Abbotsford Convent
Coffee and breakfast at the Convent Bakery, St Helliers, Abbotsford from 8am. We head off at 9.30am.
Melbourne
at 0kmTurn right into Johnston Street
at 0kmContinue through intersection with Princess St and proceed a...
at 3kmContinue through intersection with Princess St and proceed along High St, Kew
Turn right into Doncaster Rd.
at 6kmBalwyn North
at 9kmLower Plenty
at 11kmDoncaster
at 12kmGlance in your rear vision mirror as you approach the crest of Doncaster Hill for great views of the city skyline. At 120 metres, it is one of the highest points in Melbourne. A 285 foot high wooden tower was built by Alfred Hummel on the site now occupied by Shoppingtown. It stood from 1879 to 1914. Australia's first electric tram carried visitors from Box Hill station to see the magnificent views from the top. The tram ran from 1889 to 1896 along Tram Road.
Doncaster East
at 13kmOn the right is the first KFC outlet to open in Victoria. Built in the middle 1960s and surrounded by nothing but open paddocks, it is sited directly under a high voltage power pylon. The electromagnetic radiation no doubt helps the frying process.
Donvale
at 16kmDoncaster Rd becomes Mitcham Rd.
Turn left into Park Rd.
at 18kmLook to your right as we cross over the Eastlink Toll Road t...
at 19kmLook to your right as we cross over the Eastlink Toll Road to see the entrance to the 2km 'Mullum Mullum' and 'Melba' tunnels and their large decorated air vent. Originally planned to go through the Mullum Mullum Creek valley, local residents fought hard for a tunnel to preserve the creek and its wildlife.
Park Orchards
at 22kmOn the left, local residents are trying to save the now vacant 83 year old Park Orchards Chalet.
It's a surprising fact that as late as the 1960s, the last b...
at 23kmIt's a surprising fact that as late as the 1960s, the last bullock team to haul timber out of a forest in Victoria operated here to clear the bush of Park Orchards for development.
Turn left into Milne Rd.
at 24kmTurn left into Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd.
at 24kmOn the right, Potters Cottage is an artist's co-operative fo...
at 28kmOn the right, Potters Cottage is an artist's co-operative founded in Warrandyte in 1958 to make and sell handmade Australian pottery.
At the round-about, turn right into Jumping Creek Rd.
at 29kmWonga Park
at 33kmAs we descend the hill to the 'T' intersection with Homestea...
at 34kmAs we descend the hill to the 'T' intersection with Homestead Road, we get our first clear view of Mt Donna Buang, our destination rising behind a hill in the foreground. Turn left into Homestead Rd.
Veer right into Lower Homestead Rd.
at 34kmTurn right into Paynes Rd.
at 35kmTurn left into Edward Rd.
at 38kmSlow down for 'T' intersection. Turn right into Coldstream W...
at 40kmSlow down for 'T' intersection. Turn right into Coldstream West Rd.
Slow down, stop and take care at this potentially dangerous ...
at 42kmSlow down, stop and take care at this potentially dangerous intersection with Victoria Road as there is a blind hill and cars travel fast along this stretch.
Cross Victoria Rd via a dog-leg intersection.
Vineyards
at 42kmThere are still some steel railway lines embedded in the bit...
at 45kmThere are still some steel railway lines embedded in the bitchumen which were part of the old Lilydale-Healesville railway closed in 1972. Volunteers of the Yarra Valley Tourist Railway are trying to reopen this line.
Coldstream
at 46kmSlow down, stop and take care in crossing the busy Maroondah Highway. Once completing your left turn, move over into the right lane to complete a right turn into Killara Road
Coldstream Airfield
at 48kmGruyere
at 52kmOur road skirts around the base of the Warramate Hills
at 56kmGreat views of the Yarra Valley and Worri Yallock township.
at 57kmWe cross a narrow wooden plank bridge. These kinds of old br...
at 58kmWe cross a narrow wooden plank bridge. These kinds of old bridges are becoming increasingly rare. The gaps in the planks can push your tyres around a bit.
Slow down, stop and take care as we approach the busy Warbur...
at 60kmSlow down, stop and take care as we approach the busy Warburton Highway. Turn left and prepare to turn left again in 400 metres as we approach Old Warburton Hwy.
Turn left into Old Warburton Hwy.
at 61kmIts hard to believe that this narrow road was once the main ...
at 61kmIts hard to believe that this narrow road was once the main highway to Warburton. Can be wet and slippery under the shade.
The Worri Yallock Hotel with possibly one of the best views ...
at 64kmThe Worri Yallock Hotel with possibly one of the best views in Victoria.
Slow down, stop and take care as we approach the busy Warbur...
at 64kmSlow down, stop and take care as we approach the busy Warburton Highway. Turn left.
Woori Yallock
at 65kmTurn left at the shopping centre into Woori Yallock Rd.
Turn left into Allsops Rd.
at 66kmPrior to the intersection with the Warburton Hwy, turn sharp...
at 69kmPrior to the intersection with the Warburton Hwy, turn sharp left into Braeside Drive.
Turn left into Cairncroft Ave
at 70kmTurn right into Alpine Blvd.
at 70kmSlow down, stop and take care as we turn left into busy Warb...
at 71kmSlow down, stop and take care as we turn left into busy Warburton Hwy.
We cross the bike path to Warburton
at 72kmJust after Barak Drive on the right, we take a small dirt tr...
at 73kmJust after Barak Drive on the right, we take a small dirt track on the left and cross Little Yarra River via a pedestrian bridge. Take it slow as the track is a bit muddy but its only about 15 metres long and we find a pretty rural road on the other side (Doon Road). Some may prefer to continue on the highway and then turn left on Corduroy Road to rejoin the group at the Settlement Road intersection.
