Bike required
These rides are wholly or mainly on unmade roads or marked tracks and are not suitable for road bikes. You will need a gravel bike, a hybrid, or a mountain bike (MTB).
G1. Tarrengower Circuit
An easier ride of 15 km that circumnavigates Mt Tarrengower and offers panoramic views to the west. The ruins of the North British Mine are passed on the return into Maldon. See a description of the route, a PDF map and a GPX file. An optional slightly longer route is also shown on the PDF map and there is a GPX file.
G1V. Tarrengower Circuit – Longer Variant
A longer version
G2 and G2V. Castlemaine Maldon Trail
This trail generally follows the route of the Maldon to Castlemaine railway line, and is sometimes incorrectly described as a ‘rail trail’.
Route G2 follows the Maldon-Castlemaine railway line for most of the distance, and with suitable planning can be ridden one-way, with the return trip by vintage VGR steam train, or as a round trip. Each leg is almost 20 km. See a description of the route, a PDF map and a GPX file. Some additional information about the trail is here.
An alternative route – G2V from Castlemaine to Maldon is also recommended. This route follows quiet paved roads through forest and grazing country from Castlemaine to Muckleford Station, where the trail beside the railway is followed. It offers a pleasant alternative return route to Maldon and has marginally less climbing (30 m) than experienced using the entire trail next to the railway line. The G2 PDF map shows this route and there is also a description and a GPX file.
G3. Castlemaine via Lewis Road
G4. Barry’s Loop of Lanes
G5. Donkey Farm Track
The ride initially follows the marked Castlemaine Maldon Trail towards Castlemaine, before entering Muckleford Forest. Although only 21 km, some moderate climbs and exhilarating descents on Donkey Farm Track make this ride slightly more challenging. The return to Maldon passes former mine workings at Smiths Reef and the Maldon State Battery.
A description of the route, a PDF map (which also shows G3) and a GPX file can be downloaded.
G6. A Frame Track
G7. Muckleford Station – Red, White and Blue Mine
This ride follows gravel tracks through Maldon Historic Reserve and Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve to the remains of the Red, White and Blue mine, which operated until 1960. The return ride, which includes a short bitumen section, passes Dunn’s Reef mine site and Maldon State Battery on the outskirts of Maldon. This a 28 km ride of moderate difficulty.
A description of the route, a PDF map (the same as for G4 and G6) and a GPX file can be downloaded.
G8. Maldon – Newstead and Return
This is a harder ride of 37 km, following a slightly meandering route, mostly on bush tracks, from Maldon to Newstead. It is is suitable for mountain bikes, gravel bikes or hybrids. The return climbs through Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve and passes Red, White and Blue Mine.
A description of the route, a PDF map (the same as for G9) and a GPX file can be downloaded.
G9. Maldon – Newstead, Return via Mia Mia Rd
This is a harder ride of 37 km, which uses the same route to Newstead, but the return includes a section along Mia Mia Rd which avoids a sharp climb from Newstead. The return ride also passes the Red, White and Blue Mine and the Smiths Reef workings in the Maldon Historic Reserve.
A description of the route, a PDF map (the same as for G8) and a GPX file can be downloaded.
G10. Rock of Ages
A short (10 km) but hilly ride to two scenic lookout points on the Nuggetty Range close to Maldon.
A description of the route, a PDF map (which also shows G5) and a GPX file can be downloaded.
View from Rock of Ages
North from Darky’s Hut
G11. Nuggetty School Ride
G12. Tunnel Track and Smiths Reef
A pleasant ride, mostly on gravel tracks, through the Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve passing an old mining tunnel, Smiths Reef and the Maldon State Battery.
There is a description of the route, a PDF map (the same as for G6 and G7) and a GPX file.
G13. Westons Track and Tunnel Track
A slightly longer ride of 29km on gravel tracks past the North British Mine site and then through the Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve, passing an old mining tunnel, and returning via the Maldon Historic Reserve.
The route description, a PDF map (the same as for G4 and G7) and a GPX file can be downloaded.