Route - Traralgon to Mount Baw Baw via Tyers, Yallourn North, Neerim South (coffee), Neerim Junction (fuel including premium and the last before the Mount) and Noojee, Icy Creek, Tanjil Bren, Mount Baw Baw (delicious lunch at the Tavern) and return via Tanjil Bren, Icy Creek, Hill End, Willowgrove, Yallourn North and Tyers.

NB: If you want a more detailed summary of services available in the area travelled here you will find that in previous entries by entering Local rides in the Search section on the right hand side of the blog and hitting Go.

We had an EasyRiders ride coming up and wanted to do a route assessment so thought we’d check out the ride today. The weather was beautiful and it was a delight to be on the road. The fragrant smells of the harvest (fresh cut grass and newly bailed hay) were abundant and the tourists were few and far between so a great mix. Have included a few shots of some of the sights you can see along the way.



Lush ferns and tall trees wherever we looked, beautiful.



Moss covered rocks and ferny glades with and without water depending on where you find them.



Spectacular wildflowers and the higher the altitude we got to the more prolific they were.



A view from the deck at the Tavern back across the Latrobe Valley to the Strzelecki Ranges. We are told that on a clear day you can see the ocean..…though I suspect you may need binoculars.

Outward leg- via Rosedale, Willung (locality), Hiamdale (locality), Gormandale, Willung South (locality), Carrajung South (locality), Woodside, Greenmount (locality), Yarram.

We continued to experiment with cold weather bike gear which we can add to or subtract from so that we are assured of reasonable comfort on the USA / Canada trip later this year since it will be Autumn (Fall) over there and getting late by the time we get the bikes back to Chicago and in spite of it being a cold day we were toasty warm so I’d say we have our bike travel wardrobe finalised. I’ll let the pictures tell the story of the ride.



The coffee stop at the bakery at Rosedale. Note the wood carving of Ned Kelly out front, there are lots of other examples of this work inside.



A statue of Patrobas the 1915 Melbourne Cup winner which was a local horse. This stands in what used to be the Primary School playground but is now a community park and gathering area.



A glimpse of farm life looking down the valley which runs along Merriman Creek between Hiamdale and Gormandale.



An Aussie windmill near the intersection of the Carrajung Woodside Road and the South Gippsland Highway at Woodside.



An attractive setting . A property at the junction of the South Gippsland Highway and the Hyland Highway.



A view along the main street in Yarram. Our lunch spot is a little cafe just out of the frame to the right. They serve a yummy baked potato second only to the Gate Inn at Marshside (UK) and let me tell you that is high praise indeed.

Return leg – via Devon North, Calrossie (locality) Balook, Koornalla (locality), Traralgon South, Loy Yang (locality), Traralgon



A view from the roadside to the plantation covered hills as we head for the leafy glades of Tarra Valley.



An example of some of the tall timbers and ferns in Tarra Valley. No picture can do it justice. Like the sign encouraging responsible travel!



Late afternoon as we descend back to the valley floor from Balook.



A glimpse of continuing work on restoration of the timber plantations post bushfires….oh and yes a rocket as well….wonder who took that shot!



The entry to the little village of Traralgon South.



Looking across to Loy Yang Power Station from the Miners View lookout.

Tips to remember for the roads we covered:
The roads we travelled on today ranged from lots of corners through the hills and the closer we got to the coast the flatter the land was and the straighter the roads. The surface was good and the scenery changed back and forth from native bush with some small pockets of temperate rainforest to plantation timber and beef and dairy cattle country.

The exception to this is the Tarra Valley Road from Devon North to the Grand Ridge Road just before Balook which runs through the Tarra Valley park and the views are spectacular but the road is very narrow and winding with a number of one lane bridges and road width which barely supports cars beside one another. This time of year also (winter) the majority of it though sealed was wet and slippery with large quantities of sodden bark and leaf litter across the surface so you need to ride accordingly.

From Balook back down to Traralgon South the road surface has been badly affected from the Gippsland fires a few years ago as well as increased logging traffic to salvage as much of the burnt timber as possible and the surface has its challenges but is generally well signed.

