Bicycle Network: Regional Routes

Time for the Trail to join the elite toursim paths

26 April 2013 We are calling on Council and the State Government to elevate this rail trail into the upper echelon of Tourism trails in Australia. All it needs is a spruce up with an upgraded surface and a short section of substandard alignment sorted out just to the west of Drysdale.

This Rail Trail now is well connected so riders can get to the trail head by Train from Melbourne at South Gellong Station. It has many attractions along its route with wineries, B&Bs and historic Queenscliff and the Ferry at its farthest point. The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and Australia's latest jewel in the tourism trail crown, the Tallarook to Mansfield Rail Trail

Make Bellarine blossom

27 July 2011. The Bellarine Rail Trail is already looking gorgeously natural in sections, but you can make it even better by helping out at a tree planting day this Sunday.

The Bellarine Landcare Group has invited riders to celebrate National Tree Day with a planting along the trail.

The best way to get there is to ride/walk/drive from Drysdale along the Trail or catch a free train with the Bellarine Railway from Queenscliff at 11.15 and Drysdale at 12.15.

Landcare will be there all day from 9.30am - 4pm and volunteers are welcome to participate anytime throughout the day.

There will be a free BBQ lunch between 12 and 1pm.

Water works shutter Trail for weeks

7 July 2010. The Barwon Water Alliance is rebuilding some pipe that runs through South Geelong and Moolap along the alignment of some of the Bellarine Rail Trail.

From this week, the section of the Trail between Boundary Road and Wilsons Road will be closed for 2-3 weeks while that section of the pipe is replaced. Trail users will be detoured along Pitman Street while the pipe work is completed and the Trail reinstated. Click here to see the diversion plan

The current program of pipe works is much more sensibly designed that the original range of diversions and closures initially presented to Bicycle Network Victoria in April. However, anyone with concerns about the state of the diverson should advise the Barwon Alliance.

Trail block clamp down

14 April 2010. Authorities plan to clamp down on drivers illegally parking across the entrance to the Bellarine Rail Trail.

Geelong City Council has re-installed new 'no standing' signs at the start of the Bellarine Rail Trail on Strong Street in South Geelong. Signs had previously been installed at this location, but after suffering repeated vandalism were finally destroyed and removed illegally by unnamed culprits, believed to work nearby.

The new signs have been in place for nearly a month now.

Riders will recall that the Strong Street entrance to the trail has been notoriously blocked with parked cars in recent months, as illustrated in the photo below from September 2009. Because of the period of time where 'no standing' signs were lacking, enforcing parking regulations was not possible.

Now that new signs have been re-installed, Geelong City officers will be keeping special watch on the Trail entrance to ensure that it is kept clear and the 'no standing' rules are enforced. Offending vehicles will be ticketed.

Members and friends are encouraged to continue monitoring the Trail entrance and report any continued infringements to the City of Geelong. Be sure to photograph and offending vehicles.

Strong Street strangulation

8 September 2009. Riders attempting to exit the Bellarine Rail Trail at its current terminus at the bottom of Strong Street in South Geelong will discover their route blocked by an illegal car park.

Geelong City Council has been advised of this development where drivers thoughtlessly utilise the trailhead to park vehicles, and has been asked to be vigilant in keeping the exit to the area clear.

Members should not hesitate to let Council know should vehicles continue to park in the area.

Bellarine Rail Trail sees the light(s)

22 April 2009. The Bellarine Rail Trail will now benefit from the addition of a new set of traffic signals at the intersection of Geelong-Portarlington Road at Curlewis.

The Geelong-Portarlington Road is a high-speed, high-volume route. The now formerly uncontrolled trail crossing at this point has therefore been one that carried a higher degree of risk and difficulty for trail users, especially in busier peak periods with fewer breaks in vehicle traffic.

These lights can be used as a model for other councils and management groups that should be looking at improving the quality of their trails through better connections and crossings.

Paved trail nearing South Geelong Station

06 October 2008. The Bellarine Trail continues to improve as work on the trail surface and associated amenities go forward. The trail surface is now sealed from the Geelong Showgrounds to within shouting distance of South Geelong Station, as shown in the photos below.

The photo on the left shows the terminus of the trail, with its new bitumen topping, at the end of Strong Street in South Geelong (Melways ref 452 C9), which is about 500 meters from the train station - shown in the photo on the right.

The next progression is to link the trail over just that little bit of extra distance to the station. Our page (link at right) on "linking the 3Bs" outlines how we would like to see that happen. We will continue to work with the relevant stakeholders to encourage this to go forward.

Upgrades to the trail's amenities have generated some recent local media coverage in the Geelong Advertiser, which can be found here.

Bellarine Trail surface upgrades

25 July 2008. The riding experience on the Bellarine Rail Trail is set for significant improvement, now that the paving upgrade is underway.

The picture at right shows a brand new sealed surface at Leopold near Kensington Road. Smooooth.

The ultimate goal is to seal the entire length of trail, but like many other projects, it is being undertaken in digestible sections. Thanks to the City of Greater Geelong for paving these new sections.

We are working with VicRoads and the City of Geelong to have more sections of the trail sealed soon, especially the section from South Geelong Station towards Leopold, to link up with the newly paved sections.

Paving this route will make the Bellarine Trail a much more accessible transportation route for commuters to use between Leopold and Geelong City.

Improving connections in Geelong

We have a vision to see the Bellarine Rail Trail linked to both the Barwon River Trail and the Bay Trail. See the  3Bs link (right).

The Bellarine Rail Trail currently ends at Carr Road near the Geelong Showground in South Geelong (Melway 452 E9). A short distance away is the Barwon River Trail (Melway 452 B9).

We want to see the rail trail extended along Carr St to South Geelong station and a protected bike lane constructed along Swanston St to John Landy Athletics Field and the Barwon River Path. See link (right) for more.

Improving connections in Queenscliff

The trail starts at the Queenscliff railway station runs westward until it reaches Murray Rd (Melway 500 D1). This intersection is confusing as there is a local path on the other side of pedestrian crossing on the Bellarine Hwy that people mistakedly take instead of turning down Murray Rd.

Signage at the intersection should direct rail trail users down Murray Rd. The barriers in the middle of the path are also a hazard and should be removed. See photo (right).

The path appears to disapper down Murray Rd (Melway 486 B12) and trail users must ride on the road. See photo (right).  We would like council to investigate options to improve this section of path.

They did a good job with the section of trail along Nankervis Pde (Melway 486 H12) and something similar may work on Murray Rd.

Improving link through Drysdale

The trail is not well defined around Drysdale station. We would like to see the trail made more legible around the station area.