SWANPOOL Strathbogie TATONG Violet Town CINEMA Long Weekend CAMPING TOUR

Long weekend in SWANPOOL, starting and finishing in VIOLET TOWN. Two nights at the Albert Heaney Oval Reserve. $15 per night ($30 payable by CASH at the venue).

For self-catering, the pavilion at the reserve has a kitchen with fridges, sinks, microwave, toasters, sandwich press, urns, kettles, electric frypans, cookware, crockery, cutlery & utensils (see pic 19). Unfortunately there is NO functioning stove, but there is a portable gas BBQ we can use.

The main dining area has tables, chairs, heating, TV, internet, a pool table, and plenty of floor space to sleep on. There are separate male & female toilets & showers, and a change room you could also sleep in.

Outside, close to the pavilion, there are a few large flat, grassy areas you could pitch a tent on, including the oval itself (see pics 17 & 18).

BYO tent, sleep mat, sleeping bag etc. & camp stove if you think you need it.

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

Early ALBURY (7:07am) train from SOUTHERN CROSS (reservations recommended). Limited spaces for “safely stowing” 9 bikes on this Velocity service are on a ‘first in-first served’ basis - arrive early and talk to the conductor (the next service isn’t till 12:04pm). 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 the 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 to SWANPOOL (40km)….

**https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55169831**

Please bring front and rear functional lights for your bikes as it could be getting dark before we reach Swanpool.

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

**https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55169920**

The Reserve Commitee are kindly putting on a home-made vegetable SOUP (gluten-free) with local sourdough BREAD on the Saturday evening for when we get there @ $10 per head, cash.

The nearby licensed SWANPOOL Roadhouse & General Store is open for takeaway food orders till 7pm, and supplies till 8 (also on Sunday 6/7pm - see pics 20 & 21). Orders close 1 hour before closing, and you can dine in there.

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

(36km, +300vm, 35% gravel, medium)

Morning tea at Antiques on Swanpool. Leisurely loop ride to TATONG TAVERN @ 1:00pm 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/55345768**

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.

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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. In it