VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY CYCLING OR GOURMET GETAWAY


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Experience the very best of Victoria's High Country

Flexible dates for private groups (6 days / 5 nights)


This holiday is designed to be the perfect 6-day getaway. We’ve found the perfect balance for those who like to cycle and also for those who would rather visit markets, art galleries, cafes, restaurants & wineries.

Challenge yourself and ride all 5 iconic High-Country mountain summits of Mt Buller, Buffalo, Hotham, Falls Creek & Tawonga Gap or simply target 1 or 2 as we will offer multiple rides over the 6 days. One of the off the bike highlights will be the Italian cooking class at the Pizzini Winery located along the famous Prosecco road.






Overview of the Tour





We’ll take care of all transportation ex Melbourne including mechanical/on-road support so you can simply enjoy a hassle-free holiday. Our support vehicles are equipped with a dedicated road bike trailer and will also be stocked with basic cycling snacks, water, bananas, etc.

Ride Holidays cycling tours are achievable for anyone who rides a road bike as we offer multiple distances each day. Simply ride as far as you want as we will always have a support vehicle close by. Think of the best day you’ve ever had on a bike and times that by 6!

This tour, like all other Ride Holidays adventures, will provide a dedicated non-riders program with your own vehicle and guide. So why not joins us with your non-riding partner for an utterly unique experience.

The Flexi part of this trip is designed around you and 10 (minimum) friends travelling when you want to travel. Because it’s a Flexi tour, we are more than happy to customise the itinerary to match what you want to do. If you feel that 6 days is a little long, then we can simply reduce by a day, i.e. dropping the night in Mansfield and head directly to our Bright hotel.

Tell us what you want – we’ll make it happen!!












High Country Gourmet Cycle Tour Details


Tour Inclusions & Highlights

  • 1 night – Mansfield
  • 4 nights – Bright
  • All meals are included
  • Local guides who know every nook and cranny
  • Italian Cooking Class
  • Wine Tasting
  • All transport
  • Separate itinerary, vehicle and guide for Team Macchiato (non-riders) depending upon final numbers.  
  • This trip is designed around 10 clients and 4 staff. Our ratio is 1/5 so we would add staff to accommodate the final numbers.
  • Support vehicles and bike trailer
  • Cycling snacks on the road
  • GPS routes available for upload to personal devices
  • 2 vehicles to allow for flexibility. Bike trailer
  • Multiple ride options for varying abilities
  • RIDE Holidays cycle jersey and souvenir tour booklet

    The Tour Price Excludes

    • Airfares
    • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Travel insurance

      The Tour Cost

      • 6 days / 5 nights AUD $3,500 per person | NZD $3,650
      This is based on the minimum 10 people.
      • Want your own room? Single supplement AUD$450pp. | NZD$470

      The cost for non-riders is the same as for cyclists. We pay for a lot of your winery lunches, entry fees etc etc.

      Payment terms…

      Deposit & Balance terms and conditions. The initial deposit is $0 with a $250.00 per person to be paid 60 days prior to departure. Full payment will be due 30 days prior to departure. Our Covid guarantee - The most you will lose (including inside 30 days) is $250.00 which covers our fixed costs like the clothing etc. (which you would still receive)



        Tour Itinerary

        Day 1

        High Country, here we come.

        Welcome. Thank you for joining us. We’ll finalise the exact pickup location closer to departure as this will depend on when and where you want to be collected. That said, ideally, we want to be on the road by 10:30 am. (it’s a holiday after all). It’s a short two and half hours transfer to our first night's stay in Mansfield. While the team unload the bikes and luggage, you can relax as we’ve organised lunch at the motel.

        This afternoon your choices are:

        • Bring it on! 32KM Mount Buller ascent/ descent. Max distance 80KM with approx. 1200VM
        • Ease into this holiday? We will simply load up the vehicles and drive you to the base of the climb. Total distance 32KM with approx. 1100VM
        • Van it one way..Hop in the vehicles to the base of the climb. After climbing Buller we ride the 32KM back to the hotel. Total distance 64KM. This would be my recommendation.