Services available:
Large towns:
Traralgon and Yarram
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded, most BH but also some 24hr
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel, B&B and Caravan Park and Camping options and maybe some Serviced Apartments
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
Food and General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices, small to large

Small towns:
Rosedale
Fuel: Limited and often BH only if any at all
Accommodation: Limited Hotel, B&B and Caravan Park and Camping options
Food and General Store / Supermarket: Limited and not necessarily open on weekends

Small isolated Localities:
All the rest
Fuel: Not likely
Accommodation: If you’re lucky and have done your research
Food and General Store / Supermarket: Unlikely so bring your own

First leg via Rosedale, Stratford (for coffee), Stockdale (locality) to the Dargo Road via Beverley’s Road, Cobbannah (locality) Waterford (locality) to Dargo and lunch.

Since it was ANZAC Day today we decided to celebrate the freedom the armed forces have fought for on our behalf and the rest of our Nations citizens in the past and continue to do so and headed for Dargo which is a spectacular ride so to go there is also a sense of celebration so somehow seemed fitting for the day.



The Wool Store near Sale



A view up the River Avon amongst the poplars and willows as they start their Autumn show and the remaining bridge uprights from many years ago. Taken from the bridge on the Princes Highway heading into Stratford



Beverley’s Road winding through pine plantations is a delight to ride. Shame the photo doesn’t do it justice



A brief glimpse of a splash of colour beside the Wonnangatta River from the Waterford Bridge



A view of a Wonnangatta River flat



Heading down the hill to Dargo nestled at the foot of the hill to the left



Self-explanatory

Second leg back down the Dargo Road and Beverley’s Road to Briagolong via the Blue Pools then on to Boisdale, Maffra, Tinamba, Cowwarr, Toongabbie, Glengarry and home.



Blue Pools near Briagolong. The two divers had been down to 7meters and the water was still quite clear. Incredibly pretty. Will definitely go back another day earlier in the day so the sun is high in the sky and the pools aren’t in the shade



Boisdale Public Hall



A view down the main street of Maffra, a picturesque little town



Maffra Memorial Hall and Library



The Tinamba Hotel late in the day and a very nice Yamaha XVS 1100



Autumn tones in Tinamba

Tips to remember for the roads we covered:

The road from Stratford to the Dargo Road is beautiful to ride. The land is gently undulating for the majority of it with gentle sweeping corners. There are few advisory signs on this stretch which doesn’t matter for all but a couple of corners so bear that in mind as you approach any corners on a crest. The terrain along the Dargo Road is definitely steeper and a lot of the corners are tighter and more challenging but well signed with advisory signs. It is also worth remembering that heavy rain or road works will leave the potential of small loose gravel washes on corners so be aware of that. Oh and try not to run off the road looking at the spectacular scenery!

Services available:
Large towns:
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded, most BH but also some 24hr
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel, B&B and Caravan Park and Camping options and maybe some Serviced Apartments
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices, small to large

Small towns:
Fuel: Limited and often BH only if any at all
Accommodation: Limited Hotel, B&B and Caravan Park and Camping options
Food and General Store / Supermarket: Limited and not necessarily open on weekends

Small isolated Localities:
Fuel: Not likely
Accommodation: If you’re lucky and have done your research
Food and General Store / Supermarket: Unlikely so bring your own

We felt like a ride and the sky to the south and west looked unbelievably black so we decided we wanted a bit more comfort than that and headed east for Licola. We hadn’t been there since the extensive fires the region had experienced a few weeks ago and we were shocked at the extent of the damage.



The first glimpse towards the ranges. A combination of black, rust and the beginnings of green.

The last big fires up here some years ago were followed by unseasonal rain and flooding washing huge amounts of loose soil off the hills and into rivers. Really destructive.

We rode straight through to Licola and took some photos on the way back. Somewhat an overstatement (not very) what wasn’t burnt in the last fires, and a big percentage of the regrowth as well as a lot more than that has been burnt this time. There were thousands of acres burnt and no matter where we looked we could see the rusty colour of scorched foliage draped over hills with bare earth and ash underneath.



Looking out from the top of the CRB hill

We could also see the beginnings of a green tinge in some areas where there has obviously been rain since but the wind was ferocious on the way up and we could literally see dust and ash lifting off the top of hills in clouds. Way too gritty to have our visors open. Hope the high winds don’t get rid of too much ash though the wind made for a great spectacle of clouds at different levels moving in opposite directions. Impressive!



Rusty view as we head back from Licola



And looking back up the road with some signs of regeneration.



Rugged rocky faces scorched at best.



