GDTmtb

News for mtb riders  ...

About the GDTmtb track

The Great Dividing Trail was originally developed as a walking track but in 2010 is progressively being upgraded into a shared use track to enable walkers and mountainbike riders to enjoy this wonderful part of central Victoria.  In consultation the various land managers the Track is being made safe and suitable as a dual use Track.  The intention is to have all sections of the Track either as shared or parallel use.

If you do decide to enjoy mountainbiking on parts of the Great Dividing Trail where it is allowed (see below), safe and environmentally sensible - please ride with care and in a manner that respects the rights and safety of all Track users, including anticipating cyclists or walkers on every blind corner or crest. 

 Goldfields Track (Ballarat to Bendigo)

Parks Victoria and Conservation Volunteers Australia have recently completed an audit of sections of the GDT between Buninyong (Ballarat) and Bendigo.

Three sections of trail were identified as not being suitable for mountain bikes:

  • The section between Daylesford and Golden Springs (via Break Neck Gorge);
  • Mount Alexander; and,
  • A section of trail on the south side of Vaughan Springs,

Please do NOT ride on these sections. Plans are underway to sign alternative routes and/or construct suitable mountain bike alternatives.

Other parts of the Goldfields track are meantime open to bikes on a shared trail basis. Some other sections of trail will require some minor upgrades to improve safety and facilitate shared mtb and walker use.

Lerderderg Track (Bacchus Marsh to Daylesford)

It is important to note, that at this point in time, shared use for the Blackwood to Bacchus Marsh section of the GDT has not been formally discussed and as such is a walking track with sections unsuitable for bikes.

Specifically, Mountain Bikes are not to use Whisky Track. This is a conservation area that prohibits vehicles as described by the Road Safety Act (which includes all motorised vehicles, horses and bicycles). For Mountain Bikes, Mount Blackwood Rd is an alternative.

We do intend to make GDT mtb friendly ...

The GDTA Committee is  committed, in the medium and long term, to progressively make most parts of the GDT safe and able to be signed as mtb friendly, and to try and make sure all new tracks have safe or alternative mtb options.

A GDTmtb Working Group was set up in late 2008 to begin to make this happen.

The GDTmtb working group is represented by Nick Lewis on the Goldfields Track Development Project, and one core member of the GDTmtb group (Nick Lewis, Rob Hands or Ken Dowling ) attended most GDTA meetings in 2009, held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7.45pm, Mitchell Hall in Daylesford.

An email list has been established for people with an interest in mountain biking along the GDT. If you are keen to follow the progress and/or provide input into mountain bike issues send an email to Nick (nlewis@eslinkservices.com.au) to be included on the list, or alternatively, join GDTA and/or come along to GDTA meetings in 2010.

The group is also working on establishing an online forum to facilitate input and communications, so stay tuned.

MTB Links

For those interested in mountain biking along the GDT, GDTA member Ken Dowling has a blog with lots of maps, hints and trail notes. It can be found at  http://digbig.con/5bbbyg

Social rides are also run by the Central Victorian Rocky Riders Mountain Bike Club.

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