Bendigo to Heathcote to Bendigo Cycling - overnight in Heathcote - CANCELLED BY FLOODING

CANCELLED DUE TO TRAIL CLOSURE FROM FLOODING

** This event has booked out. You can get a (free) WAITLIST ticket to establish your place in the queue in case cancellations occur, or additional accommodation in Heathcote can be found **

Cycle through box ironbark and yellow gum woodland, and grazing farmland, across the Campaspe River and past Lake Eppalock. Start with a two hour morning train ride from Melbourne to Bendigo, ride 25 km to The Axedale Tavern for a country pub lunch then ride on 25 km to Heathcote to stay overnight at The Commercial Hotel. Back to Bendigo the same way the next day for the train back to Melbourne. It will be good exercise and good fun!

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Medium grade cycling of 50 km in each direction on the O'Keefe Rail Trail. This is a well established easy, gravel, rail trail of 50 km each way between Bendigo and Heathcote.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: Catch the Bendigo train from Southern Cross Station at 9:06am Saturday 5 November to arrive at Bendigo Station at 10:57am. Upon alighting at Bendigo Station, we'll take Railway Place, then Mollison and Williamson Streets to get to Rosalind Park. From there we follow the Bendigo Creek Trail to just past Weeroona Oval, where the O'Keefe Trail starts. We follow the rail trail for 21 km to get to Axedale, where we'll stop for lunch at the Axedale Tavern. After lunch we rejoin the rail trail to cross the Campaspe River and make our way to Heathcote via Knowsley Forest, the Moorabbee Hill Rest Stop (with views to the Great Dividing Range), Lake Eppalock and Derrinal. A purpose-built causeway and the 90m Mt Ida Creek bridge allow the trail to stay on the original railway alignment (hence easy riding)! In Heathcote we will stay overnight at the Commercial Hotel.

After breakfast at one of the bakeries on the main street the following morning, Sunday, we'll retrace our steps, with lunch once again at the Axedale Tavern, then onward to Bendigo, where we expect to catch the 4:26pm train, arriving back in Melbourne at 6:24pm. There are regular train services departing from Bendigo to Southern Cross. We expect to catch the 4:26pm service but other options depart at 3:26pm, 5:26pm, 7:02pm or 9:00pm.

BOOKING: by Thursday 15 September. To register, click on Get Tickets to book either a Full Room or a Half Room (i.e. a bed):

• Book by Thursday 15 September to ensure you don't miss out, and to enable the rooms to be paid for by the leader and secured as available.
• A block of 6 rooms of 2 beds each has been reserved. Refer room description at the Commercial Hotel. Each full room has two beds, one single and one double bed.
• This event is only available to Nomads members. Note: visitors can get a 1-month membership for $8, then click on Get Tickets to purchase their ticket for this weekend.

Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings.

NOMADS COVIDSAFE CHECKLIST: General Checklist: Nomads walking and cycling events.

COSTS:

• Accommodation: A private room costs $103 including Nomads gateway charges for you to occupy as you like. Alternatively, you can buy a half room ticket for $52 and share with another person who has a half room ticket (sort out between you who gets the single or double bed).
• V/Line Trains: The off-peak one-way fare between Southern Cross and Bendigo, and vice-versa, is $24.08 full or $12.04 concession/seniors. You can use your Myki card but ensure it has enough money on it for both way travel.
• Meals: lunch will be purchased each day at the Axedale Tavern (see menu), and dinner on Saturday night in Heathcote. Allow for bringing or purchasing additional drinks or snacks if required.

MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 8:30am at Southern Cross Train Station so that we have time to ascertain the departure platform from the billboard and get all our bikes on the train.

MAP REFERENCE: Southern Cross Station: Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/fWTegBv6chDK1M1X9

FOOD: Carry snacks and at least 1 litre of water. 

WHAT TO BRING: Face mask, hand sanitiser, sunscreen, insect repellant, sun glasses and dress according to the weather forecast. The hotel supplies towels and linen. You will need to bring with you all you need for the two days to fit in a panier or back pack. Don't bring too much! Bring waterproof jacket and warm jumper. Bring neat casual clothes for dinner Saturday night. Bring a spare tube and your tool kit in case of a puncture. Bring front and rear bike lights for safety and night travel if necessary. Make sure your bike is in good working order.

LEADER: Kevin K | Email LeaderKevinK.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com if you have any questions.
Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.

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