Autumn tone colours compliments of the fires plus some real colour!



Oh come on Norm, I wasn't taking that long to get some pics!



Had to get another shot at the Bellbird corner!

Tips to remember for the roads we covered:

The roads we travelled on were cambered well and good surface overall and well signed with targeted advisory speed signs. Once we started heading for the hills there were lots of tight corners and nice sweeping S bends. Many rock fall areas which of course were worse after the fires so needed to be wary of large rocks as well as gravel washes on some corners. A lot of tree debris in evidence today with the combination of strong wind and fire damage with huge amounts of bark leaves and broken branches in evidence.



Looking towards Lake Glenmaggie, recovery efforts underway.



Devastation beside restoration is the reality. Must be tough to tackle day after day.

After being surrounded by so much country and wooded areas which were fire affected it was almost an assault to my senses to travel through the intense green of irrigated crops in the Cowwarr region on our way home. One extreme to another.

Services available:

See the previous entry for this area, follow the link below:
http://blog.branstrans.com.au/index.php ... 217-105925

I treated myself to repeating the ride yesterday so have added some photos to give you a taste for the area so go back to the previous entry and check them out. Enjoy!

Travelling (via Morwell, Thorpdale, Mirboo North, Dumbalk, Meeniyan, Koonwarra, Inverloch, Wonthaggi, Dalyston, Kilcunda, Anderson, San Remo, Newhaven, Rhyll, Cowes) & return (via Newhaven, San Remo, Anderson, Kilcunda, Dalyston, Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Leongatha, Mirboo North, Morwell)

We set out on a club ride on Sunday with the Easy Riders Social Motorcycle Group (Traralgon) and then met up with some East Melbourne members at San Remo before heading to Rhyll for the best fish and chips I think we’ve ever had (Tides).



The first glimpse of some potato country in the midst of plantation timber and paddocks for beef cattle on the way to Thorpdale

We had a beautiful ride taking the long way there and striking off to Thorpdale as we headed for Mirboo North. The road from Thorpdale to the Mirboo North Road is a pearler and we travelled through beautifully maintained farming country with beef cattle and potato crops in evidence. The last part of the road before joining the Mirboo North road is a treat of gently cambered and aligned corners. Very nice!



Mirboo North is known for all sorts of quirky murals on the sides of buildings. This is a very creative one being a combination of mural and relief in the courtyard of the Bullock Dray Café (for obvious reasons)

The San Remo / Phillip Island region is a great place for a family holiday with all sorts of opportunities for swimming, fishing, surfing and other water sports and many other attractions both without cost and commercially available and huge choice of accommodation of all standards and a great range of prices. Lots of options at Wonthaggi and Inverloch also.



Moos at Meeniyan – a nice deck at the back was a good spot to sit in our bike gear and gave a good view of passing traffic

From Mirboo North we headed down the Meeniyan Mirboo North Road which is a lovely ride, a bit steep and winding amongst some spectacularly beautiful country and well maintained farm properties and gardens along the way and we had a welcome coffee at Moos of Meeniyan and sampled their delicious nougat. Superb!



The old rail bridge at Kilcunda now a footbridge but still a delight to glimpse the ocean through it as you pass



A view across to the Kilcunda Beach from the car park in front of the Kilcunda Pub. I have great memories of spending what seemed a long time with my aunt and uncle as a child exploring the rock pools at the base of the cliffs below where I was standing. Great memory!

The traffic increased the closer we got to Phillip Island as did the wind but we thankfully stayed dry in spite of predictions of rain.



The bridge from San Remo (Mainland) to Newhaven (Phillip Island). A couple of attractions not far over the bridge are 1. A Chocolate Factory on the RHS not far past the Visitors Information building and before the turn off to Churchill Island, and 2. The Vietnam Veterans’ Museum 1.6km past on the LHS



An obligatory shopping visit to Bikers Gear at Cowes



A view from the grassy shade beneath the pine trees on the water’s edge to the jetty at Cowes. The fish and chips in the little café are also delicious

The trip home through farming land through Leongatha is pretty as always and no matter where we looked throughout the ride we were spoilt for choice of picturesque farms and gardens and great sweeping views to the ocean and up into the foothills to the Strzelecki Ranges.



