Moey and his crew rode 60km of brand name new MTB Trails in Creswick, solely 90 Minutes from Melbourne, and selected their favourites!
We Are Explorers acknowledges that this journey is situated on the normal Nation of the Dja Dja Wurrung individuals who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for 1000’s of years. We pay our respects to the Djaara because the Conventional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was by no means ceded.
Creswick, a quaint city situated simply 20 minutes from Ballarat, has develop into Victoria’s latest mountain biking hub. Lengthy generally known as the house of the Victorian College of Forestry, that picture seems set to alter as 60 kilometres of mountain bike trails have formally opened to the general public. The city is already bustling with mountain bike riders.
Learn extra: How you can Maximise Your MTB Weekend in Creswick, Victoria: Greatest Meals Accom, & Aspect Quests
Djuwang Baring means ‘long track’ within the Dja Dja Wurrung language and now supplies riders with an enormous playground amongst the forests, which fluctuate from pine to Australian bush.
The paths, which begin at Hammon Park Trailhead, provide one thing for everybody – whether or not you’re an entire newbie or a seasoned professional. Moreover, 30% of the path community is appropriate for adaptive riders. We like to see it!
It’s the proper launching pad to discover the scenic, forested landscapes and well-maintained trails which provide flowy berms, elective technical challenges, and a breath of contemporary air.
These are our high trails within the space for newbie and intermediate riders.
Learn extra: Bear in mind to depart no hint
The Prime 5 Trails
1. Down Martuk (W6) and Up Gir (W3)
Trailhead space: Wooden Coupe
Distance: 2.5km
Problem: Intermediate
By the point you’ve warmed up on the inexperienced trails and discovered the stream on the berms, you’ll wish to head to the intermediate Martuk for what we predict is probably the most scenic path we rode throughout our weekend in Creswick.
Professional tip: Drop your main shoulder, i.e. proper shoulder for proper corners, for higher management.
Park on the town and heat up your legs on the mellow climb as much as the Wooden Coupe path junction the place W6 will probably be ready so that you can stream freely down and across the plentiful berms by way of native Australian forest.
The steadiness between stream, enjoyable, and problem right here will go away you wanting extra and discovering a technique to maintain lapping Martuk. Our suggestion is to go up Gir to avoid wasting time driving the massive loop round W1. Concern not, while Gir is rated intermediate, the intermediate half comes with elective technical challenges reminiscent of fallen log traverses.
2. Down Gurnmil (L7) and Up Warami Galk Galk (L8)
Trailhead space: Yulawil Gravity
Distance: 1.7km
Problem: Straightforward
While the entire Yulawil Gravity community is well accessible from Hammon Park, we suggest parking your automotive close to the trailhead to maximise time on the path (with out getting in anybody else’s method!).
After our weekend on the Djuwang Baring path community, we realised that after beginning on trails reminiscent of L7 and G8, progressing onto some intermediate trails after which returning to greens reminiscent of Gurnmil, we had much more enjoyable and management than earlier than. By the top, Gurnmil was definitely within the mixture of our favorite trails!
Gurnmil has a pleasant lengthy straight part that’s conducive to ‘bombing’, choosing up a controllable quantity of velocity earlier than squeezing the brakes and hitting the berms in the direction of the top of the path.
It’s brief, sharp and completely lappable.
3. Up Yam Daisy (G7) and Down Inexperienced Apple (G8)
Trailhead space: Yulawil Gravity
Distance: 2.7km
Problem: Straightforward
Most simply accessible from Hammon Park Trailhead, this monitor is ideal for anybody that has discovered their ft on the pump monitor and Galki Kawa abilities space.
The ascent up Yam Daisy meanders by way of pine forests and earlier than lengthy you’ll be on the high of Yulawil Gravity path junction. As you’re about to succeed in the highest of the junction, visions of Leaping Jacks (G9) become visible.
The tight berms and large jumps there would possibly look alarming, however these worries will fade by the point you attain the beginning of Inexperienced Apple.
Inexperienced Apple is a nice introduction into the world of mountain biking within the space.
