Murray to Mountains 2025

6th January 2025 - Myrtleford

Today we travelled in the rain the whole way to Myrtleford, and it continued into the evening.

After setting up camp at the Myrtleford Recreation Ground, we got out the umbrellas and walked into Myrtleford to have a look around and take a look in the information centre, which had closed early due to it being the holiday season.

We dropped in for a drink at the local before heading back to camp.

7th January 2025 - Myrtleford - Murray to Mountains Rail Trail

What a beautiful morning for a bike ride.  The first stop was at the information centre for a rail trail map then off we went towards Bright.  The trail runs alongside the Great Alpine Rd and occasionally veers off away from the road into farmland. There are heaps of wild fruit trees scattered along the trail so there is plenty for riders to forage.  Although not everything was ripe for the picking we collected some plums and blackberries for our dessert.

We also saw a tiger snake crossing the track, so we gave it a wide berth, people travelling behind us heard our warning too late and got the fright of their lives.

We stopped at Eurobin Station 15.5km from Myrtleford where we turned around and headed back. It was a much easier ride as it was all downhill.

8th January - Myrtleford - Mosaic Trail and Mt Buffalo.

Another warm day and a relaxing start with a fried breakfast.

We took a leisurely ride back into town and started the Mosaic Trail, which is only about 6 km and runs along the Ovens River, with mosaics scattered along the trail. We ran into a couple from the Netherlands who stopped us to ask what the loud noise was in the trees along the river. We explained that they were Cicadas, who love to whistle in the summer. As luck would have it, there was a dead one on the track that we could show them.

A mural of yesterday's photo.

After lunch, we drove up Mt Buffalo to the summit. It was about 10 degrees cooler up there and pleasant. We walked a short distance to Crystal Brook Falls and looked around Mt Buffalo Chalet, which is currently being restored. We made a short stop at Catani Lake.

9th January - Myrtleford - Porepunkah to Bright and Wandilidong

Today, We drove to Porepunkah and continued cycling on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. It was 11.5 km to Wandilidong from Porebunkah a very picturesque drive. On the way, we stopped to watch the paragliders in Bright before heading to Wandilidong. 

We then headed back towards Bright and there were heaps more paragliders so we stopped for lunch and watched them landing in the field next to the rail trail.  It was then on to Bright for a walk around that town and a stop at the Bright Brewery where we had a beverage or two and watched everyone swimming in the Ovens River.

We then headed back to Porepunkah and had a drink at the Porepunkah pub before heading back to camp.

10th January - Myrtleford

A relaxing day today picked up a few supplies in the morning, headed out on the bikes, dropped in at the Vietnamese restaurant for lunch, and then went off to forage for more blackberries.  Had a nice drink at the Happy Valley Pub before heading back to camp.

11th January - Tallangatta via Yackandandah

Before leaving Myrtleford we rode to the Saturday market at the School Museum.  It was a small market with the usual wares on sale.

It was then off to Yackandandah about 40mins up the road. It's like Clunes with the old buildings and gutters. It's a bustling place with a Daylesford feel about it.  The old wares shop in the main street was so full of stuff you could hardly navigate with narrow walkways.  Things were just piled on top of things.

We arrived in Tallanagatta and camped at the showgrounds with a great view of Lake Hume. We rode into town and explored the main street dropping in at the two locals for a drink before heading back to camp before the cool change came through.

We spent the evening watching the lightening and listening to the thunder as the storms surrounded us.

12th January - Tallangatta & Old Tallangatta

We followed the Mountain Rail Trail from Tallangatta to Old Tallangatta this morning. Tallangatta was moved from its original location in 1958 so that the Lake Hume could be extended. Parts of old Tallangatta are still on the banks of Lake Hume, the majority of the buildings in old Tallangatta were on the flood plain of Tallangatta Creek these were the buildings that were either moved or left behind to be demolished to make way for the flooding of Lake Hume. We continued our ride on a bit further to Bullioh 

As it was another hot day we returned to camp at lunch time had a bite to eat before heading back into town for supplies and another stop off at the Tallangatta Hotel.

Back at camp we had another thunderstorm to watch and cool down.