Turn right into Corduroy Rd.
at 74kmTurn left into Settlement Rd.
at 74kmTurn left into Railway Rd.
at 76kmAs you would expect, Railway Road parallels the old Warburto...
at 76kmAs you would expect, Railway Road parallels the old Warburton railway line, now a bike trail.
Turn right into Station Rd.
at 78kmWestburn
at 78kmSlow down, stop and take car as we rejoin the busy Warburton Highway. Turn left.
Millgrove
at 80kmIf you are looking for a huge slab of recycled timber for a kitchen bench top or dining table, then Bowerbird Timber could be the place. Their timber is ethically collected from dead rather than living trees.
Look to the left to see the Yarra River dancing over rocks.
at 82kmWarburton
at 83kmPark our scooters in the main road outside the Wild Thyme Cafe. Coffee break and stretch (public toilets nearby).
The former Sanitarium Health Food Factory constructed in 192...
at 84kmThe former Sanitarium Health Food Factory constructed in 1925 to produce Granose biscuits used its own hydro-electric generators. The original building was destroyed by a flood in 1934. The present modernist building was completed in 1937 and is listed by the National Trust. The factory closed in 1997.
Veer left and follow Donna Buang Rd.
at 85kmTake care on the bends on the way up and down as in places, ...
at 90kmTake care on the bends on the way up and down as in places, the sun never gets to dry out the road. Damp bark and fallen leaves can be very slippery.
Rainforest Skywalk and Gallery
at 92kmWe take a break here to visit the Rainforest Skywalk and Gallery while our hot engines cool down
To the left, scenic views of Warburton below.
at 96kmMt Donna Buang
at 101kmThe summit of Mt Donna Buang is 1245 metres high. Park our scooters in a line just below the tower for picture taking. Climb the 21 metre tall tower for some great 360 degree views over the Victoria Alps to the North East, and Yarra Valley to the West.
Turn left into Woods Point Rd.
at 118kmWarburton Caravan Park.
at 118kmThe Upper Yarra Dam is another 23kms further up the Woods Po...
at 121kmThe Upper Yarra Dam is another 23kms further up the Woods Point Road, but we turn right into Riverside Drive.
Scenic drive along the banks of the upper Yarra River.
at 122kmTo the right across the river is the back of the Warburton C...
at 124kmTo the right across the river is the back of the Warburton Camping ground and Caravan Park.
Turn left into Warburton Hwy and back to the township.
at 125kmFill up with petrol here for the return trip.
at 126kmTurn right into Thomas Ave and the riverbank picnic area.
at 126kmWarburton
at 127kmThis is our picnic spot on the banks of the Yarra River. Walk back up the laneway to the shops for provisions.
Cross Warburton Hwy.
at 127kmThis flat piece of land above the town was the site of Warbu...
at 127kmThis flat piece of land above the town was the site of Warburton's railway station. To the left you can see the bike path which ends here.
At the end of the road, turn left into Station Rd.
at 127kmStation Rd becomes Highfield Rd.
at 127kmA fascinating hippy home
at 127kmGreat view of the cricket ground on the river flats below.
at 127kmTurn left into Park Rd.
at 128kmTurn right into Lala Ave.
at 128kmLala Ave becomes Old Warburton Rd.
at 128kmThe site of the original gold mining town of Old Warburton.
at 133kmSlow down, stop and take care when turning left into Warburt...
at 135kmSlow down, stop and take care when turning left into Warburton Hwy.
Turn right into Settlement Rd.
at 136kmTurn left into Lowes Rd.
at 138kmYarra Junction
at 139kmLaunching Place
at 144kmWoori Yallock
at 147kmTurn left into Healesville - KooWeeRup Rd.
Yellingbo
at 153kmTurn right into Parslows Rd.
Parslows Rd becomes Beenak Rd.
at 153kmWe are now entering Melbourne's fruit and berry orchard area
at 155kmAt the roundabout, turn left into Monbulk-Seville Rd.
at 157kmOrchards and fruit trees
at 158kmWandin East
at 159kmAt the 'T' intersection, turn right into Old Baker Rd.
Veer left into Wandin East Rd.
at 159kmThis is where they grow long tubes of polyurethane for the M...
at 161kmThis is where they grow long tubes of polyurethane for the Melbourne market. Oh, perhaps there are strawberry plants underneath.
Wandin East Rd becomes Beenak Rd.
at 163kmDavid used to pick cherries here during summer, riding up on...
at 163kmDavid used to pick cherries here during summer, riding up on his old VB1.
Turn left into Hunter Rd.
at 164kmTurn right into McKillop Rd.
at 165kmSlow down, stop and take care as we turn right into busy Sil...
at 169kmSlow down, stop and take care as we turn right into busy Silvan Road.
At the roundabout, turn left into York Rd.
at 170kmTurn right into Mount Evelyn shopping centre if we are ready...
at 171kmTurn right into Mount Evelyn shopping centre if we are ready for a coffee. Otherwise, continue on.
Mount Evelyn
at 171kmAt the roundabout, turn left into Swansea Rd.
at 173kmMontrose
at 176kmWe cross Dorset Road
at 181kmHeathmont
at 185kmWe ride under the Easter Tollway with its funky orange acryl...
at 188kmWe ride under the Easter Tollway with its funky orange acrylic panels.
Vermont
at 190kmWe cross Springvale Road.
at 192kmBurwood
at 196kmBox Hill South
at 196kmSurrey Hills
at 198kmCanterbury
at 200kmA coffee at Mailing Road before riders make their own way home.
Glen Iris
at 201kmCaulfield
at 202kmEnd of trip
at 209km