As my inbox is continually bombarded with offers from the likes of Groupon, Scoopon, and others, it is hard not to get drawn in by the latest deal. Last month, I found one for a weekend at the Foothills Conference Centre, at the edge of the Yarra Valley. With breakfast and a bottle of wine included, it seemed like a good idea to book us in for our anniversary! So this weekend, Brian and I packed our bags, hopped on our bikes, and took the train far out on the Lilydale line, to Mooroolbark.
The resort is situated approximately 4 km from the train station, so I thought it would be easy for us to bike there with our things, allowing us to have our bikes for the weekend. Unfortunately, the Melways map book is not topographical, and as such, I was unaware of the steep hills we would need to climb to reach our destination! It was a slow ride, with both of us needing to disembark and push our bikes up one of the hills! Thirty minutes later, we rolled into Reception to check in, very hot and very excited about our imminent showers! It was a relief to know that it would be a breeze heading downhill all the way back to the station.
One of the main attractions to booking this weekend away was the opportunity to cycle the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail. Although we could have easily taken the train to Lilydale anytime to tackle this journey, it was appealing to think of being able to finish in a hotel pool afterwards, instead of having to spend an hour sweating on the train back home.
The Warburton Trail follows the rail line that once ran from Lilydale to Warburton. Although this rail line closed in the 1960s and the tracks were dismantled in the 1970s, the conversion of the land into a trail for walkers, cyclists, and horses was not established until 1996. The trail is 38 km from Lilydale to Warburton, and the stations along the way are still marked. Their platforms make for good resting spots.
Brian and I headed off just before 11:00 a.m. on Saturday morning to find the trail. It was around 5 km from our accommodation to the trail. The trail itself was gorgeous – beautifully maintained gravel track with gently undulating hills. We began with a bit of a climb up Mt Evelyn, then just enjoyed the ride on past Wandin, Seville, Killara, Woori Yallock, Launching Place, and Yarra Junction Stations, stopping occasionally for water and fruit. It was a gorgeous day – sunny and 32 degrees! We stopped at Amanda’s Café in Yarra Junction for lunch at 2:00ish, deciding not to complete the final 5-7 km stretch to Warburton. Heading back was a bit harder than the way in, as the heat and muscle fatigue were both setting in! We stopped for water breaks and had to call in a small bushfire, before finally making it back to the pool at the Foothills just past 5:00 p.m. What a refreshing dip it was! The cool water was very rejuvenating after having to struggle up a few final hills to get back. We felt pretty good to have completed a 70 km bike ride in the heat, and enjoyed the scenic views along the way. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so have had to find a few photos online.
Sunday we had to check out early, and our legs and butts were happy that the journey back to the train station required minimal climbing and was mostly coasting downhill. We made it back to the station in about 10 minutes! It was a great weekend in the country, and a lovely way to celebrate seven years with Brian!
Yak Down Under 