At the end of the Goldfields - Bendigo

There are places to ride, and then there are riding destinations. Both give you the opportunity to spit dirt off of your back wheel, but a true riding destination offers more than just riding yahoos. A riding destination is somewhere that you can hang out for a long weekend and bring the family along. It’s a place where you can kick back with your mates to enjoy a delicious pub meal and some tasty craft beers after spending a long day in the saddle. It’s somewhere that encourages you to stay a little longer, to enjoy the cultural sights and sounds while soaking up the fresh country air.

Located just 90 minutes drive north of Melbourne you’ll find the ex-Gold Rush town of Bendigo. As far as definitions go, Bendigo isn’t just a place to ride; it’s a true riding destination.

Golden Singletrack in Bendigo

If you’re not familiar with Bendigo, you’ll likely be familiar with some of the town’s most successful cyclists. Bendigo has long been known for its high calibre of riding talent across the road, track and MTB disciplines, with riders such as Peta Mullens, Dan MacMunn, and Chris Hamilton calling the Victorian country town their home.

With a rich cycling heritage that extends back many years, it’s no surprise then that the riding culture in Bendigo is on par with some of the best riding destinations across Australia. The town is full of cyclists and mountain bikers across a wide range of ages, skill levels, and backgrounds. And when you first visit Bendigo, it’s no surprise as to why. The entire town is surrounded by bushland, with Box-Ironbark and Sclerophyll forests sprawling out in every direction as far as the eye can see.

The combination of gently rolling terrain and an enormous web of old moto trails and walking tracks has given birth to an extensive network of mountain bike trails, which anyone can explore. Along with newly developed hand-built singletrack, the Bendigo MTB Club estimates that there is now over 300km of trails to explore around the forests surrounding Bendigo.

Bendigo also forms the northern hub of the historic Goldfields Track, which is a 210km trail that begins in Ballarat and winds its way through old Gold Rush towns including Daylesford and Castlemaine. This 3-day mountain bike ride is recognised for its state significance, and it’s arguably one of the best multi-day rides in the country. Longer term, the Goldfields Track will serve as a link between 5 mountain bike parks, with the Spring Gully MTB Park forming the end point in Bendigo.

Getting There

Thanks to the new Calder Freeway, Bendigo is now within an easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne. If you’re flying into Melbourne airport, that drive shortens to just over an hour. Better yet, ditch the car entirely and catch the V-Line train from Melbourne, which offers bicycle-specific portage. A return trip will cost you $30-$40.

Along the way you’ll pass several other great riding locations in the Goldfields region, including Woodend and Castlemaine. This means there are plenty of side-adventures on offer for your trip to Bendigo. The Goldfields region is famous for its cultural history, art galleries, wineries, and breweries, with some of the country’s best cider coming from Harcourt.

What To Expect

The riding in Bendigo is typically fast, rocky and dry. You can certainly ride the trails on any bike, but a full suspension 29er is ideal for negotiating the rocks. Tubeless is a must, and lightweight sidewalls are a no-no.

You won’t find too many big climbs, but there are some pinches that can get steep and techy for those who are looking for a rewarding challenge. Washed out and rutted fireroads make for fast and loose descending that’ll have your inner hooligan coming out. Much of the meandering singletrack follows old watercourses and historic mining infrastructure, making for scenic riding.

If you’re into gravel grinding or bike packing, it’s also worth noting that there is an enormous array of dirt roads, 4WD tracks and campgrounds to explore through the forests surrounding Bendigo.

Best Ride

Mountain biking in Bendigo is a bit of a ‘choose your own adventure’ type gig, but the best place to start is at the Green Loop in Spring Gully. Located at the end of Wattle Drive just opposite the One Tree Hill Pub, the Green Loop forms the main trailhead, and is an ideal spot to park the car and begin your ride.

Follow the trails deeper into the Spring Gully trail network and you’ll find yourself riding along parts of the course used for the Golden Triangle Epic, which is a truly superb 50km loop that will take you 2-4 hours to complete.

It’s worth noting that the Bendigo MTB Club is currently working on a Master Plan to further develop the Spring Gully Trail Network with more world-class trails. The plan is to tie this network into the Goldfields Track, which spells out big things for Bendigo and the wider region in years to come.

Local Knowledge

The active Bendigo MTB Club hosts a range of events and social rides all throughout the year, and their website (MTBBendigo.com) is your ideal point of contact for advice on where to ride. If you time your visit accordingly, why not take advantage of a range of skills clinics that the club offers?

There are also 5 different bike shops in Bendigo, all of which will offer advice on where to ride and information on shop/social rides that anyone can partake in.

When To Go

A big reason for mountain bike’s accessibility in Bendigo is that the trails are rideable all year round. In fact, the trails are typically in better condition through winter when the rain has had the chance to pack down some of the dust. It very rarely gets muddy here.

For a variety of reasons though, spring and autumn are the best times of year to visit Bendigo. The native bush bursts into colour, and the riding temperatures are ideal.

While In The Area

Much of Bendigo’s history is owed to the Goldrush Era, when tens of thousands of people migrated to Australia in search of their own personal fortune. You can take a tour of the goldmine, or check out the Chinese Museum that pays homage to the many immigrants who travelled on foot from South Australia to Bendigo via the Goldfields Track.

Bendigo’s CBD is also home to some of the best kept examples of Victorian era architecture, with historical buildings such as the old post office and the Shamrock Hotel offering a glimpse into the city’s wealthy past. Other historical nuggets include the Bendigo Woolen Mills and Bendigo Pottery, which recently celebrated its 150^th birthday. Speaking of art, the Bendigo Art Gallery has earned a reputation for being one of the best in the country, and it’s a peaceful place to spend a morning perusing various exhibitions.

Hotel Shamrock

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there’s also a thriving foodie culture in Bendigo, with cosmopolitan-style cafes and restaurants popping up all over town.

For breakfast or a lunch stop, you must check out the Old Green Bean café. Excellent food that’s surprisingly good value, and they’ve got ripper coffee too. Another great coffee spot is Get Naked Espresso, which will satisfy even the most picky caffeine lovers out there.

The pub culture in Bendigo is also one of a kind, and there’s certainly no shortage of places for an after-ride thirst quencher. Our favourites include the Cambrian, the Golden Vine, and the Brougham Arms; all of which offer top-notch food and an excellent beer range. If you’re into craft beer, the Goldmine houses one of the best beer gardens in Australia, while the newly opened Handlebar offers up a more contemporary outdoors area with an eclectic selection of brews. And while in town, you must try the local Brookes Brewery beer.

Regular Events

The Bendigo MTB Club hosts two major events each year: the Golden Triangle Epic in April, and the Bendigo 6-Hour in September. Both events attract well over 300 riders from all around Victoria and are fantastically well-run by the club, with all proceeds going straight back into local trail development and maintenance. Over summer, they also host a dirt crit series on every 2^nd Tuesday night.

Accommodation

Depending on your flavour, there are a huge number of motels, hotels, and campgrounds for you to stay in during your trip to Bendigo. If you’re on your bike, it takes just 30 minutes to ride from one side of town to the other, so don’t fret if your accommodation isn’t right in the CBD. And with many heritage buildings around town, there is also a plethora of period-style B&B’s and cottages available for those looking for a more authentic stay.

Photographers: Timothy Arch & Jason Tavener