        About the climb: from the tollbooth in Mirimbah to Mount Buller Village is Approx. 16 kilometres long with an average gradient of 6.2% of spectacular High-Country scenery. That said, make sure you leave something in the legs for the final kilometres aptly named Hell Corner as it’s the steepest part of this climb at a 13% gradient.

        Plenty of elite athletes train on this mountain. Fancy a crack at Simon Gerrans record? Hmmm, maybe on an e-bike? His 39 minutes and 50 seconds is yet to be beaten.

        Team Macchiato (non-riders) – While the cyclists head up the mountain, you are in for a real treat to kick off this trip. The High Country Maze, Gardens, Gallery & Café is a must see! A labour of love has transformed this into an amazing space complete with two established mazes, labyrinth, beautiful walled gardens, giant topiaries & sculptures, lawn games and of course, a gnome hunt! On the way back to Mansfield we will stop at Delatite winery. Renowned for producing one of the best Riesling in the area.

        Tonight, we have booked one of our favourite restaurants to officially welcome you all, formally introduce the team and discuss the next 24hours.

        / Accommodation: Mansfield
        / Meals Included: Lunch & Welcome Dinner


        Day 2

        A Taste of Italy

        Today, you're in for a real treat.. After a leisurely breakfast (holiday remember) we venture out along the King Valley “The Road to Prosecco”. In 2000, Otto Dal Zotto planted the first prosecco vines in the King Valley and not long after, the other King Valley winemakers followed suit – Brown Brothers, Chrismont, Pizzini and Sam Miranda. Luckily for us, in 2011 all five joined forces and created the prosecco road food and wine trail. 

        Team Mac- You make a beeline for the King Valley and explore the many magnificent wineries in this region such as Dal Zotto winery before meeting the riders at Pizzini wines.

        Our max ride distance today is a lumpy 70km along the Mansfield-Whitfield Rd to Cheshunt. The only time restrictions we have today is our cooking class. What better way to follow up a day of cycling through the King Valley with non-other than a private Italian cooking class. It will be a hands-on class with fool proof methods of making beautiful, silky pasta and pillow-like gnocchi before sitting down for an early dinner. Did I mention Prosecco? It truly will be a fantastic experience.

        After dinner, let's jump in the vans for the short trip to Bright. Our home for the next four nights.

        / Accommodation: Bright
        / Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

        Day 3

        Tawonga Gap & Falls Creek

        Staying in Bright, we're spoilt for choice. Today we ride one of the easier alpine climbs in the area - Falls Creek. Standing at 1750meters above sea level this climb offers breathtaking views over the 30kms from Mount Beauty. The distance makes it a daunting climb, but the 4% average gradient definitely takes the sting out of the legs. The climb can be broken into 3 sections, with the almost 6% for the first 10km, undulating middle, and the final 4km pinch from the tollbooth. You know you’re almost there when you turn the corner and see the village in the distance.

        But wait there’s more. If the 60KM up and down is not enough, why not ride from Bright over the iconic Tawonga Gap before descending into Mount Beauty, grab a caffeine hit then tackle the Falls Creek ascent. You can always catch the van home.

        If you choose to return by bike (highly recommended) then you easily rack up 120km and well over 2000 vertical meters for the day.

        We have plenty of options today and all roads finish at the Bright Brewery. Refresh and relax with a full-flavoured craft beer or two, either outside on the Hop Terrace looking over the riverside parkland. You have earned it!

        Team Mac:  Today you will follow the riders on part of today’s route up to the Tawonga Lookout where we will organise a Team photo before stopping in Mount Beauty. This small town lies alongside the Kiewa River and sits at the base of the Falls Creek ski resort. Several trail walks are on offer today along with a soap making workshop at Gather & Harvest. Their retail space is full of beautiful lifestyle products that are carefully sourced from small local produces through to ethical and sustainable makers across the globe.

