From Victoria’s high country to the south coast of Western Australia, these cycling holidays have gentle hills and few cars to contend with

Cycling is a great way to keep fit and active, with less wear and tear on the joints than jogging but all the benefits of a cardio workout and the bonus of exploring the countryside as you pedal.

Of course, it doesn’t always have to be hard work. Rail trails are dedicated cycling and walking paths on abandoned railway lines and are fairly gentle when it comes to uphill climbs – those old locomotives weren’t too good at hauling up steep hills.

Fitness tips: track cycling for beginners Read more

Rail trails are also vehicle-free, so you don’t have to worry about contending with high-speed traffic, apart from the occasional road crossing. They might be off-road but they are often sealed, or made with good gravel or compacted earth, so the riding is smooth.

If you really want to keep it easy, e-bikes (with a small battery-powered motor) and pedal-assisted bikes (sometimes called pedalecs, they have a motor that only works while you pedal) mean you can zip up hills without raising a sweat.

1. Gippsland rail trails, Victoria

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A rail trail near Bruthen in East Gippsland. Photograph: John O'Neill/Wikimedia

The Gippsland region has several rail trails along disused railway and tram corridors that wind their way through farmland and forests and across historic trestle bridges. The longest is the East Gippsland rail trail (94m) from Bairnsdale to the Snowy River at Orbost but, for those who fancy a shorter ride, the 25km Gippsland lakes discovery trail follows an old tramline through the Colquhoun state forest. It links the East Gippsland trail to Lakes Entrance and is a good one-day option; it’s mostly flat with just a couple of short, reasonably gentle, climbs. Most of the riding is on compacted gravel and there are several good picnic spots along the way, beside the very pretty Mississippi Creek.

2. Munda Biddi trail, Western Australia

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A giant tingle tree in the Walpole-Nornalup national park. Photograph: Hardie Grant Books

Munda Biddi is Nyoongar for “path through the forest” and this trail is a long-distance mountain-bike (and walking) journey that stretches 1,051km from Mundaring near Perth to Albany on the south coast, through towering jarrah, karri and tingle forests, native bush, across rolling farmlands and along the coast. Almost all of the trail is off-road on a mixture of gravel, dirt and sand tracks, with about a third on old railway formations, making it one of the world’s longest rail trails.

There are numerous entry and exits points accessible by car; if you did the whole thing you’d need three to four weeks. There are purpose-built camping shelters on the trail or you can stay in one of the 15 country towns along the way. Bike hire is also available at towns on the route.

Most riders tackle the trail in three- or four-day sections or on day-trips. The Munda Biddi Trail Foundation has a list of easier sections suitable for beginners and families, and, if you’d prefer to ride in a group, it also runs a series of events .

3. Murray to Mountains, Victoria

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Autumn foliage along the Murray to Mountains trail in the Victorian high country. Photograph: David Kirkland/Tourism Victoria

The Murray to Mountains rail trail is a 94km sealed off-road trail that follows the course of a former rail line through Beechworth, Myrtleford, Porepunkah and Bright in the Victorian high country.

It’s one of the longest rail trails in Australia and to do it all takes about three days. The beauty of it is that because it passes through so many towns you can pick and choose your sections, doing either a little or the lot. There’s a choice of hotels, motels, B&Bs or camping for the overnight stays.

The trail winds its way through fertile farmland, vineyards, small villages and historic country towns, past cellar doors, farmgate stalls (great for picnic provisions), old tobacco kilns and traces of the gold rush. Even though it’s in the alpine high country, most of the climbs and descents are gradual.

Highlights and detours along the way include the Rutherglen leg of the Pedal to Produce route (a mostly flat 9km from Rutherglen to a good swimming spot on the Murray River at Wahgunyah, past several wineries); wine, cheese and other gourmet goodies in Milawa; the 16km downhill stretch between historic Beechworth (one of Victoria’s best-preserved gold-rush towns, it’s home to 32 buildings classified by the National Trust and the jail where Ned Kelly once languished, as well as several acclaimed restaurants) and Everton Station; and the spectacular autumn colours in and around Bright. Bright also boasts several good restaurants – having cycled all that way, you’ve earned the right to indulge.

4. Riesling trail, South Australia

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Canola fields in the Clare Valley. Photograph: Hardie Grant Books



If you’ve never cycled a rail trail the 33km trail that winds through the Clare Valley, about a 90-minute drive north of Adelaide, is a great place to start. The first dedicated rail trail in South Australia, it follows a disused railway line that was established in 1860 and closed in 1983 between Auburn (the birthplace of the poet CJ Dennis of Sentimental Bloke fame) and the old Barinia siding at Stanley Flat, just north of Clare township. Just as popular with walkers as it is cyclists, the track is sealed.

The trail travels past many cellar doors and other visitor attractions, making it ideal for those wanting a leisurely ride with a distraction or two. The Clare is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions and all sorts of grapes are grown here, but the valley is best known for its crisp, dry riesling. The first vines were planted in 1842 by James Green, servant to pioneering settler John Horrocks. Since then the industry has grown and the Clare is now one of the best-producing wine regions in the country.

But the valley is not just about wine. There’s a rich architectural heritage, most of which remains, and the area has some great historical attractions – and a good splash of shopping at art galleries and antiques stores thrown in for good measure.

There are more than 30 wineries and cellar doors either on or near the trail, including the starting point at Auburn railway station building, which is now home to Mount Horrocks Wines, so there’s no shortage of places to stop. Skillagalee Winery and Restaurant is roughly halfway and serves delicious food inside a tiny 150-year-old Cornish miner’s cottage and on the terrace under the olive tree, overlooking the vineyard and Skilly Hills – and some of the best riesling in the valley. Sevenhill Winery, just a couple of kilometres further up the track, was founded in the mid-19th century by early Jesuit settlers and is another don’t-miss stop: it offers tastings and sales in the old monastery cellars, as well as tours of the underground cellar, museum, St Aloysius Church, historic cemetery, crypt and shrines.

The trail will take you around four and a half hours to complete if you are cycling (allow a full day if you plan to walk it). If you are after something a little shorter, there are three loop trails along the way for those who want to park and ride. Parking is available at Clare, Sevenhill, Watervale and Auburn. Bike hire is available at Clare and free trail maps are available from tourist information centres, or download one from South Australian Trails.

This is an edited extract from The Definitive Bucket List by Lee Atkinson published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $45

