Snowy River Cycling recently delivered its inaugural Great Southern Rail Trail Ride in South Gippsland, with event manager and owner Michelle Webb leading her loyal support team for a five-day supported cycling experience.
The event covered 168.5 kilometres over five days and brought together 40 riders and 10 support crew.
Participants travelled from Sydney, Canberra, the South Coast, Melbourne and across Gippsland to be part of the experience.
More than 90 per cent of riders had previously cycled with Snowy River Cycling at least once – a strong reflection of the community and loyalty the Orbost-based business has built through its events.
The Great Southern Rail Trail Ride was designed to replicate the successful format of the Great East Rail Trail Ride, which runs twice a year on the East Gippsland Rail Trail and has become a signature supported cycling event for the region.
Day one – Yarram to Port Welshpool (50km)
The ride began in Yarram, heading toward the coast through Port Albert and finishing in Port Welshpool.
Warm, windy conditions made for a challenging first day, but spirits remained high.
Morning tea at the Victoria Hotel Alberton and dinner at The Rusty Gurnard, following a relaxed game of barefoot bowls at the Port Welshpool Bowls Club, set the tone for the week – riding, community and shared experiences.
Day two – Welshpool to Foster (40km)
A light drizzle cleared to reveal a much more pleasant day on the trail.
Riders enjoyed time exploring Toora, with visits to Cube Art Space and local shops along the main street.
The afternoon included a standout visit to Gurneys Cider, where the story behind the business proved just as memorable as the product itself.
Dinner at the Foster Golf Club, catered by RAM’s Kitchen, rounded out a day focused on local connections and hospitality.
Day three – Foster to Meeniyan (31km)
Overcast skies and calm conditions made for peaceful riding through scenic farmland and rolling countryside.
A relaxed stop in Fish Creek saw many riders visit the Alison Lester Bookshop and local cafés before continuing to Meeniyan.
Lunch in the park was followed by showers at the Meeniyan Football Club – a generous gesture of community support. Dinner at the iconic Meeniyan Hotel capped off a day filled with good riding and plenty of laughter.
Day four – Meeniyan to Korumburra (31km)
The Meeniyan Cricket Club hosted breakfast, serving bacon and egg rolls and once again showcasing strong local community spirit.
Riders travelled through to Leongatha for morning tea before continuing to Korumburra.
A visit to Coal Creek Community Park and Museum proved a highlight, with many impressed by the depth of history and storytelling.
Dinner at Burra Brewing Co., where brewer Lee shared his passion, provided a fitting end to the day.
Day five – Korumburra to Nyora (21.5km)
The final day carried a sense of reflection as riders passed through Loch, intentionally scheduled on a weekend to enjoy the town’s cafés, distillery and cheese merchant.
The relaxed final kilometres into Nyora marked the end of a rewarding inaugural event at this scale.
While the event was held in South Gippsland, it remains a reflection of the Snowy River Cycling brand and the East Gippsland team behind it.
Michelle said the week demonstrated that the Snowy River Cycling format – strong on-trail support, local hospitality and camaraderie – can translate successfully to new regions.
“This was our inaugural Great Southern in this capacity. Like any first event at scale, there are always things to refine, but overall it was a strong success and incredibly rewarding to deliver,” she said.
The Great Southern Rail Trail Ride will now run once a year, complementing Snowy River Cycling’s established Great East Rail Trail Ride in East Gippsland.
For more information about upcoming rides its best to subscribe online, visit the Great East Rail Trail Ride website or check out Snowy River Cycling’s website.
