Enjoy a pleasant walk along the Geelong foreshore, travelling there and back via public transport: a V/Line train to the North Geelong Station, returning to Docklands by ferry (or optionally by train). Note: This event was rescheduled from 23 August due to suspension of the Geelong ferry service until 5 September. GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Grade 2 Easy 7 km point-to-point walk, optionally extended to a Grade 3 Moderate 13 km walk via an additional 6 km circuit walk along the foreshore to Eastern Park (graded according to the AWTGS: Australian Walking Tracks Grading System).  ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: We'll catch a V/Line train to Geelong's North Geelong Station, from where we'll walk to the interesting Federal Mills complex for a quick visit. Afterwards, a short stroll will take us to the foreshore, which we'll follow all the way round to Cunningham Pier and the picturesque Geelong waterfront. Lunch can be taken in this vicinity, either in one of the cafes facing the foreshore, or you can BYO lunch for a picnic in the park. Suggested lunch options are The Geelong Boathouse (for fish and chips) or Hecho en Mexico.  After lunch you'll have the option to stroll with us along the waterfront around to Eastern Beach, and back via parklands and Malop St, or alternatively to check out the nearby Geelong CBD on your own - there is an excellent Art Gallery located on Johnstone Park and the National Wool Museum (open daily 9am-5pm) is quite close to Cunningham Pier. To return to Melbourne, we'll catch the 4pm Port Phillip Ferries service to Docklands via Portarlington, with excellent views of the Bellarine Peninsula coastline. If you prefer though, you can catch a V/Line train from the nearby Geelong Station.  BOOKING: By Friday 4 September. To register with The Nomads, click on Get Tickets. To book your ferry ticket, go to Port Phillip Ferries (this can be done on the day from your phone). Bookings can't be made for the V/Line trains, but you'll need a Myki card. Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings. FURTHER INFORMATION: See V/Line Trains for timetables. Docklands-Geelong-Portarlington ferry service: Port Phillip Ferries.  For our approximate route, see the North Geelong - Federal Mills - Eastern Beach - Port Phillip Ferries Google map. MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10:50am at the North Geelong Station, 109 Victoria St, North Geelong. We'll meet near the bus stop at the eastern exit from the station (beside the Princes Hwy Service Rd). If travelling by train from Southern Cross, you should get to Southern Cross Station by around 9:35am, ready to board the Waurn Ponds service that departs at 9:50am (arriving at North Geelong Station at 10:49am). MAP REFERENCE: Google map - North Geelong Station: maps.app.goo.gl/GUiNbwG449N1fvxS9.  DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 67 km, 59 minutes by train (or approximately 1 hour to drive, but public transport is recommended).  PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Outbound: Board the front carriage of the Waurn Ponds (Geelong) service that departs from Southern Cross Station at 9:50am, and should arrive at the North Geelong Station at 10:49am. Return: We'll need to get to the Port Phillip Ferries terminal by 3:45pm, to board the ferry that departs from Geelong at 4pm.  Return via V/Line: Trains bound for Southern Cross depart from Geelong Station at 3:33pm, 3:53pm, 4:13pm, 4:33pm, 4:53pm etc. COST: TRAIN: Train, tram and bus travel is capped at $4 per day (or $2 for Concessions or FREE for Seniors) for travel anywhere in Victoria. FERRY: The Geelong-Docklands service costs $29 one-way (or $26.50 for Seniors/Concessions) on weekends. NOTE: You can leave purchasing your ferry ticket until the day of travel (but book at least an hour prior to sailing) - there will be ample space on board. FOOD: Carry snacks if you wish and some drinking water. Bring your lunch if you plan to have a picnic, or there are many options along the Geelong foreshore to purchase lunch. APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots/shoes and dress according to the weather forecast.  LEADER: Alan D. | Email LeaderAlanD@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.   HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS  

A warm invitation to join Wayne and Bryan on their (pretty) regular fortnightly Sunday morning ride from Kooyong to Hampton (and sometimes Mordialloc). As we are preparing for Round The Bay on Oct 18, we will probaly ride to the Chain of Fools cafe (68 Beach Road Mentone) for a coffee and snack, then ride back home. There are plenty of stations along the way for bail out options.  GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Ride distance is approx 34 km from Kooyong to Hampton station. 48 km if you ride to Mordialloc. You add on your ride distance to home - or you catch the train back from Hampton or Mordy.  ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: This is a 'working-on-our-riding-fitness' ride. We do it every second Sunday morning - more or less. We begin at Kooyong Tennis Stadium at 7.25am and take Gardiners Creek Trail into the city. You are free to join at several points along the way. Kooyong (7.25am); Birrarung Marr Walk (7.50am); Port Melbourne Beach (8.40am). We ride the same route each time. We pick up Gardiners Creek at Glenferrie Road and ride to Birrarung Marr Walk, then through Southbank onto Lorimer Street - Westgate Park to Port Melbourne, Beaconsfield Parade to St Kilda and Beach Road to Hampton. We ride on trails, on quiet roads and a choice of bike path or road from Port Melbourne to Hampton. For the Beach Road section, riders choose whichever option (bike path or road) they are most comfortable with. At Hampton we stop for coffee - right next to Hampton station. We don't stop much on the ride apart from road crossings at lights and a toilet stop in Westgate Park. Oh Yeah :) We ride at a steady pace. We surge a bit down Lorimer Street. We take it carefully on Beach Road or bike paths where there are other forms of traffic (runners/ walkers/cyclists/cars etc). Coffee in Hampton is for about 30 mins, then we move on. Post-coffee choices are to ride onto Mordy, head home on your bike or catch the train. It's a morning ride and we aim to be back home by 11.00 - 11.30am. The rest of the day is yours and you're feeling great, having done a beautiful Sunday morning Melbourne ride.  BOOKING: We communicate via SMS if required, such as - "it's raining we're not going" or "good weather - we're on!". This generally happens on the morning of the ride. Early. Around 6.30am. Check your messages before you leave home. If you are keen to join this ride email Bryan and we can exchange numbers for communication purposes. Proposed ride dates at this stage are 12 & 26 July; 23 & 30 August; 13 September. MEETING TIME | LOCATION: Gardiner's Creek( next to Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club) at 7.25am. Birrarung Marr Walk at 7.50am. Port Melbourne Roundabout at 8.40am. All meeting times are sharp! MAP REFERENCE: Google map of the route: Kooyong Tennis Centre - Fed Square - Westgate Park - Hampton - Mordialloc. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The ride interlinks with trains at Flinders Street, Hampton and Mordialloc stations. FOOD: Water, rain gear, tube/pump, phone, helmet, glasses, $ for coffee/muffin APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Your riding gear. You know the drill.  LEADER: Bryan S. | Email Bryan on LeaderBryanS@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.   HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS  

The last section of the O'Keefe Rail Trail from Lake Eppalock to Heathcote, visit the Pink Cliffs and a scenic lookout. GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Grade 3: Moderate 12.6 km walk. Mostly flat on a gravel rail trail, plus a short uneven walk at the Pink Cliffs (graded according to the AWTGS: Australian Walking Tracks Grading System). ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: After meeting in the car park, we carpool to the start of the walk at the O'keefe Rail Trail at Lake Eppalock. We have a short walk along the lake, depending on winter rainfall, which will determine if the lake water reaches this point. We walk for about 2.5 hours along the rail trail through forest and farmland. After lunch we continue into Heathcote and visit the Pink Cliffs and then drive or walk up to the Viewing Rock Lookout for views over Heathcote and surrounding countryside (the return walk is 3-4 km via Devils Cave going up, and the Heathcote Powder Magazine going down), before returning to town for refreshments at the Commercial Hotel or Gaffney's Bakery (closes 4pm) before heading home. BOOKING: By Friday 11th September. To register click on Get Tickets. Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings. FURTHER INFORMATION: OKeefe Rail Trail | Commercial Hotel Heathcote | MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10.00am, Lions Club Picnic Shelter Car Park, Herriot Street at the rail trail (entry near Station St). MAP REFERENCE: Melway map X921 grid F10 | Google map https://maps.app.goo.gl/wVWD12GZX1SPocod9 DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 130 km, aproximately 1 hr 40 min via Kilmore & Heathcote. Alternative routes via Lancefield 126 km, 1 hr 40 min or 141 km, 1 hour 40 minutes via Calder Fwy/M79 to Kynton, then follow C326 via Redesdale to Heathcote (Stop to view the Redesdale Water Tank Mural, in park opposite hotel). PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Not Available. If you need a lift or to carpool, contact leader at least a week in advance to arrange. FOOD: Carry lunch, snacks, and 1 to 2 litres of water. After-walk refreshments at Gaffney's Bakery (closes 4pm) or at the Commercial Hotel. APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking boots/shoes and dress according to the weather forecast. Heathcote can be warmer and sunnier than Melbourne. LEADER: Paul K. | Email LeaderPaulK@nomads.org.au if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website. Image: Visit Victoria HOME   BACK TO LIST OF EVENTS   MEMBERSHIPS