[VIC] Yarra Ranges
Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:40 pm
What a day! Because neither my wife or I had organised each other a valentine's day present, I decided to take us on a road trip through the Yarra Ranges. My wife had not seen that part of Victoria at all (we're from NSW originally), but I've spent many days up there on two wheels.
Cruised on up to Healseville, through the black spur, and had lunch at the Black Spur Inn (highly recommended). After a very leasurly lunch, we headed through Marysville (which was kind of depressing, seeing how much of it is no longer there), and took a detour to the top of lake Mountain. Flew back down to the main road and progressed through Reefton Spur, to Warburton, then left at Launching Place through the back of the Dandenongs via Gembrook and Emerald then finally home (bayside, south eastern suburbs).
All up, we did close to 300km, and we were gone for around 5-6 hours including lunch.
I knew this car was good (NC MX5), but today (including my new Voodoo shifter) was simply THE best driving experience of my life. Went hard at times (not as much as I would if on my own) but even cruising it was immensely enjoyable.
UPDATE: Forgot to add, had the roof down the entire way, and the road surface right the way through (except for Launching Place/Gembrook leg) was brilliant. Take my advice, get up there, and you will not regret it.
UPDATE 2: Forgotr another very important bit... NO TRAFFIC! Along Black Spur I had one car in front (which didn't bother me), but he pulled over and let me through anyway... had to put on a show for such a nice gesture ;-)
Overtook one other car just after Reefton Spur (and passed a cop soon after), but they were the ony two hold ups in over 200km of dream roads!
Cannot wait to do it again!
Click below for the map of this route.
http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104477449394169219182.00047f7686944ed44fc75&ll=-37.707183,145.566788&spn=0.507383,0.834274&z=11
Cruised on up to Healseville, through the black spur, and had lunch at the Black Spur Inn (highly recommended). After a very leasurly lunch, we headed through Marysville (which was kind of depressing, seeing how much of it is no longer there), and took a detour to the top of lake Mountain. Flew back down to the main road and progressed through Reefton Spur, to Warburton, then left at Launching Place through the back of the Dandenongs via Gembrook and Emerald then finally home (bayside, south eastern suburbs).
All up, we did close to 300km, and we were gone for around 5-6 hours including lunch.
I knew this car was good (NC MX5), but today (including my new Voodoo shifter) was simply THE best driving experience of my life. Went hard at times (not as much as I would if on my own) but even cruising it was immensely enjoyable.
UPDATE: Forgot to add, had the roof down the entire way, and the road surface right the way through (except for Launching Place/Gembrook leg) was brilliant. Take my advice, get up there, and you will not regret it.
UPDATE 2: Forgotr another very important bit... NO TRAFFIC! Along Black Spur I had one car in front (which didn't bother me), but he pulled over and let me through anyway... had to put on a show for such a nice gesture ;-)
Overtook one other car just after Reefton Spur (and passed a cop soon after), but they were the ony two hold ups in over 200km of dream roads!
Cannot wait to do it again!
Click below for the map of this route.
http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104477449394169219182.00047f7686944ed44fc75&ll=-37.707183,145.566788&spn=0.507383,0.834274&z=11
The Launching Place/ Gembrook Rd is pretty, early mornings are beaut (look out for swamp wallabies) a stop at Kurth Kiln is worth it. from Gembrook continue on to Pakenham Upper, Mt Burnett and then Cockatoo (see map), tight, pretty with lots of change in elevation. PM me and I will send a map with some scratches. OH! The Garage Caf'e. Cheers.
