Cycling: Bendigo to Heathcote to Bendigo - overnight in Heathcote

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 a further 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: The official ride will start at Bendigo Station at 11am, timed to connect with the train departing from Southern Cross at 9:05am. Due to the limited number of bikes that can be carried on the trains however, some people may wish to: catch an earlier train (departing at 7:40am); or drive to Bendigo; or travel to Bendigo the night before - these options can be selected once the accommodation bookings have been finalised.

From 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.

On Sunday, after breakfast at one of the bakeries on the main street, 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 for Southern Cross. We hope to catch the 4:26pm service but other options depart at 3:26pm, 5:26pm, 7:02pm or 9:00pm.

BOOKING: by Thursday 2nd May (or ASAP to ensure you don't miss out). To register, click on Get Tickets to book the ticket type you require:

• Five rooms have been reserved. Four of the rooms have one SINGLE BED and one DOUBLE BED each. The KING ROOM has a single king size bed. All rooms include an ensuite bathroom. Refer to the room descriptions at the Commercial Hotel.
• If wanting to share a bed with your partner, book a KING ROOM or DOUBLE BED and specify the name of your partner. That will register both of you to attend the event.
• If you want sole occupancy of a room (or to share a room with your partner only), you should book the KING ROOM, or else book a DOUBLE BED plus a SINGLE BED.
• If you have arranged your own accommodation, you can purchase a free OWN ACCOMMODATION ticket, which entitles you to participate in the event without any accommodation being supplied to you.
• This event is only available to Nomads members. Note: visitors can get a 1-month temporary 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.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The entire Bendigo line is within the Myki zone - tickets cannot be pre-purchased, or seats reserved on these services. There is a limit of 6 bikes on most of the Bendigo-line trains, and because of the cheap fares, the trains are often quite full (meaning we potentially won't even be able to fit 6 bikes on a train). 

• Outbound: Depart SC 7:40am — Arrive Bendigo 9:55am (space for 8 bikes)
• Outbound: Depart SC 9:05am — Arrive Bendigo 10:57am (space for 6 bikes)
• Return: Depart Bendigo 3:26pm / 4:26pm / 5:26pm / 7:02pm / 9pm — Arrive SC 5:24pm / 6:24pm / 7:24pm / 9:12pm / 10:59pm (space for 6 bikes on each service except the 7:02pm, which has space for 8 bikes)

COSTS:

• Accommodation: Choose the accommodation type you wish: KING ROOM ($115) — DOUBLE BED in a 2-bed room ($68) — SINGLE BED in a 2-bed room ($58) — OWN ACCOMMODATION (FREE; if you don't require Nomads-supplied accommodation). If you want a solo (non-shared) room, you can either purchase the KING ROOM or purchase a DOUBLE BED plus a SINGLE BED. 
• V/Line Trains: Public transport to anywhere in Victoria is capped at $7.20 full or $3.60 concession/senior per weekend day. 
• 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: 11am at Bendigo Railway Station. 

MAP REFERENCE: Bendigo Station: Google map: maps.app.goo.gl/RKbDYVWg4SHErDGh8

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

WHAT TO BRING: Sunscreen, insect repellant, sun glasses and dress according to the weather forecast. The hotel supplies towels and linen. Whatever you bring for the two days will need to fit in a panier or back pack. Don't bring too much! Bring waterproof jacket and warm jumper plus neat casual clothes for dinner on Saturday night. Bring a spare bike 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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