One of the lovely old buildings in Leongatha

Tips to remember for the roads we covered:

The roads are all sealed and overall well aligned with good camber. The sad reality however is that maintenance is not keeping up with progressive deterioration so there are sections which are literally falling apart. MOST of these are signed but we also came across some shocking examples which weren’t so be aware and ride accordingly. Again, these are farming (dairy) areas so large milk tankers are commonplace on roads as are livestock and other trucks.

Services available:

Large towns:

Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded, most BH but also some 24hr
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel, B&B and Caravan Park and Camping options and maybe some Serviced Apartments
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices, small to large

Small towns:

Fuel: Limited and often BH only if any at all
Accommodation: Limited Hotel, B&B and Caravan Park and Camping options
Food and General Store / Supermarket: Limited and not necessarily open on weekends

Small isolated Localities:

Accommodation: If you’re lucky and have done your research
Food and General Store / Supermarket: Unlikely so bring your own]

We headed off on our first ‘Group ride’ today having been invited along for a ride with members of the Traralgon Chapter of the Easyriders Social Motorcycle Club who were heading to Bairnsdale collecting a couple of riders from Stratford on the way then heading to Bairnsdale to meet with more riders who were planning to create a local chapter there.

We rode from Traralgon to Stratford on back roads of varying quality and width and enjoyed the changing scenery from flat dairying country to wooded hills and then fertile river flats with intensive market gardens.

From Bairnsdale we headed to Buchan through the pretty little Village of Bruthen and through farmland and National Park areas to Buchan known for its rugged high country farming, Caves and Limestone quarrying. Lots of different road surfaces, widths alignment and cambers so very enjoyable.



The line-up of nearly all the bikes at Buchan

The ride from Buchan to Orbost was a new road for us and wound through some spectacular country covered in golden grasses and eucalypt forest. It felt a long way from anywhere and was refreshing to be there. The biggest downer for riding with a group was that we didn’t have the freedom to stop for the picture stops we would normally have but awesome all the same. We saw an echidna some eagles and a massive goanna which was unfortunately dead on the road. A shame.



View across the flats to surrounding hills from Buchan – a sample of the hilly country we were to encounter on the way to Orbost

The temperature was quite a bit more comfortable up in the hills and by the time we threaded our way down to the river flats at Orbost the temperature had cooled down a bit so the ride down the Princes Highway to home was good. We hadn’t been to Lakes Entrance for ages as there is now a truck bypass so it was good to ride along the Esplanade and inhale the delicious sea salt smell and I have to confess it felt pretty good riding down the highway and into the towns as a group of around 20! We may just do a bit more of that. Ha ha.



The footbridge from the town to dunes with the Surf Lifesaving Club in the distance on the Main Beach over the dunes at Lakes Entrance

Tips to remember:

The roads to Stratford are through dairying areas so you are likely to encounter bulk milk tankers so make sure you (as in all of your body) sticks to your own side of the road, The good news is that a bit of patience and good straight stretches of road should see you past them without too much hold up.

The road from Buchan to Orbost is narrow and windy with some very tight corners (most signed well) and since the area has pebbly gravel if there has been rain you can expect unfriendly pebbly gravel washes across the road surface on corners so take care.

Services available:

Traralgon – 160kms east of Melbourne on the Princes Freeway
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel, Serviced Apartment, B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Glengarry – Small town
Food: Hotel and cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Toongabbie – Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Foods: General store / Cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Cowwarr – Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Food: Café and Gallery / Art space / Restaurant (Old Butter Factory) and Hotel including fine dining
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Heyfield – Small town
Fuel: Available – BH
Accommodation: Limited Hotel Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel, Café and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Small
Bike Shop: Service & parts – BH

Tinamba – Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Food: Café and Hotel
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Maffra - Small town
Fuel: Available – BH
Accommodation: Limited Hotel Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel, Café and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Small
Bike Shop: Service & parts - BH

Stratford – Small town
Fuel: Available BH.
Accommodation: Basic Hotel and Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Café, hotel, bakery and cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Bairnsdale – Large town / Small city
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel, Serviced Apartment, B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Wiseleigh – Locality only – No Services

Bruthen – Small town
Fuel: Available BH.
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Small café, bakery, restaurant and brewery
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Buchan – Small town
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Basic Hotel, Private rental and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel and small cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Orbost – Small town
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park options
Food: Small cafes and hotel
General Store / Supermarket: Small stores
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Newmerella – Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Basic Motel
General Store / Supermarket: Hot pies etc. at servo

