The last section of the O'Keefe Rail Trail from Lake Eppalock to Heathcote, visit the Pink Cliffs and a scenic lookout. GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Grade 3: Moderate 12.6 km walk. Mostly flat on a gravel rail trail, plus a short uneven walk at the Pink Cliffs (graded according to the AWTGS: Australian Walking Tracks Grading System). ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: After meeting in the car park, we carpool to the start of the walk at the O'keefe Rail Trail at Lake Eppalock. We have a short walk along the lake, depending on winter rainfall, which will determine if the lake water reaches this point. We walk for about 2.5 hours along the rail trail through forest and farmland. After lunch we continue into Heathcote and visit the Pink Cliffs and then drive or walk up to the Viewing Rock Lookout for views over Heathcote and surrounding countryside (the return walk is 3-4 km via Devils Cave going up, and the Heathcote Powder Magazine going down), before returning to town for refreshments at the Commercial Hotel or Gaffney's Bakery (closes 4pm) before heading home. BOOKING: By Friday 11th September. To register click on Get Tickets. Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings. FURTHER INFORMATION: OKeefe Rail Trail | Commercial Hotel Heathcote | MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10.00am, Lions Club Picnic Shelter Car Park, Herriot Street at the rail trail (entry near Station St). MAP REFERENCE: Melway map X921 grid F10 | Google map https://maps.app.goo.gl/wVWD12GZX1SPocod9 DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 130 km, aproximately 1 hr 40 min via Kilmore & Heathcote. Alternative routes via Lancefield 126 km, 1 hr 40 min or 141 km, 1 hour 40 minutes via Calder Fwy/M79 to Kynton, then follow C326 via Redesdale to Heathcote (Stop to view the Redesdale Water Tank Mural, in park opposite hotel). PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Not Available. If you need a lift or to carpool, contact leader at least a week in advance to arrange. FOOD: Carry lunch, snacks, and 1 to 2 litres of water. After-walk refreshments at Gaffney's Bakery (closes 4pm) or at the Commercial Hotel. APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots/shoes and dress according to the weather forecast. Heathcote can be warmer and sunnier than Melbourne. LEADER: Paul K. | Email LeaderPaulK@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website. Image: Visit Victoria HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS  

Do you enjoy cycling, and are you sometimes free on Wednesdays? You're welcome to join the Nomads Wednesday cyclists. ** See Archive - Wednesday Bike Rides for the upcoming Wednesday's cycling details (posted on the prior Monday night). ** GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Rides are of varying length and difficulty, mostly in metro Melbourne, but sometimes in Regional Victoria. The typical distance is between 30 and 50 km, though there are usually options to either extend or shorten the ride. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: Time off on Wednesdays? Join a small group of Nomads and friends for a leisurely cycle on trails around metro Melbourne, and occasionally into Regional Victoria, usually on the third Wednesday of the month. Emphasis is on the social aspect, not on breaking world speed records! All rides are designed to either start in central Melbourne, or to start and finish close to train stations. The rides usually start at around 10:30am to avoid needing to travel with bikes on trains in peak hour. We often meet in, or near, a cafe so you can have a coffee prior to starting the ride if you wish. We generally have lunch in a cafe or pub along the way, though occasionally you will need to bring a picnic lunch if there are no suitable options available - in that case the ride description will clearly indicate the need to BYO lunch. The upcoming ride details are emailed to everybody on the Wednesday Cyclists Mailing List, usually on the prior Monday evening, by which time the weather forecast for Wednesday is fairly reliable. That way, a ride can be chosen to suit the forecast, for example to keep the wind behind us as much as possible, and to ensure there are bailout train station options if there’s a likelihood of rain. (Tip: the details are also added at the start of the Archive - Wednesday Bike Rides document).  If you have any additional enquiries or requests, email Chris Stewart on LeaderChrisS@nomads.org.au. If you're not sure whether your bike fitness level will match, contact Chris to plan your first foray. BOOKING: MAILING LIST: To join the mailing list so that you receive an email (usually on Monday evening) about the upcoming Wednesday ride, click on Get Tickets in this event. (Afterwards click the "+" to set the number of tickets to 1, click Checkout and follow the prompts to provide your contact details). You only need to do this once. If you decide in future that you don't wish to receive the weekly emails, just email LeaderChrisS@nomads.org.au to be taken off the mailing list. RIDING: When you plan to ride, please put your name in a free cell of the Wednesday Attendees spreadsheet on the day prior (be sure to click out of the cell afterwards, so that your name gets automatically saved). If a blank cell has a coloured box around it, somebody else is currently entering their name in that cell, so select the next cell instead. Your first name plus the first letter of your surname will suffice. If having difficulty, just reply to the email or email LeaderChrisS@nomads.org.au. COST: Free. Note that for most Nomads activities, visitors need to pay a small fee, but as an introductory offer that fee is waived for the monthly social nights and the regular Wednesday and Friday bike rides - a way for you to meet some club members and find out a little more about the club. After attending 5 or more rides, you will be asked to become a member though. FURTHER INFORMATION: Please see Cycling Tips for some things to consider prior to hopping on your bike. LEADER: Chris S. | Email LeaderChrisS@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website. HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS  

A beautiful bushwalk in the east of Melbourne, just past Warrandyte. GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Grade 2: Easy-Moderate 6-7 km circuit walk (graded according to the AWTGS: Australian Walking Tracks Grading System). ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: This is a superb walk with a lot of wildlife, and elevation that provides gorgeous views of the Yarra River. The track winds its way through the untouched bush in Warrandyte State Park, with sections where horses frequent, narrowing to a single track where you will need to walk single file. Sections of the track can be unsteady underfoot in terms of loose rock and there is a short section (5-10m) where you have to climb up a large boulder. It's recommended to wear appropriate flat shoes with enough grip. No dogs allowed. BOOKING: By Friday 18th September. To register, click on Get Tickets. Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings. MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 11am at the Yarra Store (Warrandyte Stonehouse Cafe) in Ringwood-Warrandyte Rd. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: It is possible, but not very convenient - train to Ringwood, then bus #364. MAP REFERENCE: Google map: maps.app.goo.gl/rc74DDn7AgfWQZnM9 FOOD: Carry lunch, snacks and a litre of water. APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots and dress according to the weather forecast.   LEADER: Richard C. | Email LeaderRichardC@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.   HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS