Where: Yarra Valley, Yarra Ranges, Lake Eildon, Goulburn Valley, Ruffy Highlands—Central Victoria

Length: 316km

Difficulty: moderate/hard

Terrain: some flat riding, some quite hilly riding. Most of the climbing is not terribly steep.

Surface: mostly well made gravel, some chunky gravel, some sealed roads. Can be done on a standard gravel bike.

What: pretty rural areas, temperate rainforest, rail trail riding, quiet back roads, lakeside riding, eucalyptus woodland.

Where: Strathbogie Ranges—Central Victoria

Length: 134km

Difficulty: moderate

Terrain: hilly/flat

Surface: sealed, some chunky gravel and some smooth gravel

What: rolling pastures, pretty rural areas, local produce, quiet roads, small towns, a great gravel descent, the Great Victorian Rail Trail

Where: Yarra Ranges, central Victoria

Length: 101km

Difficulty: moderate

Terrain: undulating, with one big descent and one big climb. Moderate gradients.

Surface: mostly well-groomed gravel. About 10km of rougher track. Short section of sealed road. Can be done on a gravel bike, but that 10km would be a bit rough. A mountain bike would be easier.

What: plenty of beautiful, tall mountain ash forest with many ferns. Crystal clear rivers. One of the better free camping spots around. One very long and satisfying descent. Historical areas. Victoria’s tallest tree.

Where: Dandenong Ranges, just outside of Melbourne

Length: 36km

Difficulty: easy

Terrain: hilly, but no huge climbs

Surface: well made gravel, some rougher tracks. One steep rocky downhill which can be easily avoided. Recommended XC mountain bike or gravel bike with wide tyres.

What: picturesque rainforest, fun tracks and descents, cafes and eateries

Where: East Gippsland

Length: 422km (elevation gain 5500m)

Difficulty: hard

Terrain: mix of flat and hilly terrain. Some steep hills.

Surface: sealed and unsealed roads, rail trail. Some rough and corrugated parts. Can be done on a gravel bike.

What: rail trail, rugged remote gravel roads, wilderness, breweries

Length: 962km

Difficulty: hard

Terrain: mountainous to flat

Surface: sealed roads, gravel roads, rail trail. Recommended gravel/touring tyre 32mm or wider.

What: a showcase of the best of Victoria

Length: 947km

Difficulty: hard

Terrain: everything, but plenty of hills

Surface: sealed roads, gravel roads, rail trails, some rougher sections. Can be done on a 32mm tyre

What: some of the best road, gravel and rail trail riding between Melbourne and Canberra

Where: central Victoria—Bendigo, Heathcote, Redesdale, Axedale, Harcourt, Metcalfe

Length: 164km

Difficulty: moderate

Terrain: flat/undulating, with a couple of moderate climbs

Surface: gravel of varying quality, some rocky sections, some singletrack, some sealed road. Recommended gravel-type bike with 35mm or wider tyres.

What: quiet back roads, rural scenery, native bushland, rail trail, brewery, winery, historical buildings, waterfall

Where: Yarra Valley, Yarra Ranges, east of Melbourne 

Length: 184km

Difficulty: moderate/hard

Terrain: a mix of hilly and flat

Surface: about 50/50 sealed/unsealed. Unsealed surfaces are well made and can be ridden on a road bike 

What: attractive pastoral areas, fresh produce, wineries, Yarra River, tall mountain ash forest, rainforest, challenging climbs, fast descents, historical mining settlement, Victoria's tallest tree!

Where: Creswick, Ballarat, Skipton, Beaufort—Central Victoria

Length: 170km 

Difficulty: Moderate

Terrain: Flat with a couple of short hills

Surface: Sealed road, gravel, hard packed dirt, rail trail. Best suited for CX/ gravel bikes or anything that will take at least a 32mm tyre.

What: Vast open farmlands, historic trestle bridges, quiet back laneways

Where: Yarra Valley, Yarra Ranges, Lake Eildon, central district, Great Victorian Rail Trail

Length: 333km

Difficulty: hard

Terrain: a mix of hilly and flat 

Surface: mostly gravel/dirt. Rough sections. Includes some creek crossings. Gravel-type bike recommended. Wide tyres will help. 

What: temperate rainforest, eucalypt forests, rivers, good free camping, lots of climbing, a couple of breweries, rural areas, Lake Eildon 

Where: Bunyip State Park, Yarra Ranges, Yarra Valley. This ride takes in much of the area of the proposed Great Forest National Park.

Length: 169km

Difficulty: hard

Terrain: very hilly until the Warby Rail Trail

Surface: almost entirely unsealed. Rough sections. Mountain bike or big-tyred gravel-type bike recommended. The author tackled it on a fat bike.

What: amazing temperate rainforest, good climbs, fun descents, lookouts, wildlife, giant trees, wet and dry eucalypt forest, comfy campsites with fireplaces, a feeling of total isolation and a couple of logging coupes

Where: Ballarat, Daylesford, Castlemaine, Bendigo—Central Victoria

Length: 202km

Difficulty: moderate/hard

Terrain: hilly

Surface: single track, vehicle tracks, gravel road, some sealed road. Mountain bike recommended.

What: great mountain-biking, gold mining history, historic towns, mineral springs, bushland, forest, farming land

Where: high country, eastern Victoria

Length: 310km

Difficulty: hard

Terrain: mountainous

Surface: sealed

What: high mountains, high plains, pastoral regions, small towns, local produce, gourmet regions

Where: Strzelecki Ranges, South Gippsland

Length: 160km

Difficulty: moderate

Terrain: moderately hilly/undulating

Surface: about 50/50 sealed/unsealed. Some chunky gravel. Gravel-type bike recommended. Wide tyres will help. 

What: cool temperate rainforest, tall mountain ash forest, rolling pastoral land, shady pine plantations, small towns, an award-winning brewery, interesting natural and human history

Where: Ruffy Highlands, Strathbogie Tablelands, Euroa—Central Victoria

Length: 148km

Difficulty: moderate

Terrain: hilly

Surface: about 50/50 sealed/unsealed. Some rough parts. Gravel-type bike recommended.

What: state forest, rolling pastures, pretty rural areas, local produce, quiet roads, small towns

Where: the high country, eastern Victoria

Length: 304km

Difficulty: hard

Terrain: very hilly

Surface: everything from sealed road to rocky/muddy tracks. Rough and steep sections. Can be done on a gravel-type bike, though some may prefer a MTB. Wide tyres will help. 

What: high mountains, pretty rural areas, beautiful forest, gourmet regions

Where: Otways, south-west Victoria

Length: 266km

Difficulty: moderate/hard

Terrain: undulating/hilly

Surface: sealed

What: stunning coastal scenery, surfing, beaches, seaside towns, temperate rainforest, local produce, food & wine

Where: Yarra Valley, east of Melbourne

Length: 79km

Difficulty: easy

Terrain: flat/slightly undulating

Surface: well-made crushed gravel. Can be done on a road bike. 

What: attractive pastoral areas, fresh produce, wineries, Yarra River, forested hills

Where: Melbourne, Yarra Valley, Yarra Ranges

Length: 187km OR 134km (two route options)

Difficulty: moderate/hard

Terrain: flat and hilly

Surface: sealed & well-made gravel. Can be done comfortably on a road bike, though some may prefer a gravel bike. 

What: challenging climbs, fast descents, temperate rainforest, farmland, Yarra River, small towns, gourmet food & wine 

Where: the Otway Ranges—south-west Victoria

Length: 144km

Difficulty: moderate/hard

Terrain: hilly

Surface: about 50/50 sealed/unsealed. Generally well made surfaces, occasional steep/rough sections. Gravel-type bike recommended. 

What: stunning temperate rainforest, good climbs, fun descents, beaches, waterfalls, food, wine, beer, cider, raspberries. 

Where: Ruffy Highlands, Strathbogie Tablelands, Euroa—central Victoria

Length: 157km

Difficulty: moderate

Terrain: moderately hilly/undulating

Surface: 95% sealed (though a bit choppy). Some short gravel sections which can be a bit rough. Can be done on a road bike, though some may prefer a gravel bike.  

What: pastoral land, bushland, rural idyll, local produce, wineries, small towns, moderate climbing/descending