorngag Cemetery, Samaria Rose Farm, Kooyonga Creek Winery, Old Butter Factory Antiques….

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55174248

Sunday evening sees a Double feature (2 films 1 price) on at the nearby SWANPOOL CINEMA:
5:00pm - ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ (2026 - M)
7:30pm - ‘The Amateur’ (2025 - M)

https://www.swanpoolcinema.com.au/cinema

MONDAY, JUNE 8, KINGS BIRTHDAY

(40km, +250vm, all sealed, medium)

Leave early after breakfast for shorter, flatter route back to VIOLET TOWN, then catch the early (2:23pm) train service back to Melbourne….

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55100387

RideWithGPS links and PHOTOS form part of ride description.

* * * * *****************

This ride is for MBTC club members only****.****************
To join our club check out https://www.mbtc.org.au/membership

RIDE REGISTRATION FORM
The form should be available within a day or two of the ride announcement. The link to the form will be seen in the event messages when you RSVP. Please complete it when available.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS
Functioning headlight & tail light
Spare tube and a puncture kit
MYKI card, ATM card/cash, basic tools, rain gear, food/snacks, etc

WATER
It's your responsibility to check the temperature and distance for the day and carry an appropriate amount of water. When riding outside suburbia remember that carrying too much water is better than not enough as the distances between water availability may vary greatly from the planned route due to road closures or other unforeseen circumstances.

Check Meetup for any changes the day before the ride, as the ride may be cancelled in the event of extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

If you cannot make it to the ride please change your RSVP to 'NO' as soon as you know but no later than the day before ride day.

The MBTC Refund & Cancellation Policy can be found here.

When I RSVP for this event/activity I acknowledge that the activity of bicycle riding can be dangerous and that I may suffer loss or injury or death and I agree that in consideration of my participation in any event conducted by the MBTC that I will absolve from liability the MBTC, its officers, and any event organiser from all claims, demands, or suits whether for personal injury or property loss suffered whether by negligence or breach of contract or otherwise, save for any right I may have pursuant to the Australian Consumer law. I acknowledge that photos may be taken of me during MBTC rides and social events, and that it is club practice that these photos will be published on Meetup, Facebook, and the club website. I will notify the ride leader and other riders if I wish to not be photographed. MBTC cannot guarantee that my photo will not be published and will promptly honour requests to be removed from MBTC controlled sites.

Discover our Southern Ways, social 30 km

Sun, Jun 14 · 11:00 AM AEST

Gardenvale Station, Martin Street Gardenvale, Melbourne, AU

We will meet at Gardenvale Railway Station , near the walkway leading to the platforms.

We will ride to my favorite Toastie and Deli shop in Moorabbin then head south to find our way to Mordialloc Station.

Any type of bicycle will do as it is on roads and cycle paths. Bring water .
Your bike needs to be in good order and wet weather gear if the forecast is for rain.

Ride route Gardenvale- Mordialloc

RIDE REGISTRATION FORM
The form should be available within a day or two of the ride announcement. The link to the form will be seen in the event messages when you RSVP. Please complete it when available.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS

Functioning headlight & tail light

Spare tube and a puncture kit

MYKI card, ATM card/cash, basic tools, rain gear, food/snacks, etc

WATER

It's your responsibility to check the temperature and distance for the day and carry an appropriate amount of water. When riding outside suburbia remember that carrying too much water is better than not enough as the distances between water availability may vary greatly from the planned route due to road closures or other unforeseen circumstances.

Check Meetup for any changes the day before the ride, as the ride may be cancelled in the event of extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

If you cannot make it to the ride please change your RSVP to 'NO' at least one day before the ride day.

This ride is for MBTC club members, or those who have not yet done 3 days riding with us. To join our club check out https://www.mbtc.org.au/membership

When I RSVP for this event/activity I acknowledge that the activity of bicycle riding can be dangerous and that I may suffer loss or injury or death and I agree that in consideration of my participation in any event conducted by the MBTC that I will absolve from liability the MBTC, its officers, and any event organiser from all claims, demands, or suits whether for personal injury or property loss suffered whether by negligence or breach of contract or otherwise, save for any right I may have pursuant to the Australian Consumer law. I acknowledge that photos may be taken of me during MBTC rides and social events, and that it is club practice that these photos will be published on Meetup, Facebook, and the club website. I will notify the ride leader and other riders if I wish to not be photographed. MBTC cannot guarantee that my photo will not be published and will promptly honour requests to be removed from MBTC controlled sites.

The Great Translyvanian Trail Social 32 km

Sun, Jul 19 · 11:00 AM AEST

Caulfield Station, Station Street, Caulfield, AU

We will meet at Caulfield Railway Station outside Platform 4.

We will ride to the highest Google rated Cafe that I've ever seen, a 4.9 now that's a bit scary !!

As this is a small cafe , I will limit the numbers to 8.
After the Transylvania Cafe lunch stop .

It's a short ride to Hallam Railway station.

Any type of bicycle will do as it is on roads and cycle paths. Bring water .
Your bike needs to be in good order and wet weather gear if the forecast is for rain.

Ride route Caulfield- Transylvania

RIDE REGISTRATION FORM
The form should be available within a day or two of the ride announcement. The link to the form will be seen in the event messages when you RSVP. Please complete it when available.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS

Functioning headlight & tail light

Spare tube and a puncture kit

MYKI card, ATM card/cash, basic tools, rain gear, food/snacks, etc

WATER

It's your responsibility to check the temperature and distance for the day and carry an appropriate amount of water. When riding outside suburbia remember that carrying too much water is better than not enough as the distances between water availability may vary greatly from the planned route due to road closures or other unforeseen circumstances.

Check Meetup for any changes the day before the ride, as the ride may be cancelled in the event of extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

If you cannot make it to the ride please change your RSVP to 'NO' at least one day before the ride day.

This ride is for MBTC club members, or those who have not yet done 3 days riding with us. To join our club check out https://www.mbtc.org.au/membership

When I RSVP for this event/activity I acknowledge that the activity of bicycle riding can be dangerous and that I may suffer loss or injury or death and I agree that in consideration of my participation in any event conducted by the MBTC that I will absolve from liability the MBTC, its officers, and any event organiser from all claims, demands, or suits whether for personal injury or property loss suffered whether by negligence or breach of contract or otherwise, save for any right I may have pursuant to the Australian Consumer law. I acknowledge that photos may be taken of me during MBTC rides and social events, and that it is club practice that these photos will be published on Meetup, Facebook, and the club website. I will notify the ride leader and other riders if I wish to not be photographed. MBTC cannot guarantee that my photo will not be published and will promptly honour requests to be removed from MBTC controlled sites.