The Great Vic Gravel Route: Crossing Victoria on Unsealed Roads
The Great Vic Gravel Route is a proposed 1,728 km cycling path in Victoria, Australia, featuring only 30 km of paved roads, connecting unpaved routes through diverse landscapes for adventurous cyclists.
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The Great Vic Gravel Route is a proposed cycling route across Victoria, Australia, designed to minimize the use of paved roads. Utilizing data from OpenStreetMap, the route aims to connect various unpaved roads and tracks, allowing cyclists to traverse the state from west to east while encountering only a minimal amount of asphalt. The route stretches approximately 1,728 km from Nelson to Mallacoota, with only about 30 km of paved roads along the way. This journey takes cyclists through diverse landscapes, including the mallee, Murray River, and the Alps, while navigating around "gravel islands"—isolated stretches of dirt roads surrounded by paved roads. Although it is not possible to completely avoid paved roads, the route strategically weaves through large gravel zones, making it a unique adventure for bikepacking enthusiasts. The Great Vic Gravel Route has yet to be fully explored, presenting an opportunity for cyclists to undertake this challenging ride and potentially set a fastest known time (FKT).
- The Great Vic Gravel Route spans 1,728 km with only 30 km of paved roads.
- It connects various unpaved roads across Victoria, avoiding paved roads as much as possible.
- The route includes diverse landscapes, such as the mallee and the Alps.
- It highlights the concept of "gravel islands," which are isolated dirt roads surrounded by paved roads.
- The route remains untested, offering a challenge for adventurous cyclists.
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8 commentsFor the U.S., there’s a curated route nearly coast to coast for dirt and gravel roads. Maps for sale at https://www.transamtrail.com/.
I’ve written about various curated routes in the U.S. here: https://opposite-lock.com/topic/12190/u-s-adventure-trails
We sometimes find a bit down in Queensland's Granite Belt, and there are thousands of kms left in the real outback, and forested areas. Closer to urban centres like south East Queensland, it's getting scarce.
I've driven every bit of that (not in one go) and I'm 100% certain there is no unpaved roads in there. In fact, it's getting close to a majority being 2 lanes in each direction (or 2+1 at least). It's all highway.
Some of those tracks in the mountainous, forested parts of eastern Victoria are in seriously rugged and isolated country, and I'm not sure all of them are even open to the public.
Does Australia mean something else by gravel road than what I'm thinking as a US person?
Biking on gravel roads is unpleasant compared to paved or dirt IMHO. Gravel is unsmooth, loud, and can be loose. I certainly have the wrong tires for gravel, but even with wider tires, I don't think I'd dream of riding on gravel.
No stress for your average country driver but negotiating right of way on a single track road used by heavy freight is not something you get taught at drivers ed! You would also be surprised at just how hilly and windy Victoria can be, and that at some point you will be driving through a rainforest.
Like most states here, it's huge, so if you do venture on an unsealed road adventure just be mindful of your fuel.
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