Nowa Nowa – Small Settlement
Fuel: Available BH
General Store / Supermarket: Hot pies etc. at servo

Lakes Entrance – Small Town Permanant and Holiday residents
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple cafes, restaurants and hotels
General Store / Supermarket: Small to large stores

Kalimna – Small Settlement
Accommodation: - Hotel / Motel

Swan Reach - Small settlement – Limited Services
Accommodation: - Hotel / Motel and Caravan Park

Johnsonville – Small Settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: - Motel

Nicholson - Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel and cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Bairnsdale – (as above)

Stratford – (as above)

Sale (bypassed) - Large town
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Fulham – Locality only – No services

Rosedale - Small town
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Basic Hotel and Motel
Food: Hotel, café and bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Small

We headed off on one of our regular rides today and since the temperature was 40 + degrees we were grateful that as we gradually climbed into higher altitudes the temperature dropped a little.

This is a good ride. Mostly farmland around the Traralgon region but the further into the hills you climb this is replaced by largely natural bush with some plantations as well. The ride from Tyers to Rawson is a pretty ride and a comfortable one with lots of corners of varying curve and camber. Advisory speed signs on corners on this section are good. The road surface is mostly good with some sections deteriorating rapidly so concentration is needed in the shady areas so you can discern what is shade and what is dodgy road surface.

Once we left Rawson and turned into the Tyers Thomson Valley road the road continued to climb and the bush finally gave way to some temperate rain forest which even today was deliciously cool and moist to ride through. Beautiful!



The first glimpse through the trees to the dam wall

The view of the dam / lake as we rode across the wall is always spectacular and the water level is looking good. Once across the wall we discovered the road beyond was now sealed so we continued on from there and climbed steeply up to the intersection where we could turn left to Aberfeldy or right to Walhalla, both recommended for 4 wheel drive vehicles only so we turned around and came back.

There is picnic ground on the south side of the wall but we continued down the road to some of the rainforest area to stop for a refreshment break.



Time for a break and yes that is a stubby I’m drinking but it’s Ginger Beer so I was still riding with a .00 BAC

The remainder of the ride home on through Erica on the Moe Rawson Road is again a good ride with plenty of corners and well signed and by the time we turned off to head for Yallourn North on Purvis Road we had passed into farmland again and glimpsed views of the Strzelecki Ranges across the valley. The temperature became increasingly hot as we descended back down towards the valley and we were grateful to get home to the air conditioner but we are also really fortunate to have so many good rides so close to home.

Most of our ride today was accompanied by falling eucalypt leaves like large confetti. The rain has been so plentiful of recent times that the trees have really luxuriant leaf growth but the eucalypt forest is a survivor and it only takes a day or two of hot weather for the moisture to excess leaves to be cut off and leaves begin being shed. Makes a mess but looks great. Can also be slippery under the bike wheels once it rains!

Tips to remember:

Most of the roads in this vicinity have large logging trucks using them all year and milk tankers in the farming areas so make sure you (as in all of your body) sticks to your own side of the road.

The Tyers Thomson Valley Road and Moe Rawson Road have turn offs to Mt Baw Baw, Mt Erica and Mt St Gwinear so traffic can be heavy
and unpredictable in the snow season.

The temperate rainforest sections of the Tyers Thomson Valley Road towards Lake Thomson remains wet for most of the day in the cooler weather and can be icy in the winter but is well signed re ice. It is NOT well signed with advisory speed signs on corners so needs some respect.

Services available:

Traralgon – 160kms east of Melbourne on the Princes Freeway
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel, Serviced Apartment, B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Tyers – Small town
Fuel: Including Premium Unleaded 7 days BH
General Store / Supermarket: Small (in servo)

Rawson – Small settlement
Fuel: Available 7 days BH – ask at General Store
Accommodation: Hotel / Motel / Lodge & Caravan Park
Food: Hotel, Café, Bar & Bistro attached to the Caravan Park (The Stockyard – yum) Open for lunch and dinner Friday to Sunday and Public Holidays – favourite destination of motorbike clubs
General Store / Supermarket Small

Lake Thomson – Locality only – no services

Erica – Small settlement
Accommodation: Hotel / Motel
Food: Hotel & Cafe
General Store / Supermarket Small

Yallourn North – Small settlement
Food: Hotel
General Store / Supermarket Small

The ride out through Tyers and Yallourn North to the Moe Willowgrove Road down to the Mount Baw Baw Road and then on to Neerim South is one of our regular rides but we never cease to enjoy it. The farmland quickly gives way to forest and huge timbers and tree ferns and mountain streams. Always a cool shady place to ride on a hot day and an alternative route to see Norm Snr.

