Routes and Prices
Around the Bay 135km
Ride features
This ride is the perfect opportunity to ride the best parts of Melbourne’s east and west.
Starting at Cunningham Pier, Geelong Waterfront, you’ll trace the edge of Port Phillip Bay coastline – travelling through the Bellarine Peninsula, Queenscliff, Sorrento and the Mornington Peninsula. Enjoy the final stretch to the Albert Park finish line via Melbourne’s iconic Beach Road.
Key details
- Distance: 135km
- Elevation: 645m
- Departing: 06:30am, Cunningham Pier, Geelong Waterfront
- Min. avg pace: 16km/h
- Estimated ride time: 6:10h (riding at 26km/h) – 9:45h (riding at 16km/h)
- Rider briefing: Listen for announcements over the PA at the start line and event village.
A GPX file of the route can be downloaded via the full route map above.
Rest stops
1. Queenscliff (33km)
- Time open: 8:10am
- Cut-off time: 9:45am
- Nutrition & Hydration: Water, bananas
2. Sorrento (33km)
- Time open: 9:45am – 10:25am
- cut-off time: 9:45am
- Nutrition & Hydration: Water
3. Safety Beach (60km)
- Time open: 10:45am – 12:05pm
- cut-off time: 11:25am
- Nutrition & Hydration: Water, Winners bar/chew and electrolytes
5. Frankston (87km)
- Time open: 11:50am – 1:50pm
- Cut-off time: 13:10pm
- Nutrition & Hydration: Water, electrolytes, Winners gel and lunch pack
6. Mordialloc (104km)
- Time open: 12:30pm – 2:50pm
- Cut-off time: 14:10pm
- Nutrition & Hydration: Water, electrolytes, snakes and salty snacks
Transport from Melbourne to Geelong - $89
Transport from Melbourne to Geelong before the ride:
A bus will depart from 100 Canterbury Road, Middle Park at 4:30am.
Please arrive by 4:00am the latest to begin boarding. The bus will arrive in Geelong by 06:00am.
There will be transport for you, your bike and a small post-ride bag (A4 size). You can use our valet service from Geelong to get your bag sent back to Melbourne.
Please book your spot on the bus when you register to ride or go back into the shop here to purchase your ticket.
Ferry Information
Ferry tickets will be issued on arrival at the Queenscliff rest area and are colour matched to available spaces on each ferry.
Tickets will be allocated on a first-come first served basis. You cannot collect tickets for other riders. Only riders with a valid ticket will be allowed to board each ferry.
The ferry table is provided as a guide. Ferry departure times are set, and the average speed required is set from the start line.
|
Scheduled Ferry Time Queenscliff |
Average minimum speed (kph) required to reach ferry departing at |
|
|
6:30 Geelong start |
6:45 Geelong start |
|
|
8:00 |
26 |
36 |
|
9:00 |
14 |
18 |
|
10:00 |
10 |
13 |
All 135km riders should be on the 9:00 ferry at the latest. After disembarking this ferry, a minimum average speed of 16kph would be required to finish the ride within the route time limitations.
Highlights:
- Enjoy the best bits of the bay including the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff without taking on the full Classic route.
- Transport provided to Geelong pre and post ride.
- Soak in iconic city views on the return journey and pristine seascapes along the way.
- Celebrate back at the event village festival with friends and family as you cross the finish line to collect your finishers medal!
Make a weekend of the Geelong 135km ride
Why rush to the start line when you can turn your Geelong 135km into the ultimate cycling weekend?
Travel across the bay with Port Phillip Ferries on Saturday, spend the afternoon exploring Geelong’s waterfront, cafés and cycling culture, then settle in for the night at Oaks R Suites Geelong, just a short roll from Cunningham Pier.
Wake up refreshed on Sunday morning, enjoy an easy start to your day and roll to the start line ready to take on the Geelong 135km and ride your way back to Melbourne.
Exclusive Around the Bay offers
United Energy Around the Bay participants can access exclusive discounts to make their Geelong weekend easier and more affordable:
20% off Port Phillip Ferries
Travel between Melbourne and Geelong and bring your bike along for the journey. Use promo code ATB26 when booking to receive 20% off your ferry fare.
20% off Oaks R Suites Geelong
Stay close to the Geelong 135km start line and enjoy 20% off your accommodation, with the discount automatically applied when booking through the Around the Bay offer.
Plan your weekend
Saturday 17 October
Catch the ferry from Melbourne to Geelong, arrive at Cunningham Pier and spend the rest of the day exploring the city before checking into Oaks R Suites Geelong.
Sunday 18 October
Wake up close to the start line, get yourself and your bike ready, then take on the Geelong 135km and ride back to Melbourne as part of United Energy Around the Bay.
How to claim your discounts
Port Phillip Ferries: Enter promo code ATB26 in the promo code field when booking. The offer is valid on eligible services operating Saturday 17 October and Sunday 18 October 2026.
Oaks R Suites Geelong: Book using the dedicated Around the Bay accommodation offer and your 20% discount will be applied at checkout.
With your transport and accommodation sorted, all that’s left to do is enjoy the journey and make a weekend of your Around the Bay.
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