route suggestion help wanted

[spanner]

Howdy Brains Trust,

I will be in Melbourne next week on my trusty STeed and will need to do a quick trip to Bendigo to drop off a parcel and then head back to Melb.

As I have never been in this part of the country before I was wondering if there are any reasonably interesting routes  from St Kilda to Bendigo and back. Will be doing this in the same day but don't want to spend all day in the saddle as I will be doing a 2500km/36 hr IBA from st Kilda to Townsville a few days after this.       

thoughts on a interesting route on this little side trip.

Cheers,

spanner

[alans1100]

I had a look at my Tom Tom route planner and it came up with this as a round trip avoiding toll roads.

To Bendigo https://goo.gl/maps/hFCv4aL9eF12

To Saint Kilda https://goo.gl/maps/Pxx5qB8c6mR2

[spanner]

I like the look of the twisties between wallah and Ramsey.   

[Williamson]

Howdy Brains Trust,

I will be in Melbourne next week on my trusty STeed and will need to do a quick trip to Bendigo to drop off a parcel and then head back to Melb..... thoughts on a interesting route on this little side trip.

If you want to avoid toll roads, here are three options between St Kilda and the "start" of the Calder Highway (the main highway b/t Melbourne and Bendigo):

https://goo.gl/maps/dBhMnD6qv9o

If you click on the options in the left column you will get:

   *   A western loop via Westgate Freeway and the Metro Ring Road.

   *   A middle route via the centre of the CBD and Mt Alexander Road, lots of traffic & tram lines (can be a hazard for non-experienced out-of-towners).

   *  An eastern route via heavily trafficked roads and more tram lines.

If you are in a hurry and don't want any fuss, the western loop is the quickest and easiest.  If you want to see some of Melbourne and the suburbs, the others are probably better.

From the start of the Calder Highway to Bendigo, you have many alternatives, but here's two:

   *   https://goo.gl/maps/VHXzy47SWiJ2 - this all Freeway, most at 110km/h limit, shortest and fastest.

   *   https://goo.gl/maps/cwapRqXhiiG2 - this would be my pick, least amount of Freeway, more twisties and undulating, two lane, undivided, rural road, some quaint townships, a spectacular lookout (small detour at Mt Macedon).

       I wouldn't worry about the 2:27 time suggested by Google, as with some spirited use of the throttle and gears (forget about fuel consumption), your time could be closer to two hours (without any stops or detours).

Which ever route you select, enjoy and be safe.

[STroppy]

Alan's route to Bendigo is good.

I like this return route, it is a bit longer . . 3hrs 20 and 236 ks, but it takes in some of my favourite riding roads . .


https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Bendigo,+Victoria+3550/Yarra+Glen,+Victoria+3775/St+Kilda,+Victoria+3182/@-37.7166733,145.7104717,8z/data=!4m11!4m10!1m2!1m1!1s0x6ad759eb3c77c5e3:0x50579a430a0d940!1m2!1m1!1s0x6ad7d33b49292393:0x5045675218ccf80!1m2!1m1!1s0x6ad6686866392389:0x5045675218cdae0!3e0

[Williamson]

And, on my "pick" there is an interesting memorial near Glenhope:


An interesting bridge at Mia Mia:


And a famous street in the centre of town:


Cheers ..............

[spanner]

Thanks heaps all

I knew we had some brains in our brains trust.   

[Greencan]

Welcome to my back yard...I expect it'll be reliably both warm n dry next week 

I will be in Melbourne next week on my trusty STeed and will need to do a quick trip to Bendigo to drop off a parcel and then head back to Melb.

Alan's suggestions are good, the only exception I'd make is the return route given your comment quick.

As the up leg is taking you east of the Calder freeway and along sections of the original Burke n Wells track, might I suggest for the return leg you plot a route to the west of Calder freeway that eventually picks up on the Western freeway at either Bachus Marsh or Melton, then all you need do is stay on it heading east to join firstly the western ring road then the Geelong freeway (east bound), over the westgate bridge to get off at Todd road to take the bay streets back to St Kilda. No tolls.

Look at a map, exit Bendigo to the west looking for Eaglehawk, Marong, then due south going through Lockwood, Lockwood south, Maldon, Newstead, Daylesford, Trentham, Blackwood, Greendale, Myrniong & onto the Western freeway just to the west of Bacchus Marsh. Just aviods riding through most of suburban Melbourne.

Just a thought. :-)

[spanner]

Cheers all for the help BUT Murphy has put his law into effect.

Came out this morning to see flat tyre and the repair kit was shite ..... so the day I was going to ride is now set aside for repair.