Noojee is a good stop for a coffee or a more substantial meal if you want and the Tool-shed is a favourite bar for many Melbourne riders as well as the Outpost being a fine dining option. Both good destinations.

After the 1939 bushfires which decimated the logging community the local service station apparently sold the most petrol in the state as it supplied the many logging trucks that at the time ran on petrol and were retrieving the burnt timber.

From there we headed for Powelltown and Yarra Junction then on to Warburton. This is a beautiful ride with big sweeping corners (some tight ones as well but well signed) and just an awesome experience of being in the great Australian bush. Cooler temperatures than being in the city or in lower altitudes but warmer on the valley floor than higher up the hills.



A memorial to the timber getting history of the Powelltown area with a timber tram in the foreground and the remains of a massive log beside the bikes

Once we hit Yarra Junction we headed along the Warburton Highway for Warburton and enjoyed following the Yarra River which is a galloping crystal clear mountain stream at this altitude unlike the slow moving muddy river which passes through Melbourne. This is a spectacularly beautiful valley but I wouldn’t be keen to be here on a total fire ban day as there are few options for getting out. The road is a great ride as it is all the way from Noojee.



The Yarra river behind the shops in Warburton which is clearly a popular swimming and picnic spot for the locals….amidst small voices telling how ‘freezing’ the water was…..hardly surprising as it starts close by in the mountains

After lunch we headed back again and struck off on the Nayook Powelltown Road to Neerim Junction to fuel up and get a cold drink (35 + degrees today) then on to Neerim South via the Main Neerim Road to see Norm Snr then struck off on Bloomfield Road to the Highway and on to Yarragon for another cold drink before we headed back home. MUCH hotter back down on the valley floor but a cool wind greeted us after Moe and then home. The ride up the highway is an easy one (duplicated from Nilma to Traralgon).



Part of the main street of Yarragon late in the day. We managed to get there just before the cafe shut so we got a hot chocolate and also a parking spot. Earlier in the day the street is usually full of cars and people

Tips to remember:

Most of the roads in this vicinity have large logging trucks using them all year as well as milk tankers so make sure you (as in all of your body) sticks to your own side of the road. This is a particular issue on the Moe Willowgrove Road down to the Mount Baw Baw Road where the road is narrow with sharp turns.

Heavy rainfall on the Moe Willowgrove Road has potential for gravel across the road surface on corners as well as large amounts of waters from natural springs flooding across the road. Can also be icy in winter.

The Mt Baw Baw Road has a couple of rock fall areas which are signed and more likely to be an issue in the wet weather. Wet, slippery and icy patches can be a challenge in the winter.

Services available:

Traralgon – 160kms east of Melbourne on the Princes Freeway
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel, Serviced Apartment, B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Tyers – Small town
Fuel: Including Premium Unleaded 7 days BH
General Store / Supermarket: Small (in servo)

Yallourn North – Small settlement
Food: Hotel
General Store / Supermarket Small

Willowgrove – Small settlement
Food: Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available
General Store / Supermarket Small

Hill End – Locality only – no services

Noojee – Small settlement
Accommodation: Basic hotel, B & B & Camping Ground
Food: Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available, café, bar and fine dining restaurant
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Piedmont – Locality only – no services

Powelltown – Small settlement
Food: Hotel

Gilderoy – Locality only – no services

Three Bridges – Locality only – no services

Gladysdale – Small settlement only – no services

Yarra Junction – Small town
Fuel: Big enough town to be available but not on main road so unsure
Accommodation: Limited Hotel B & B and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel, Café and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Reasonable size

Wesburn – Small settlement only
Food: Hotel

Millgrove – Small settlement only – no services
Accommodation: Guest house

Warburton – Small town
Fuel: Big enough town to be available but didn’t see it on the main road so unsure
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and B&B
Food: Hotel, Multiple Cafes and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Nayook – Small settlement only – no services

Neerim Junction – Small settlement
Fuel: Available including Premium Unleaded 7 days BH
Food: Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Neerim – Small settlement only – no services

