Recently we had the pleasure of discovering the spectacular region of Baw Baw Shire with its beautiful natural landscapes, wilderness attractions and historic townships whilst conducting a study for the Shire to help them better understand the cycling needs of the region, use of existing trails and facilities and the opportunities for developing cycling infrastructure.
Baw Baw is located less than an hour drive from Melbourne in the heart of West Gippsland and is bounded by the Great Dividing Range to the north and the Strzelecki Ranges to the south. Anyone visiting Baw Baw can indulge their senses with anything from arts and culture, to leisure and tours, natural attractions and heritage and everything in between.
One of Baw Baw’s key attractions is its picturesque, challenging and relatively peaceful roads making it a leading destination for the cycling community of all ages and abilities. The Baw Baw Shire has a plethora of cycling facilities, events and programs and is home of the Warragul Cycling Club at Logan Park, the Two Town Trail linking Drouin with Warragul, the Rokeby to Neerim Rail Trail, the Erica Mountain Bike Trails, and numerous road, gravel and informal riding routes throughout the Shire. It also hosts a number of major events including the Baw Baw Cycling Classic and Mt Baw Baw is part of the Seven Peaks Challenge.
Erica is the gateway to the Walhalla and Mountain Rivers region and a destination in its own right. The town is popular with those who enjoy nature and offers an abundance of 4WDing, camping, bushwalking and is home of the Erica Mountain Bike Park. The Erica Mountain Bike Park includes Gippsland’s premier cross-country mountain bike trails and offers a range of tracks varying from beginner through to advanced. The Bike Park is split into an eastern and a western network of trails with the eastern network featuring two intermediate, three difficult and one extreme trail and the western network featuring two intermediate and one difficult trail. The Erica Mountain Bike Park has recently undergone a new signage upgrade and a new connection trail has been established to connect the Erica Recreation Reserve with the western trail network. The Walhalla Rail Trail and Tyers Rail Trail (both easy rides) also both run through the centre of this area.
The Two Town Trail from Drouin to Warragul is an 8km walking and cycling pathway linking the two towns. The trail travels between Civic Park in Drouin and Rotary Park in Warragul and links with the Linear Park Trail at the Warragul end. The Two Town Trail is a great ride and features a high quality 3 metre-wide concrete path, with some short sections of the path on low-volume, low-speed roads. Highlights of the trail include wetlands, remnant stands of vegetation, boardwalks, views to Camp Hill and the Baw Baw Ranges to the north and Mt Worth and the Strzelecki Ranges to the south.
The Rokeby to Neerim Rail Trail commences at Rokeby Common and follows the former Warragul to Noojee rail line to the Crossover Regional Park, before heading north along the road reserve to Neerim South and continuing along Main Neerim Road to the edge of Neerim. The trail passes through areas of remnant vegetation that are home to an array of native flora and fauna. Highlights include the Trestle Bridge at Crossover, views of the Tarago Reservoir, Bunyip State Forest in the west and towards Mount Baw Baw in the east.
Please contact us if you require a greater understanding of the trail needs in your area to help promote tourism and create connected, happy and active people.
