The Best Cycling Spots in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges

On your bike!

From heart-pounding downhill adventures to leisurely, family-friendly cycles, get on your bike and explore of the region’s best cycling adventures.

Whether you’re looking for a leisurely run through the vineyard views and rolling hills or a grip-the-handles-tightly-and-pray adventure through steep and rocky terrain, you’ll find the perfect ride in our region.

Remember though, it’s important to know your fitness and experience levels, always follow the posted signs on riding trails as many go through State Forests, always ensure you bike with a buddy (or let someone know where you’ll be) and come prepared with a water bottle and a sense of adventure for a great day out.

Get inspired with these trails of varying difficulty: Here are only a few to get you inspired.

Popular with mountain bikers who have a more advanced level of fitness and experience, The Ada Tree Cyclists Loop is a mountain biking loop that can be done over two days, beginning and ending in Warburton and putting you within a 1KM walk of the popular and towering Ada tree at the end of day one and camping overnight at Starling Gap camping site.

Hugely popular, the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail passes through some of the most picturesque landscapes in the region and is suited to a wide range of cyclists. At 40 km in length, it can be done in sections.

Although some of the original station buildings have been lost over time, most of the original station platforms are still visible with replica station signage and you’ll also find car parking, picnic areas and cafes along the way for pit stops.

Running from Healesville to Narbethong along the magnificent terrain of the Great Dividing Range. The Bicentennial National Trail is frequently used by bushwalkers, cyclists and horseback riding enthusiasts alike.

Suited to be ridden year-round, start at Donnelly Weir in Healesville and follow the ‘BNT’ and ‘Horsetrail’ markers through the tall timber forests. The first section of the trail is on gravelled service roads, moderate to steep uphill terrain for about 8km, then levelling out on Monda Track for an 18 km trail through ferny gullies and tall Mountain Ash forests to Narbethong, finishing at the Black Spur Inn. You’ll find picnic areas and accommodation along the way.

With options for traditional as well as e-bike hire, children's bikes, tandem bikes, you name it, head over to Emerald Lake and spot the iconic Puffing Billy historic train with Cog Bikes Australia.

A partnership between Puffing Billy and Cog Bikes Australia now means you can hire a bike from Puffing Billy Railway's Lakeside Station bike hub in Emerald Lake Park.

Whether travelling by train or driving into the precinct on a lovely sunny day, choose from a range of standard trail bikes, e-bikes, balance bikes or children's pedal bikes, and explore a number of tracks and trails to suit all capabilities and interests.

Once you're done, roll on into the new Puffing Billy Railway Lakeside Visitor Centre and take advantage of the gift shop, café, and railway museum.

The Hey, Hey, My, My Mind Crusher Mountain Biking Loop is a single-track mountain bike loop that packs a punch for experienced riders.

Once a hidden, local secret in Warbuton, it's been certified by DELWP and has one of the toughest climbs of any track in the region. With steep climbs and descents, jumps, obstacles and more all to keep your teeth clenched.

Keen to tackle this one? It'll take about an hour and 15 minutes to complete it (roughly speaking). Take care and be prepared, it's a lot of fun for the experienced, but definitely not one to underestimate.