Very like a cooked Granny Smith goes properly in an apple pie, a newbie mountain bike rider pairs properly with Inexperienced Apple.
The path has good sweeping berms that nearly appear to look after you and information you across the bends. It’s the perfect path to achieve confidence managing velocity round corners and working towards approach.
4. Rainbow Manner (L5), Windlass (L3), Up Swamp Wallaby (L2), & Quartz Ridge (L6)
Trailhead space: Far east of Yulawil Gravity into Lake Hyperlink
Distance: 3.6km
Problem: Intermediate descents and straightforward ascents
Beginning with the technical rock sections, and a few bumps to navigate on the decline, there’s undoubtedly a way of trepidation as we method the options on Rainbow Manner. We discovered it’s higher to hit these with barely extra velocity than we could also be snug with at first to experience the bumps out.
Professional tip: Experience as much as these options slowly earlier than hitting them to verify them out, and if there’s somebody extra skilled in your get together get them to roll over them first and provide you with any suggestions.
After finishing Rainbow Manner, it’s elective to maintain on driving down Windlass or heading again up Quartz Ridge to the highest, nevertheless Windlass was additionally one among my favourites so my tip right here is to push on and ship it.
On Windlass there are some steeper gradients to take care of, and one part specifically will ask you to belief in your skills and let the brakes go, in any other case you received’t make it up the opposite facet of the ascent.
Fortunately for me, I had some guinea pigs with me, who advised me precisely the place I wanted to let the brakes go.
This one could have your adrenaline flowing, nevertheless it’ll be again down by the point you attain the sting of St George’s Lake with a peaceable finish to the downhill part by way of the Australian bush.
5. Marsupial (W1) Loop
Trailhead space: Wooden Coupe
Distance: 3.4km
Problem: Straightforward
From the Brackenbury and Port Phillip Street junction take the Marsupial path to begin your journey by way of the Wooden Coupe space.
The path, like its namesake, is gentle and fluffy, and pleasant to heat up on within the morning when the ambiance is calm and the echoes of wildlife nonetheless linger.
Marsupial is a perfect path to soak up the tranquillity of the Wooden Coupe area. A newbie’s should and an excellent begin to any day trip on the Creswick trails.
If Marsupial is your vibe then don’t shy out on ascending Gir (W3) as much as the Wooden Coupe Junction – though that is an intermediate path the technical elements reminiscent of log traverses are elective.
We had a ball out on the Djuwang Baring trails and it’s no marvel that with its shut proximity to Melbourne, its high quality, and the number of trails, Creswick is quick turning into a favorite amongst mountain bike riders in Victoria. Nonetheless, Creswick is much from only a mountain biking city, with foodie hotspots (trace: Truffles and Masterchef) and outdated structure that provides to the appeal and attract of a weekend away close to Ballarat.
Djuwang Baring Creswick Mountain Bike Trails FAQs
What number of kilometres of trails are there?
There are eight completely different areas throughout the community, with 60km of brand name new MTB trails to select from. Convey the crew! There’s one thing for everybody, with newbie and professional strains, in addition to adaptive and cross nation trails.
Are the paths near Melbourne?
Sure. The Djuwang Baring Creswick Trails are very near Melbourne, inside a 90-minute drive from town’s centre and solely 20 minutes from Ballarat. Take a look at the path community’s web site for extra info to plan your day trip amongst the forests. The Trailforks app can also be one other nice useful resource that permits you to obtain trails offline.
Is bike rent obtainable?
The closest possibility for bike rent is Creswick Bike Rent, with the choice to both decide up the bikes your self in Ballarat or get them delivered to the trailhead at Hammon Park.
I employed one of many twin suspension bikes from Sam on the store and had a ripper day trip.
How lengthy will I must discover the paths?
No less than a day, however a weekend is preferable. There’s lots to see and do as soon as the driving’s achieved for the day too. Take a look at the Go to Ballarat web site for inspo!
Are there locations to remain?
We stayed on the RACV Goldfields Resort Creswick. We selected them as a result of they’ve bike-friendly lodging, with a safe locking storage and bike-washing amenities. Did we point out the buffet?
