Bring your Bike On Your Holiday & Enjoy The Bellarine Rail Trail
The Bellarine Rail Trail is a 32 kilometre stretch of bike path recycled from abandoned railway corridors. For the less than fit cyclists (like me) or those riding with children, I recommend starting from Drysdale. The Drysdale to Queenscliff bike trail runs beside the Bellarine Peninsula Tourist Railway. The tourist railway operators are happy to take bicycles on their trains if you tire out and need a ride back to your car. Winning! Contact and book here.
The History
The line was opened from Geelong to Queenscliff in 1870’s carrying holidaymakers to the then-popular seaside resort of Queenscliff. More noteworthy, the line was used to carry soldiers and materials to defend Port Phillip Bay from a possible attack by the Russians!
Access Points
- Strong Street at Swanston Street near South Geelong railway station
- South Geelong – Breakwater Rd opposite the Geelong showgrounds, 1km from the railway station along Carr St
- Drysdale – At the railway station, which is the halfway point where the tourist railway finishes.
- Queenscliff – opposite the station near the carriage sidings
Let someone take care of the whole activity
Geelong Adventure Specialists, winner of the Tripadvisor Hall Of Fame offer fully guided packages. They are renowned for offering supported experiences, bike hire and shuttle bus Generally they follow an easy 35km trail linking South Geelong to Queenscliff. It meanders through farmland and boasts great views of the coast. Best of all, they can arrange wine tasting along the way.
Wheelchair Access and Kids
Whilst some parts are hilly, the best bit is not having to compete with cars on the road. Especially with kids. In fact, my mum has traversed parts of the Rail Trail in her motorised wheelchair. Contact the organisation here, for tips on the best parts of the trail for wheelchair accessibility.
The full trail runs from Queenscliff to Geelong. I have added a great link with all the details here.
It’s no wonder the great Cadel Evans lives in Barwon Heads. Who knows? Maybe you’ll see him whizzing by on one of these trails! And if you are interested in Cadel’s Great Ocean Bike Race event in late January, check out our blog post about it here.