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Local rides: Traralgon to Buchan (via Glengarry, Toongabbie, Cowwarr, Heyfield, Maffra, Stratford &a

Jan 15, 2012

We headed off on our first ‘Group ride’ today having been invited along for a ride with members of the Traralgon Chapter of the Easyriders Social Motorcycle Club who were heading to Bairnsdale collecting a couple of riders from Stratford on the way then heading to Bairnsdale to meet with more riders who were planning to create a local chapter there.

We rode from Traralgon to Stratford on back roads of varying quality and width and enjoyed the changing scenery from flat dairying country to wooded hills and then fertile river flats with intensive market gardens.

From Bairnsdale we headed to Buchan through the pretty little Village of Bruthen and through farmland and National Park areas to Buchan known for its rugged high country farming, Caves and Limestone quarrying. Lots of different road surfaces, widths alignment and cambers so very enjoyable.



The line-up of nearly all the bikes at Buchan

The ride from Buchan to Orbost was a new road for us and wound through some spectacular country covered in golden grasses and eucalypt forest. It felt a long way from anywhere and was refreshing to be there. The biggest downer for riding with a group was that we didn’t have the freedom to stop for the picture stops we would normally have but awesome all the same. We saw an echidna some eagles and a massive goanna which was unfortunately dead on the road. A shame.



View across the flats to surrounding hills from Buchan – a sample of the hilly country we were to encounter on the way to Orbost

The temperature was quite a bit more comfortable up in the hills and by the time we threaded our way down to the river flats at Orbost the temperature had cooled down a bit so the ride down the Princes Highway to home was good. We hadn’t been to Lakes Entrance for ages as there is now a truck bypass so it was good to ride along the Esplanade and inhale the delicious sea salt smell and I have to confess it felt pretty good riding down the highway and into the towns as a group of around 20! We may just do a bit more of that. Ha ha.



The footbridge from the town to dunes with the Surf Lifesaving Club in the distance on the Main Beach over the dunes at Lakes Entrance

Tips to remember:

The roads to Stratford are through dairying areas so you are likely to encounter bulk milk tankers so make sure you (as in all of your body) sticks to your own side of the road, The good news is that a bit of patience and good straight stretches of road should see you past them without too much hold up.

The road from Buchan to Orbost is narrow and windy with some very tight corners (most signed well) and since the area has pebbly gravel if there has been rain you can expect unfriendly pebbly gravel washes across the road surface on corners so take care.

Services available:

Traralgon – 160kms east of Melbourne on the Princes Freeway
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel, Serviced Apartment, B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Glengarry – Small town
Food: Hotel and cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Toongabbie – Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Foods: General store / Cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Cowwarr – Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Food: Café and Gallery / Art space / Restaurant (Old Butter Factory) and Hotel including fine dining
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Heyfield – Small town
Fuel: Available – BH
Accommodation: Limited Hotel Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel, Café and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Small
Bike Shop: Service & parts – BH

Tinamba – Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Food: Café and Hotel
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Maffra - Small town
Fuel: Available – BH
Accommodation: Limited Hotel Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel, Café and Bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Small
Bike Shop: Service & parts - BH

Stratford – Small town
Fuel: Available BH.
Accommodation: Basic Hotel and Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Café, hotel, bakery and cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Bairnsdale – Large town / Small city
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel, Serviced Apartment, B&B and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Wiseleigh – Locality only – No Services

Bruthen – Small town
Fuel: Available BH.
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Small café, bakery, restaurant and brewery
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Buchan – Small town
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Basic Hotel, Private rental and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel and small cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Orbost – Small town
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park options
Food: Small cafes and hotel
General Store / Supermarket: Small stores
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Newmerella – Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Basic Motel
General Store / Supermarket: Hot pies etc. at servo

Nowa Nowa – Small Settlement
Fuel: Available BH
General Store / Supermarket: Hot pies etc. at servo

Lakes Entrance – Small Town Permanant and Holiday residents
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple cafes, restaurants and hotels
General Store / Supermarket: Small to large stores

Kalimna – Small Settlement
Accommodation: - Hotel / Motel

Swan Reach - Small settlement – Limited Services
Accommodation: - Hotel / Motel and Caravan Park

Johnsonville – Small Settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: - Motel

Nicholson - Small settlement
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park
Food: Hotel and cafe
General Store / Supermarket: Small

Bairnsdale – (as above)

Stratford – (as above)

Sale (bypassed) - Large town
Fuel: Multiple choices including Premium Unleaded and 24 hr.
Accommodation: Multiple Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park options
Food: Multiple choices from small cafes to bistro’s bars and fine restaurants
General Store / Supermarket: Multiple choices from small to large
Motorbike shop: Parts and service BH

Fulham – Locality only – No services

Rosedale - Small town
Fuel: Available BH
Accommodation: Basic Hotel and Motel
Food: Hotel, café and bakery
General Store / Supermarket: Small



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