HOWITT BICYCLE TRAIL
|
|
The Howitt Bicycle Trail was designed
as a 13-day round trip, starting and finishing in Sale, with options for cyclists to
either complete the entire journey or to only undertake parts of the Trail depending on
their level of expertise or time available. Be aware that, regrettably, the East Gippsland Shire Council no longer supports the Howitt Bicycle Trail and signage in their Shire has been removed from the roads. Signs are still in place in Wellington Shire and the entire Trail can still be followed by using appropriate maps. It is possible to combine the Howitt Bicycle Trail with sections of the East Gippsland Rail Trail
|
THE HOWITT TRAIL ITINERARY
| Day 1 - Sale - Maffra - Stratford : 41 kms of flat terrain with a degree of difficulty of 1. | Day 8 - Bruthen - Double Bridges - Tambo Crossing - Ensay : 52 kms of hilly terrain with a degree of difficulty of 6. |
| Day 2 - Stratford - Briagolong - Lindenow - Bairnsdale : 84 kms of flat/undulating terrain with a degree of difficulty of 2. | Day 9 - Ensay - Swifts Creek - Tongio - Omeo 43 kms of hilly terrain with a degree of difficulty of 8. |
| Day 3 - Bairnsdale - Metung - Lakes Entrance 58 kms of flat/undulating terrain with a degree of difficulty of 3. | Day 10 - Omeo - Cassilis - Swifts Creek : 51 kms of hily terrain with a degree of difficulty of 5. |
| Day 4 - Lakes Entrance - Nowa Nowa - Orbost 68 kms with an undulating/hilly terrain and a degree of difficulty of 5. | Day 11 - Swifts Creek - Doctors Flat - Bruthen 52 kms of hilly terrain with a degree of difficulty of 6. |
| Day 5 - Orbost - Marlo - Cape Conran - Marlo - Orbost : 66 kms of flat terrain with a difficulty degree of 1. (Optional day trip and need not be part of the circuit). | Day 12 - Bruthen - Bairnsdale - Eagle Point - Paynesville : 45 kms of undulating/flat terrain with a degree of difficulty of 4. |
| Day 6 - Orbost - Bete Bolong - Buchan : 56 kms of hilly terrain with a degree of difficulty of 7. | Day 13 - Paynesville - Bengworden - Meerlieu - Sale : 87 kms of flat terrain with a degree of difficulty of 1. |
| Day 7 - Buchan - South Buchan - Bruthen : 51 kms of hilly terrain with a degree of difficulty of 5 |  |
SELECTED JOURNEYS
It is not necessary to undertake the entire Howitt Bicycle Trail and the following are suggestions of how smaller trips can be planned - there are a number of link roads that connect to various towns and the East Gippsland Rail Trail.
EASY TOUR FOR AMATEUR CYCLISTS - This journey covers the area from Sale to Bairnsale via Maffra, Stratford and Briagolong, and returning via Paynesville and Meerlieu. The terrain is flat or gently undulating and the degree of difficulty does not exceed 3. The ride can be easily accomplished over three days.
THE LONG WEEKENDER - Designed for busy cyclists with only a weekend to spare, this trip includes the journey from Melbourne and could be easily covered on a long weekend. Travel from Melbourne to Bairnsdale by train and bus and cycle to Sale via Lindenow, Briagolong and Maffra, returning to Melbourne from Sale. The terrain is gently undulating with a degree of difficulty of only 2.
CHALLENGING TOUR FOR EXPERIENCED CYCLISTS - The area covered by this tour is generally hilly and runs north from Bruthen through the Tambo Valley to Omeo. The degree of difficulty is as high as 8 and is for the fit and healthy or experienced cyclist. The trip is designed to take four days.
THE FOREST AND LAKES TOUR - A longer journey for those cyclists who wish to appreciate the beautiful countryside of the area. Beginning in Bairnsdale, this trip travels through the coastal towns of Metung and Lakes Entrance, natural forest vegetation to Orbost, then back to Bairnsdale via Buchan and Bruthen. Designed to take five days, the degree of difficulty varies between 3 and 7.