        Tonight, let’s head back to the Brewery for dinner and discuss the program for the next couple of days.

        / Accommodation: Bright
        / Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

        Day 4

        The Munta! - Hotham

        Yep, this is the big one. Each year we bring a team of wannabe legends to Falls Creek for the Peaks Challenge. The complete course is 235KM and 4500Vertical meters in 13hours. Mt Hotham makes or breaks them.

        Luckily, we only have an out and back with no time limits so let’s take in the sights. Starting from Bright it’s a cruisy 22km before we arrive at the base of the climb. That’s when it starts going skyward. Sitting at 1862meters, some of the 18% pinches can feel a little unrelenting in parts but like Falls Creek the 4% average gradient is more than doable. The reward is the amazing views while ascending out of the head of the Ovens Valley and climbing up Victoria’s highest sealed road.

        Anyone wanting a little more KM’s and vertical can continue over the top and descend to Dinner Plain for a coffee or coke before returning. Just remember, you will need to climb back up to the village before the 30km descent. Like all days, we will have the van close.

        On our way back to Bright, we will make a small detour to the historic township of Wandiligong. Established in the 1850s during the Victorian gold rush and is home to the largest apple orchards in the Southern Hemisphere, not to forget the iconic Wandi Pub.

        Team Mac-  Today is about experiencing the best of what this area has on offer. Starting with one of the local farmer's markets in Myrtleford offering quality, freshly harvested produce. All money goes back to local farmers and regional Victorian communities. Next, onto Beechworth for a tour of the old Gaol. The Old Beechworth Gaol is one of Australia’s most significant post-European cultural sites. It's role in the chain of events that led to the execution of Ned Kelly is significant as it housed Ned’s mother, Ellen Kelly, many of the Kelly sympathisers and Ned himself, alongside his brother Dan and the rest of the Kelly gang. Lets explore more of Beechworth with a spot of retail therapy followed by lunch. Last stop is the Brown Brothers winery for a tasting. With its beautiful lush gardens, it’s one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine companies with experience in crafting wine since 1889.

        / Accommodation: Bright

        /Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner







        Day 5

        Save the best for last.

        The stunning ascent of Mt. Buffalo is among the most enjoyable Victorian High Country climbs. Approximately 21KM in length with an average gradient of 4.8%. Explorers Hume and Hovell named the mountain in 1824 because of its supposed resemblance to a reclining buffalo.

        Starting early from our hotel it’s a short 14km to the official start of the climb.  When you reach the crest and drop-down (a little) to the shore of Lake Catani, there’s only a little further to go. Riders would once have turned left and headed to the now-disused Chalet, but these days there’s ‘just a little bit more climbing up to the checkpoint at Dingo Dell where the cafe holds refreshments, and perhaps a little more breakfast.

        The entire climb – and descent – offer some absolutely stunning vistas across the Ovens Valley.

        Team Mac: You will set off again before the riders and head straight up to the top of Mount Buffalo for your guided history, heritage and environmental tour. At the summit of Buffalo, there is an amazing (45min return) walk up to the highest point…“The Horn”. You walk along the sheer wall of China before ascending on a stone shelter that’s perched atop of the cliff overlooking the magnificent views of the divided range. 

        This afternoon we will head to the award-winning winery Gapsted Wines for a long lunch to celebrate our achievements. Established in 1996 with six wine families coming together to produce some of the best Australian cool climate wines such as Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Fino and Barbera. You will have the chance to try them all with our private wine tasting over our long lunch. You can’t go past the High Country Tempranillo.  

        / Accommodation: Bright
        / Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch & Pizza Dinner (Hotel)

        Day 6

        Home James.

        After a short coffee ride around the Bright golf course, we will load up the vans and head back to Melbourne. We’ll work backwards from when you need to be back in Melbourne or at the airport.  

        Thank you for travelling with Ride Holidays. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

        Safe travels


        /Meals: Breakfast


         

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