Neerim South – Small town
Fuel: Available 5 ½ days BH
Food: Hotel, Café, Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Crossover – Locality only – no services

Nilma – Small settlement only – no services

Darnum – Small settlement
Fuel: Available 7 days BH
Food: Hotel, Café, Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available

Yarragon – Small settlement
Fuel: Available 7 days BH
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and B&B
Food: Hotel, Cafés and restaurant
General Store / Supermarket: Small
Other: Galleries and boutique shopping

Trafalgar – Small town
Fuel: Available 7 days BH
Accommodation: Hotel
Food: Hotel, Cafés
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large

Moe – Good sized town
Fuel: Available 7 days including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and B&B options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Small and large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Morwell – Large town
Fuel: Multiple including Premium Unleaded, 7 days and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

The quirky old Court House now Visitor Information Centre at Yarram

We headed from Traralgon to Yarram via the Hyland Highway connecting to the South Gippsland Highway then through Yarram and Alberton heading off the highway to the little seaside village of Port Albert. The road to Yarram is a combination of farmland, forest and plantation with lots of corners and a nice road. The closer to the coast you get the straighter the road gets.



Port Albert

Our return home was again through Alberton to Yarram where we struck out to Devon Meadows and onto Balook via the Tarra Valley Road where we experienced a magnificent example of the micro climate of a Temperate Rainforest which was very welcome since the temperature was 35 degrees centigrade. The road was very narrow (single lane at best for a lot of it) with many corners both exceptionally tight and less so but that was an advantage as the view was so spectacular to rush through it would have been somehow disrespectful. The massive tree ferns and many smaller varieties with rainforest trees and shrubs and mosses made a spectacular backdrop to the valleys and stream views we glimpsed and were immersed in along the way, just beautiful! NB: Very few advisory speed signs on corners and road needs to be respected.



One of the beautiful Tarra Valley walks

Once we climbed out of the valley we turned on to the Grand Ridge Road where the devastation of the Black Saturday fires was very evident. The last time we rode up here was soon after the roads had been re-opened when we rode slowly up to pay our respects to the magnificent surroundings we had ridden through many times and figured we would never see again in our lifetimes. That day the Grand Ridge Road ride was through an avenue of blackened tree trunks and bare black ground with huge black streamers of bark blowing in the wind. Today the vista was one of white and grey trunks looking like skeletons standing sentinel. It was good to see the amount of recovery evident, but also heart breaking to see how little.

Thankfully the Bulga National park (again temperate rainforest) was spared from the fire and is still there as also some of the bush in the vicinity, but most of the country we travelled in through on the Traralgon to Balook Road had been devastated and that was a combination of recovery and devastation. Very sad.



Recovery of the bush overseen by eucalypt skeletons on the Grand Ridge Road near Balook

The road surface on this stretch has deteriorated greatly being a combination of road surface cooked by fire and increased logging activity to salvage burnt timber. In spite of this it is a nice ride down to the valley floor with lots of corners to enjoy and good advisory signs re speeds on corners and some great views down to the valley floor without the trees to obscure the views. It was pretty hazy today so didn’t allow for a spectacular photo and I didn’t have the heart to photograph the damaged hillsides.

Tips to remember:

The Hyland Highway has many milk tankers and logging trucks as well as cars and boats on their way to and from favourite fishing spots so make sure you (all of your body) sticks to your own side of the road.

Services available:

Traralgon – 160kms east of Melbourne on the Princes Freeway
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel, Serviced Apartment, B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Loy Yang – Locality only / Power Station – no services

Gormandale – Small settlement
Food: Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Won Wron –Locality only, no services

Yarram – Medium sized town
Fuel: Including Premium Unleaded BH
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel, B &B and Caravan Park options
Food: Hotel, bakery and café options
General Store / Supermarket: Good sized supermarket
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Alberton – Small settlement
Fuel: Usually available – BH (currently being refurbished..…supposed to be re-opened by Christmas but not yet)
Accommodation: Basic hotel
Food: Hotel
General Store / Supermarket Small
Boat sales and service: Very neat and professional operation


Port Albert – Small settlement
Fuel: Available – BH
Accommodation: Basic hotel, motel holiday B & B & caravan parks
Food: Hotel, café, seafood restaurant and take-away fish and chips (yum)
General Store / Supermarket Small

Devon Meadows – Locality only – no services

Balook – Small settlement and National Park (Bulga Park)
Accommodation: Guest house and Caravan Park
Food: Cafe

