There's lots to see and enjoy on this weekend back road route to Bendigo - history, views, waterfalls and bluestone pubs, houses, churches and bridges. In fact we could call the ride "The Bluestone Way" to this gracious inland city. So much nicer than belting straight up the highway and only 20kms longer. Our ride up includes a brief stop at Clarkefield to look at the 1857 "Coach and Horses Inn" supposedly haunted by not just one but three ghosts. We then travel around the east and north sides of the Macedon Ranges sliding past Hanging Rock. There's a break for lunch at Kyneton, then we're off to Metcalfe past the historical tumbledown "Windmill Bridge". We'll detour to see Turpins Falls where we might be lucky enough to see some jumpers defying death. We'll pop by "The Cascades" at Metcalfe and if we are running to schedule when we get to Sutton Grange, we can ride up Mt Alexandra for a fabulous view to the north over the basalt plains. Our return route is via Lake Eppalock, Redesdale (see history of it's bridge here), Mia Mia and along a section of the Burke and Wills Track. Apart from it's historical significance, this road takes us though a truly magical forest to Lancefield.

This

344km

ride visits Melbourne, Bendigo, Monegeeta, Lancefield.