West Gippsland to Dandenong Ranges 4-day Melbourne Cup Camping Tour

Melbourne Cup Long Weekend Camping Tour, Saturday November 1 to Tuesday November 4, 2025.

West Gippsland to Dandenong Ranges (WGDR).

Yarragon > Hill End > Crossover > Gilwell Park > Belgrave.

V/Line & Metro Train based. Point to point.

165 km / + 2500 vm / 55 % UNSEALED, over 4 days / 3 nights. Med / Intermediate.

Camping each night (BYO tent, bag, mat, etc) with hut / hall / kitchen & amenity access. Community-cooked dinner but no showers on first night. Pub / brewery lunch on second and fourth days. Self-catering most other meals. BYO cookwear, crockery and cutlery for third night.

Suitable for fatter-tyred, sturdy touring / gravel bikes with camp-gear and luggage carrying capability, and reasonably fit riders with some camp touring experience.

Ride with GPS links and photos form part of ride description.

RSVPs need to be confirmed by October 19.

MEET:

7:30am Saturday, November 1, 2025 @ Southern Cross Railway Station.

We’ll catch the 7:54am BAIRNSDALE Intercity service to Yarragon.

EDIT 17/09:
This service does NOT require reservation, as Yarragon is within the myki ticket zone - just tap on.

This service should allow at least 16 bicycles on board, with reports of up to 30 bikes sometimes allowed at ‘conductors discretion’. Being a long weekend, it will likely be a ‘first come, best dressed’ scenario, so don't be late.

EDIT 17/09:
In the case we can’t all get on this train with our bikes, the next 8:54am Traralgon Interurban service can be utilised. We will wait at Yarragon for this service to arrive at 10:41 for anyone on it, ready to ride straight away. In an extreme case, the even later 9:54am Traralgon service could be caught to Moe, then ride straight to Willow Grove to meet for lunch.

Day 1 (Saturday): YARRAGON > Willow Grove > Blue Rock Lake > HILL END

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52858943

41 km / 520 vm / 55% unsealed.

Arriving in Yarragon around 9:30am, we’ll look around town, brunch at Fozzigobble Cafe https://www.facebook.com/fozigobble and do any supply shopping at the Foodworks supermarket, then pedal-off at 10:45am after waiting for anyone to arrive on the next train.

At Willow Grove, take-away and further supplies can be obtained at the general store and Tipsy Heifer pub, before we head to nearby Blue Rock Lake picnic area for lunch https://swimmingholeheaven.com/vic-blue-rock.htm

A 9km climb after lunch brings us to our camp for the evening - the old Hill End School Community Centre. The small main building has a fully equipped kitchen, hot water, and a single toilet. A BBQ is also available. Unfortunately there are NO showers. The grounds are relatively flat and sheltered for camping, and there is a small amenities unit and shelter.

The local community will put on a 2-course dinner for us (menu to be confirmed), incorporated into our camping fee. I will be requiring any special dietary requests closer to the date.

Day 2 (Sunday): HILL END > Neerim State Forest > Neerim South > CROSSOVER

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52859166

38 km / 660 vm / 50% unsealed.

EDIT 17/09:
After breakfast (BYO) and packing up, we climb on road to Fumina South, descend steeply and roughly for 6 kms through forest to the Latrobe River, then climb to Neerim South for lunch at https://fiveacesbrewing.com.au/ .

The local IGA supermarket will be our last available grocery / food supply for the next day and a half, so we can spend a couple of relaxing hours in town stocking up. From here, it is only a short 6 km ride along the Neerim-Rokeby Trail https://www.visitgippsland.com.au/do-and-see/outdoor-activities/cycling/rokeby-to-neerim-rail-trail to our camp, via a view of the trestle bridge.

The Crossover School Hall has a fully equipped kitchen building. The hall has split system and wood fire, tables, chairs, and mini ‘kitchenette’. The toilet block has one gas hot water shower. There is plenty of open, flattish grass areas around the buildings for tents.

Day 3 (Monday): CROSSOVER > Labertouche > Bunyip State Park > GILWELL PARK

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52859460

56 km / 750 vm / 65% unsealed.

A longer ride day, with NO shops. You will need to have stocked up beforehand with ALL meal supplies and snacks for the day and Tuesday breakfast.

We start out on the Rokeby-Crossover Rail Trail, with another view of the bridge. Back roads through Labertouche, then along Bunyip River and Black Snake Creek valleys through State Park https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/bunyip-state-park#change-of-conditions . Picnic lunch at 40 km at Dyers Creek campground. Climbing towards Gembrook, before descending to Gilwell Park https://scoutadventures.com.au/locations/gilwell-park/camping-grounds .

We have a large, forest camp site booked, along with a nearby storm hut with a very basic camp kitchen, next to a modern toilet and shower block. The camp kitchen has a gas stove, an electric bbq hot plate, urn, fridge, kitchen sink with hot water, but NO crockery, cutlery OR cookware - you will need to bring all these with you.

If hot, there is a short 500m walk to a swimming lake.

Day 4 (Tuesday): GEMBROOK > Emerald Lake > Clematis > BELGRAVE

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52859654

30 km / 540 vm / 40% unsealed.

A short, but hilly day. We climb 6km to Gembrook township for coffee, then follow the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail https://outdoors.cardinia.vic.gov.au/places/eastern-dandenong-ranges-trail/ past Emerald Lake, and on to the Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis for lunch https://www.paradisevalleyhotel.com/ and a glimpse of Puffing Billy.

From here, it is only a short 10km on mainly quiet back roads to the finish at Belgrave, where we might be able to watch a certain horse race at a local bar, before catching a metro train (every 20 minutes) back to Melbourne.

4-day route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52544499

COST:
$60 inclusive of all three nights camp fees INCLUDING the community dinner on the Saturday night.

You will need to tap on and pay for your own train fares using a myki.

BYO:
Tent, sleeping bag, sleep, mat etc.
Cookware, cutlery and crockery (for Monday night).
A serviced, roadworthy bike able to sturdily carry camping gear on some rougher, unsealed and gravel roads.
Tools, tubes and spares to be able to maintain your own bike during trip. Myki card for trains. Clothes. Toiletries. Riding gear. Inclement weather gear. Food. A sense of fun and adventure….. Yourselves!

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

RIDE REGISTRATION FORM
Preferably it is to be completed when you RSVP, but no later than the day before the ride. It can be found at
https://www.mbtc.org.au/registration-forms-rider.

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

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.