The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail is a sealed, off-road bicycle path situated in the Ovens Valley, North East Victoria, passing through some diverse and very scenic countryside, whether farmlands and natural bush east of Wangaratta, woodlands around Everton and Myrtleford, or in and around the country towns of Beechworth and Bright. There is much historical interest on offer also – the tobacco kilns near Porepunkah and Chinese diggings at Wandiligong, not to mention the early dwellings of the gold-rush years in Yackandandah.

Here’s a useful link:
https://www.ridehighcountry.com.au/rail-trails/murray-to-mountains/

If you have some time to stop en-route on your way to the Canberra tour, we have organised 3 days of cycling in this lovely region. We suggest Myrtleford as the ideal location for accommodation purposes as most of the rides will start from there. The organisers are staying at the Myrtleford Caravan Park situated at:

8 Lewis Avenue
MYRTLEFORD
Tel: 03 5752 1598
myrtlefordholidaypark.com.au

Here are the Rides on offer:

Ride No.1
Myrtleford to Wandiligong return
An out and back route from Myrtleford to Wandiligong (Wandi for short) passing through Porepunkah and Bright along the easy-to-ride M2MRT. The trail from Bright to Wandi (a total of 11km return) changes its name to the Bennetts Trail which is an easy, well-paved path running alongside Morses Creek. Wandi is known as the Nut Capital of Victoria because of the many walnut and chestnut trees that grow there. The Wandi Pub is temporarily closed.

One way is 36km – the total return distance is 72km.
The ride can be shortened by turning around at Porepunkah (25km one way, total return 50km) or Bright (30km one way, total return 60km) and simply returning along the M2MRT.

Meeting point in Myrtleford:
9am. Meet at Rayner Street car-park, on the corner of Queen Street, Myrtleford alongside the M2MRT.
GPS co-ordinates -36.560612, 146.726561

Refreshments and comfort-stop guide:
Porepunkah
Rail Trail Cafe – coffees, brunch, all-day breakfast – open 8am to 4.30pm
https://railtrailcafe.com.au
Toilets at Riverside Park alongside the M2MRT.

Bright
Beechworth Bakery, 5 Ireland Street, Bright
Gum Tree Pies, Bright, 2A Anderson Street, near corner Wood Street
Morses Creek Bakery, Bright, 2A Anderson Street, near corner Wood Street, next to Gum Tree Pies
Toilets on Burke Street (situated on the detour we’ll take into the town’s cafe centre)
Useful link:  https://www.visitbright.com.au/things-to-do/bike-riding/m2m-rail-trail/

Wandiligong
Toilets at Alpine Park (finish point) and Wandiligong Maze & Cafe (near the finish point)

Optional extra if time permits:
Bright to Harrietville
The Great Valley Trail project is a brand new 16-kilometre family-friendly shared trail, completing a 27 kilometre link between Harrietville and Bright, and extending the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to the base of the Alps.

Optional one way from Myrtleford to Harrietville if you wish to make your own car shuffle arrangements. Otherwise, see Ride No. 6 which is a separate day ride from Bright to Harrietville return, 27km one way, 54km return.

This is the Ride With GPS link for Ride No. 1:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43746901

Ride No. 2
Myrtleford to Everton Railway Station return 56km
An out-and-back route from Myrtleford to Everton Railway Station along the easy-to-ride M2MRT.
The total return distance is 56km (one way 28km).
The ride can be shortened by turning around at any time before the finish point, and simply returning along the M2MRT back to Myrtleford.

Meeting point in Myrtleford:
9am. Meet at Rayner Street car-park, on the corner of Queen Street, Myrtleford alongside the M2MRT.
GPS co-ordinates -36.560612, 146.726561

Refreshments and comfort-stop guide:
Toilets at Everton Railway Station alongside the M2MRT.
Limited food outlets at Everton Railway Station – suggest BYO snacks, lunch
This is the Ride With GPS link for Ride No, 2:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43746935

Ride No. 3
Beechworth to Yackandandah return 52km
An out-and-back ride from Beechworth to Yackandandah via Wooragee along the Beechworth-Yackandandah Rail Trail – one way 26km, return 52km.
75% sealed, 25% unsealed, 730m
https://www.exploreyackandandah.com.au

If you are staying in Myrtleford, this will require driving with your bike to Beechworth.
Beechworth is 27km from Myrtleford (a 25 minute drive along the Great Alpine Road B500 and Buckland Gap Road C524}.

Meeting point in Beechworth
9am. Meet at the car-park at Queen Victoria Park, access from High Street, Beechworth between Spring Creek Lane and Surrey Lane.
GPS co-ordinates -36.356568, 146.692541
There are toilets at the car park.

