What To Eat, Drink, See and Do on a Guided Ride Through Gippsland

For nearly 40 years, the annual Great Vic Bike Ride has shuttled cyclists across the Victorian landscape on multi-day guided rides, traversing towns, regions and scenic landscapes. This year it kicks off in Orbost, heading west from East Gippsland along the Snowy River and all the way to the Bass Coast.

Running Saturday November 25 to Sunday December 3, it’s an epic nine-day adventure (Shorter five and three-day rides are available, too.), with Bicycle Network providing camping sites, luggage transfers, meals and comprehensive on-route support along the way. The ride covers 540 kilometres of stunning scenery, starting at $138 per person per day.

While breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included, no trip through the Gippsland countryside is complete without a few pit stops. Here’s what to eat, drink, see and do when you’re off the bike.

Grab a drink at Sailor’s Grave Brewing in Orbost

After pitching your tent and pumping up your tyres, drop by farmhouse brewery Sailor’s Grave on the banks of the Snowy River. Housed in a former butter factory more than 100 years old, the rustic spot serves Roman-style slab pizza alongside quirky seasonal beer. Chris Moore and Gab Moore’s brews use locally farmed and foraged ingredients, with flavours like Lemon Meringue Cream Sour, Dark Emu Dark Lager and the Red Belly Black Snake Snakebite – a 50/50 mix of imperial stout and fermented apple juice. Go easy before jumping back on the bike.

7 Forest Road, Orbost; sailorsgravebrewing.com.au

Explore Victoria’s largest cave network just outside Buchan

After a brisk 58-kilometre pedal through Krauatungalung Country, there’s plenty of time to take in the wonders of the Buchan Caves Reserve, the most extensive site of its kind in Victoria. The intricate network of underground caves, formed by the movement of subterranean rivers, has all the geological greats: stalactites, stalagmites, pillars, shawls and rim pools. This magnificent site was used for both shelter and spiritual ceremony by the Gunaikurnai for 18,000 years, and the traditional owners still manage it today.

98 Caves Road, Buchan; parks.vic.gov.au

Get a proper pub feed at Buchan Caves Hotel

Once you’ve emerged from the Fairy Cave, head on over to this charming country pub with a traditional meat raffle and five kinds of parma. First opened in 1882, the Buchan Caves Hotel has served as the centre of the small-town community for well over a century. While it feels authentically old-school, the building itself is entirely new after a fire in 2014 saw punters unite to raise more than $600,000 for its reconstruction. Drop in for a handle and a game of pool with the locals.

49 Main Road, Buchan; buchanpub.com.au

Take a ferry detour to Raymond Island from Paynesville

Day four of the Great Vic swaps the hills for the sea, travelling along the Mitchell River from Lakes Entrance to reach Paynesville in Tatungalung Country. From there, it’s a short ferry trip to Raymond Island, a conservation area renowned for its local koala population. Take a stroll along the self-guided Koala Trail to get a peek of Australia’s favourite marsupial. Kayak rentals are also available for those keen to see the serene waters up close.

Esplanade, Paynesville; visitvictoria.com

Eat freshly fried fish’n’chips overlooking the waters of Port Albert

It’s hardly a trip to the coast without a family-sized portion of battered seafood. Port Albert Fish & Chip Co delivers exactly what it says on the tin: a classic fry-up using freshly caught seafood, served by the ocean. Unlike your standard issue chippy though, this place also makes delicious fish tacos, seafood baskets and a range of light salads. You can also pair your crumbed whiting fillet with a dry white wine.

60A Wharf Street, Port Albert; facebook.com

Stop by an art deco bistro for a bite and a breather

Constructed in 1939, the Fish Creek Hotel’s art deco building is as cool as the sea breeze blowing in off Bass Strait. Order from its substantial menu to help with sustenance for the final leg; it’s got dishes like panko-crumbed tonkatsu, a lamb burger with house-made tzatziki, and classic carbonara with bacon.

1 Old Waratah Road, Fish Creek; fishcreekhotel.com.au

Celebrate the end of the ride at one of Gippsland’s best restaurants

The verdant hills of Wonthaggi signal the end of your epic journey. Thankfully, Gippsland has saved the best for last, with one of the region’s finest restaurants as your reward. At Hogget Kitchen, Trevor Perkins and his team serve farm-to-table, nose-to-tail dishes in a relaxed bistro setting with a view over the vines. Perkins specialises in truly rustic country cuisine and does all the butchering, pickling, smoking and brining here in-house. The restaurant also doubles as a cellar door for Patrick Sullivan and William Downie wines, so you can toast your finish with a glass from winemakers who are among Victoria’s best independent producers.

6 Farrington Close, Warragul; hogget.com.au

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Bicycle Network. See more information and sign up for the Great Vic Bike Ride.