So you'll be home for the race on Tuesday.
This is an overnighter long weekend ride. However we are returning a day earlier in order to avoid the traffic chaos a long weekend often provides.
YOU WILL NEED TO ARRANGE YOUR OWN ACCOMODATION. There is plenty available , I have checked, however being a long weekend I wouldn't leave it too long. You will need to book soon. I have listed some suggestions below.
I have also booked dinner for us both in Ballarat & Warrnambool so you can see where I am staying and where we will be having dinner each night.
Try AirBnb if these are not suitable.
This time we're going to Ballarat for one night then Warrnambool for the second night. I have created some windy / twisty new roads for us to travel and I've found some new roads.
So that's Saturday 31st Oct - Ballarat then Sunday 1st November Warrnambool. Ride home on the Monday through the Otways. Home Monday night. So it looks like this.
Saturday 31st October '26. Depart from Platter's Cafe , Diamond Ck at 0900. We'll head north through Hurstbridge , Whittlesea up to Broadford. Turning left we'll wander through Pyalong, Lancefield and run the 'Burke and Wills' track to pop out at Kyneton where we will stop for lunch at the Harper Lee Cafe. After lunch we'll head north west to Elphinstone then Chewton. Turning left at Chewton we'll go for a nice ride through the Fryers Range State forest to Guilford. Jumping back on the Midland H'way down to Hepburn Springs we then head north again to the Yandoit Hills before turning left and down to Ballarat via Werona, Kooroocheang and Smeaton.
Dinner in Ballarat will be at: Meigas Restaurant, 3 Armstrong St N, Ballarat Central
Phone: (03) 5331 9444. Booked for 1830
Following are some accommodation suggestions. I will be staying at the ‘Bakery Hill Motel’
Bakery Hill Motel - https://www.booking.com/Share-D8Ejlm
Barkly Motorlodge - https://www.trivago.com/share/TtBL38k6vb
Quality Inn Heritage on Lydiard - Quality Inn Heritage on Lydiard
Ballarat Mid City Hotel - Ballarat Mid City Hotel$155 Hotels.com3.6/5 (495) · 4-star hotelPool · Child-friendly
Sunday 1st November '26. Departing aprox 0900 (depends on Saturday night)
0900 Meeting at BP Service Station, 316 Glenelg H'way, Winter Valley. (10 minutes west of Bakery Hill)
We'll head west down the Glenelg H'way through Smythesdale, Snake Valley and Linton. Turning left at Linton we'll wander south through Cape Clear, Illabrook and Rokewood. From here we're heading south west as I lead you down between 2 lakes , Lake Corangamite and Lake Gnarpurt, and onto Camperdown where we will stop for lunch at the 'Loaf n Lounge' Cafe. After lunch it's left right left right left right right into Princetown. We'll do a short section of the B100 before turning right and back into the hills for a meander through some smaller towns toward Timboon. Then its a cruise through farming territory down into Warrnambool.
Dinner will be at the 'Saltwater Bistro at the RSL', 1 Artillery Cres, Warrnambool
Phone: (03) 5562 4634
Following are some accommodation suggestions. I will be staying at the 'Comfort Inn Western' , Cnr Timor & Kepler St's, Warrnambool.
Comfort Inn Western - http://www.choicehotels.com
Central Court Motel Warrnambool - Central Court Motel Warrnambool
Elm Tree Motel - Elm Tree Motel
Innova Motel Warrnambool - Innova Motel Warrnambool
Monday 2nd November '26. Again departing aprox 0900 we'll head back east toward the Otways. Running the coast road to Lavers Hill we'll then veer left and up into the State forest. Where we go through such towns as Ferguson, Gellibrand and Forrest before popping out at Barwon Downs. Heading home from here not as exciting. I will run the Cape Otway Rd almost to Waurn Ponds. Jumping back on the freeway we'll ride this to the BP Super Stop at Lovely banks. The tour will conclude here so you can each decide which way you would like to go home.
And just for a little something different. We’re going for a Treetop walk in Ferguson on the way home.
http://www.otwayfly.com
For those who live in the west. You are more than welcome to join us along the way.
Just let me know.
Queries: Chris – criswill@optusnet.com.au or 0412 250440
