Enjoy a relaxing few days sampling beers and cycling the rail trail
Ride to Nicholson on a looped cycle
Arrive at the wonderful Lakes Entrance on the last day
Ride down to Lakes Entrance via the Discovery Trail on day 3

Bikes, Beds and Beer

Duration
3 days
Site savings
$4
From
$331 USD

Spend 3 relaxing days exploring East Gippsland with a lovely cottage as your base, enjoying 2 days cycling the Rail Trail with a local craft brewery within reach. What could be better than a snug cottage with verandahs and open fire, in a charming village surrounded by rolling farmlands? A rail trail passing through the village of course! Come and spend a weekend (or escape mid-week) in Bruthen, which sits on the East Gippsland Rail Trail 30 km east of Bairnsdale, just 3.5 hours drive from Melbourne. Spend part (or all) of each day exploring the rail trail, return to your cottage to relax on the verandah or by the fire, before visiting the excellent Bullant Brewery to sample their beer and superb food.

  • Category
    Easy-going & Leisurely
  • Type
    Self-Guided
  • Duration
    3 days
  • Culture Level
    Familiar
  • Skill Level
    1 - Beginner
  • Activity Level
    2 - Moderate
  • Elevation
    1 - Easy
  • Terrain
    Agricultural
  • Distance
    43.5 miles
  • Avg. Daily Distance
    21.7 miles
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  • Where does the tour start and end?

    The tour starts and ends in Bruthen, Victoria. Bruthen is a small town that is close to Bairnsdale and about a 3.5 hour drive from Melbourne, Victoria. Melbourne Airport (colloquially known as Tullamarine Airport - MEL) is an international airport and central hub for trains and buses.

  • How long is the tour? How many days cycling?

    The tour is 3 days long with 2 days of cycling.

  • What's the tour like?

    You'll stay in a lovely quaint cottage for the duration of the tour and spend 2 days taking day trips on the East Gippsland Rail Trail. The first day of cycling (day 2) sees you taking a loop ride of approximately 40km (24.8mi) before arriving back at the cottage. The second day of cycling (day 3) takes you to Lakes Entrance via the Discovery trail. The tour operator will then transfer you back to the cottage at the end of the day to collect your belongings, drop off the bikes and head on your way.

  • Why do I need to sign an "Exclusion of Rights to Sue" waiver?

    This waiver is a legally binding document in which you accept the inherent risks associated with cycling. Without the waiver, common law in Victoria says that you are entitled to sue if someone sells you goods or services which cause you to die or sustain injury. Any "adventure" activity carries an inherent risk due to the nature of the activity. Many tourism businesses in Victoria stopped operating until a law was passed in which participants can be asked to set aside this specific right. It is now a common requirement of adventure activity to require participants to sign this or a similar waiver, with most insurance companies requiring that tour operators do so!

    It does not remove your rights if there has been negligence on the part of the operator, causing you to suffer injury or death.

    Rider safety is of paramount importance to the tour operator. They have a comprehensive Risk Management Plan to do everything possible to ensure a safe and enjoyable tour for all riders.

  • What’s the weather like?

    Gippsland receives typical Victorian weather which can include long stable periods as well as warm to hot northwesterly systems followed by cold and sometimes wet southwesterly winds. At any time of year, a wide variety of weather conditions can be experienced over the space of a few days. As a general rule, the coastal areas of East Gippsland have milder weather than Melbourne: a degree or two warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

  • When's the brewery open?

    Beer tasting at the Bullant Brewery is included in the tour (if you purchase a meal) but note that the brewery open hours are Weds –Sun, closing at 5 pm except on Friday and Saturday nights when open until late.

  • Are there any group discounts?

    Group discounts are possible for groups of 4 or more so please contact us if you are interested.

  • A message from the tour operator concerning Covid-19:

    The Covid 19 pandemic has put an end to all sorts of travel for the time being. We are already putting in place our plans for spring 2020, and look forward to seeing many many people come and enjoy our magnificent corner of the world once restrictions are lifted. East Gippsland turns out to be a pretty great place to have an enforced break. Stay safe and well everyone, and enjoy planning your next trip.

Overall Rating:
5.0/5
Chris Rickard
(Review obtained from Facebook)

Awesome helpful warm friendly people. Highly recommended! Already planning to come back with a group. Cheers

Karp family
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

Liz, thank you! Your self-guided rail trail tour on the East Gippsland Rail Trail was wonderful – beautiful scenery, great accommodation, easy to navigate, so well organized and exactly what we needed! My Dad and I had a great time and are already talking about our next trip. Thanks for going above and beyond to make our week so enjoyable.