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| Kiewa Valley at Gundowring with the Alps in the background |
Route: Ebden, Huon, Red Bluff, Gundowring, Gundowring Upper, Coral Bank, Tawonga, Mount Beauty.
Distance: 74km
The second day begins cycling along Lake Hume. Continue along the rail trail until it joins the B400 again near Huon. Here the trail ends and cyclists must again join the road. However, it takes little traffic.
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| Lake Hume from rail trail |
At Red Bluff it is time to leave Lake Hume and enter the Kiewa River Valley. There are two roads which run most of the length of the valley. The road on the western side of the river (the Kiewa Valley Highway) takes heavier and faster traffic, so the road on the eastern side is preferred. Apart from the short but sharp ascent (followed by descent) about 12km south of Gundowring the road is flat or gently undulating. There is a pleasant picnic spot at Coral Bank (tables, barbecues), next to the caravan park and opposite the river, which makes a great place to stop for lunch. One may also like to visit the winery (detour) and alpaca farm in the stretch after Coral Bank.
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| Gundowring Road |
8km after Coral Bank, the road on the eastern side of the river ends and one is forced to join the Kiewa Valley Highway. The township of Tawonga, which has a caravan park, petrol station and general store, is encountered 6km later and marks the first place in today's ride where food supplies may be obtained. The Victorian Alps now loom large in the background and one can see Mount Bogong which, standing at 1986m above sea level, is Victoria's highest mountain. Either continue along the highway or take the longer (but quieter and probably flatter) back route to Mount Beauty. See my Google map for details.
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| Mount Beauty |
Mount Beauty sits at the foot of Mount Bogong and is a thriving tourist village when the ski fields are open in winter. It has a bicycle shop, bakeries, cafes, restaurants and a reasonable supermarket. The caravan park is situated on the western side of the Kiewa River and gives campsite views of Mount Bogong.
© 2008 Robert Taggart. Last updated 19 November 2008.