Easily accessible and with a delightful destination, Jon Miller enjoys a day’s riding from Geelong to Queenscliff.
Beautiful native grasses, picnic shelters, information boards at former station sites, smooth bitumen paths – I’m pleasantly surprised. The Bellarine Rail Trail has come a long way from the basic facilities I remember the last time I was here.
The train from Melbourne is very direct, going through to South Geelong and saving my partner Fiona and I the effort of picking our way through the streets of the city to the start of the trail. Instead, it’s an easy pedal along Carr Street, running parallel to the railway line, straight over Swanston Street to the roundabout at the junction of Breakwater Road, and we are ready to begin.
My memory of this trail is of rutted gravel with lots of weeds, so the smooth bitumen surface that greets us is a welcome sight. It’s very easy to ride on, and the slight downhill gradient helps.
Lots of mulch has been spread beside the trail, and newly planted trees and shrubs are establishing themselves, attracting birdlife. The Friends of the Bellarine Rail Trail volunteers have obviously been very busy. This ride will develop into a very special place as the number and varieties of birds increase with the growing vegetation.
After about 5km, we cross the Bellarine Highway and the trail becomes gravel. It is still a very good surface and my touring bike handles it with ease; likewise, Fiona’s mountain bike has no trouble. There are less road crossings now so we have more time to chat.
After another couple of kilometres, the trail becomes bitumen again and starts to climb to Leopold. It’s not much of an incline, but enough to separate me from Fiona. I wait at the top admiring the new toilets and picnic shelter. There are views over Corio Bay, and apparently, on a very clear day, as far as the You Yangs.
The trail is flatter as it continues to Drysdale, but is still slightly uphill. We are glad to reach the half-way point at Drysdale station, stopping for a breather and filling our water bottles. There is a steam train that runs regularly between Drysdale and Queenscliff, and a small kiosk and museum at the station, but this is only open when the train is running.
It is mostly downhill from Drysdale into Queenscliff, and we fly along trough open farmland. The heat starts to take its toll and we are grateful for the shade provided by the melaleuca trees. Upon reaching Point Lonsdale, the trail is on-road for a kilometre. The sea breeze coming off Swan Bay cools and lifts the spirits. We spy pelicans, herons, spoonbills and gulls in the Swan Bay saltmarsh.
The final section of the trail follows the shore around Swan Bay to Queenscliff station. We leave it before then, and head through the historic town of Queenscliff with its magnificent streetscapes and grand Victorian-era buildings. Fiona, still quite new to cycling, has an infectious sense of achievement. I think back over the day: the scenery was very pretty, the riding enjoyable and relaxing, but the big standout in my mind is the huge improvements made to the trail. This is a work in progress and the trail can only get better.
Need to know
Kind of bike: Mountain bike or touring bike
Distance: 32.5km
Scenery: Coastal, native flora
Key Attractions: Bellarine Peninsula Tourist Railway, historic Queenscliff
Overnight Stays: Queenscliff
Latest developments: For a link to the Bicycle Network Bellarine Rail Trail Development page click here
Useful sites:
Photos by Karen Graham