Traralgon South – Small settlement
Fuel: Available – BH
General Store / Supermarket: Small

The first glimpse of the Great Dividing Range as we head along the Licola Road

We enjoy the run up to Licola with Norm having carted logs out of Breakfast Creek, Hickeys Creek and Seaton log dumps many years ago. The terrain from Glenmaggie up becomes increasingly rugged and rocky with central Australian red rock terrain and you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Flinders Ranges or further into Central Australia. We saw wonderful soaring eagles this trip which is a pretty common sight. The temperatures are generally warmer in the winter months though it is a mountain area so weather can change quickly especially further north than Licola.



A view from near the top of CRB (or so the hill was known by log truck drivers some 35 years ago) down across one of the many valleys on the Macalister River

Traralgon to the Seaton turn off just before Cowwarr runs through dairy, beef, wheat and sheep country and is largely flat to gently undulating. Once you turn off onto the Seaton Road you start heading for the hills and by the time you start moving through the Lake Glenmaggie area the road changes to an exercise of climbing up and down the mountains with multiple corners from really tight to big sweeping corners and everything in between all the way to Licola and beyond. Beautiful riding and the views down into the valleys of the Macalister River are awesome.

The ride back into Heyfield was enjoyable also and it was great to see so much water in Lake Glenmaggie.



The bridge at Lake Glenmaggie – good to see the water levels so high, there has only been a river under it for many years until the last year or so

From Heyfield back through Rosedale again passes through dairy and beef country and the roads are generally flat and straight then you encounter a bit more interesting terrain and bush and farmland as you head in and through Gormandale and then some native and pine forests amongst the farmland as you head back to Traralgon literally through the Loy Yang Power Station (an impressive view ) and home. (This area is an enjoyable afternoon coffee run to clear the cobwebs for us to and from Rosedale.)



A view from the lookout over the Open Cut to the Loy Yang Power Station....and a couple of good looking bikes of course!

Tips to remember for the Licola road:

One of the advantages of the commercial traffic is that the road surface is maintained pretty well and Advisory signs are pretty good.

The road is used by BIG log trucks for the majority of the year so you seriously need to plan to not just have your wheels on your side of the white line but you whole body as well.

The roads are reasonably narrow with little or no shoulder before it drops away to the valley floor and often where there is a shoulder it is likely covered in round pebbly gravel so not somewhere you want to end up.



A glimpse of one of the wider corners descending down towards the bottom of CRB. Good to see so much prolific growth after fires and flooding a few years ago when there was huge degradation of the soil

Given the rocky terrain rock falls are not uncommon though the most common areas are well signed.

If there have been heavy rains you will likely encounter washes of pebbly gravel across the road so cause for caution also.

Wouldn’t recommend night time riding in the area as there are many wombats, wallabies and kangaroos and often quite visible in surrounding paddocks from late afternoon on. Cattle grazing in the area are predominantly black and given there have been fires and floods in the area of recent times fences may not necessarily be as secure as they should be so another potential scary night time hazard if wandering.



The Licola General Store

Services available:

Traralgon – 160kms east of Melbourne on the Princes Freeway
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel, Serviced Apartment, B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Bike Shop: Service & parts - BH

Glengarry – Small town
Food: Hotel and cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Toongabbie – Small settlement
Fuel: Available – BH
Foods: General store / Cafe
General Store / Supermarket Small

Cowwarr – Small settlement (turn off onto the Seaton Road before the town)
Fuel: Available - BH
Food: Café and Gallery / Art space / Restaurant (Old Butter Factory)and Hotel including fine dining
General Store / Supermarket Small

Seaton – Locality only – no services


Licola – Small settlement
Fuel: Available – BH
Accommodation: Caravan Park and Camping sites
Food: Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Lake Glenmaggie – Locality only – no services
Accommodation: Caravan Park

Heyfield – Small town
Fuel: Available – BH
Accommodation: Limited Hotel Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel, Café and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket Small
Bike Shop: Service & parts - BH

Rosedale – Small town
Fuel: Available - BH
Accommodation: Basic Hotel and Motel
Food: Hotel, Café and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Hiamdale – Locality only – no services

Gormandale – Small settlement
Food: Small General Store – Hot pies, coffee & cold drinks available
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Loy Yang – Locality only / Power Station – no services

Enjoy the ride!