Refreshments and comfort-stop guide:
Toilets at the Visitor Centre and at Isaacs Park in Yackandandah
There are two highly acclaimed bakeries in the centre of town:
Beechworth Bakery, 20 High Street, Yackandandah and Gum Tree Pies, 10 High Street, Yackandandah

This is the Ride With GPS link for Ride No. 3:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43746954

Ride No. 4
Beechworth to Everton Station return 36km
A popular ride from Beechworth to Everton Railway Station along the M2MRT that takes you past bushland, vineyards and farms on a gentle downhill ride.
The only way back is uphill!

If you are staying in Myrtleford, this will require driving with your bike to Beechworth.
Beechworth is 27km from Myrtleford (a 25 minute drive along the Great Alpine Road B500 and Buckland Gap Road C524).

Meeting point in Beechworth
9am. Meet at the car-park at Queen Victoria Park, access from High Street, Beechworth between Spring Creek Lane and Surrey Lane.
GPS co-ordinates -36.356568, 146.692541
There are toilets at the car park.

Refreshments and comfort-stop guide:
Beechworth
Tiny of Beechworth, 14A Camp Street, Beechworth open for coffee from 7am for any pre-ride coffee-lovers!
Beechworth Bakery, 27 Camp Street, Beechworth is open from 6am
Public toilets in town centre on Ford Street next to the Visitor Centre

Toilets at Everton Railway Station alongside the M2MRT.
Limited food outlets at Everton Railway Station – suggest BYO snacks, lunch

This is the Ride With GPS link for Ride No. 4:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43746970

Ride No. 5
Myrtleford loop – 77km – via Everton, Beechworth and Stanley 964m
A lengthy but scenic ride.
It uses the M2MRT, bypassing Everton and up to Beechworth for a lunch-stop.
The undulating road to the picturesque village of Stanley incorporates a short stretch on the Indigo Epic Mountain Bike trail and a mix of gravel and sealed roads, boasting beautiful vistas of apple, nut and olive orchards that span the hills, and the final home stretch to Myrtleford is all downhill!

Meeting point (and finish point) in Myrtleford:
9am. Meet at Rayner Street car-park, on the corner of Queen Street, Myrtleford alongside the M2MRT.
GPS co-ordinates -36.560612, 146.726561

Refreshments and comfort-stop guide:
Beechworth
Tiny of Beechworth, 14A Camp Street, Beechworth open for coffee from 7am for any pre-ride coffee-lovers!
Beechworth Bakery, 27 Camp Street, Beechworth is open from 6am
Public toilets in town centre on Ford Street next to the Visitor Centre

Stanley
Stanley Pub – in the centre of town, or a short detour to Hillsborough Quality Nuts, 105 Mt Stanley Road (the Ride With GPS link includes this detour)
Public toilets in the town centre

This is the Ride With GPS link for Ride No. 5:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43746982

Ride No. 6
Bright to Harrietville – gentle uphill 27km one way (327m) and 54km downhill return
Cycling the newly constructed Great Valley Trail (GVT) which basically extends the M2MRT to the base of the Alps!

If you are staying in Myrtleford, this will require driving with your bike to Bright.
Bright is 30km from Myrtleford (a 25 minute drive along the Great Alpine Road B500).

Meeting point (and finish point) in Bright
9am
Car park at Centenary Park, Mountbatten Avenue, Bright – opposite Memorial Gardens

Facilities in Bright
Beechworth Bakery, 5 Ireland Street, Bright
Gum Tree Pies, Bright, 2A Anderson Street, near corner Wood Street
Morses Creek Bakery, Bright, 2A Anderson Street, near corner Wood Street, next to Gum Tree Pies
Toilets at Centenary Park
Useful link:  https://www.visitbright.com.au/things-to-do/bike-riding/m2m-rail-trail/

Facilities in Harrietville
Bella’s Cafe, Harrietville, 231 Great Alpine Road, Harrietville
HV Kitchen, 195 Great Alpine Road, Harrietville
Toilets at Pioneer Park

This is the RidewGPS link for Ride No. 6:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43746987

For the more adventurous!
A separate ride option from Beechworth for the more adventurous:
The brand new (opened in March 2023) Indigo Epic Mountain Bike Trail is a figure-of-eight loop between Beechworth and Yackandandah, and offers single tracks and flow descents:
https://www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au/See-and-do/Visitors-to-our-Shire/Indigo-Epic-Trail
https://www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au/See-and-do/Visitors-to-our-Shire/Indigo-Epic-Trail/Indigo-Epic-Trail-Map

Please email Ros Miles on rosalind97miles@gmail.com to register your interest in the tour.