VIC Cycling Guide: 12 Best Locations

Victoria logged over 1.2 million recreational cycling trips in the past year alone, with the Yarra Valley accounting for roughly 15% of all regional bike tourism in the state. But here’s what those numbers don’t tell you: the best rides often require overnight stays, and that’s where knowing your camping gear options—from Bunnings camping equipment to specialist retailers—transforms a good trip into an epic one. Whether you’re planning a leisurely family loop or a multi-day alpine adventure, the right gear can mean the difference between a memorable weekend and a miserable one.

The Overnight Equation — Why Your Gear Matters as Much as Your Route

Cycling the Yarra Valley isn’t just about the trails. It’s about where you sleep afterwards, and whether your equipment survives the journey. After years of exploring this region, I’ve learned that camping gear Australia recommendations often miss the mark for cyclists—we have different needs than car campers. Weight matters. Packability matters. And sometimes, accessibility matters more than premium quality.

Each of the twelve locations I’ll cover has a “base camp rating”—honest intel on where you actually sleep, what equipment works, and whether you need the best camping gear Australia offers or if a basic setup from Bunnings will see you through. Because here’s the truth: you don’t need top-tier kit for the Lilydale to Warburton Trail, but the Upper Yarra tracks? Pack like you mean it.

The Twelve — Organised by Rider Type

Family-Friendly Flow

These four locations offer playground proximity, coffee access, and shorter loops perfect for young legs or cargo bikes laden with kids.

1. Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail (Partial)
Distance: 14km return (Lilydale to Mount Evelyn section)
Surface: Sealed, gentle gradient
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Lilydale (on your way home if you forgot anything)
Local tip: The Mount Evelyn servo does excellent coffee and lets you refill water bottles—crucial on hot days.

2. Yarra Bend Park Loops
Distance: 5-12km options
Surface: Sealed and well-maintained gravel
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Richmond or Northcote
Local tip: The flying fox colony near the Main Yarra Trail is worth stopping for—kids love it, and there’s a decent picnic area.

3. Westerfolds Park
Distance: 3-8km loops
Surface: Sealed paths
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Templestowe
Local tip: The cafe near the entrance does babycinos, which is honestly the deciding factor for most parents I know.

4. Lysterfield Park
Distance: 6-15km options
Surface: Mix of sealed and gravel
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Narre Warren
Local tip: The mountain bike tracks here are surprisingly approachable for confident kids—the green loop is genuinely achievable.

The Earn-Your-Views Crew

Four locations with genuine elevation and the gear considerations that come with overnight alpine rides. These aren’t Sunday strolls.

5. Kinglake National Park
Distance: 20-40km depending on route
Surface: Sealed roads, fire trails
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Whittlesea (limited options) or Anaconda Mill Park
Local tip: The climb from St Andrews to Kinglake is brutal. I’ve never successfully completed it without walking at least once. If you’re looking for expert hill advice, I’m not your source. Flat tracks? I’ve got you.

6. Marysville to Lake Mountain
Distance: 30km return (one way to base of lake mountain)
Surface: Sealed road
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Lilydale (pre-trip essential—no stockists in Marysville)
Local tip: The bakery in Marysville does a pie that’s worth the climb alone. Plan your fuel stops around this.

7. Healesville to Toolangi
Distance: 35km return
Surface: Sealed road with gravel options
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Chirnside Park or Anaconda Ringwood
Local tip: The Toolangi State Forest has free camping if you’re self-sufficient—pack accordingly.

8. Warburton to Upper Yarra Dam
Distance: 40km return
Surface: Sealed road
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Lilydale (pre-trip)—Warburton has limited options
Local tip: The general store in Warburton sells basic supplies, but don’t rely on it for serious gear. Pack everything you need.

Silent Riders — E-Bike Friendly

Four locations optimal for e-bikes and those recovering from injuries. Includes charging point intel because range anxiety is real.

9. Full Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail
Distance: 78km return
Surface: Sealed, disused railway corridor
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Lilydale; Anaconda Ringwood
Local tip: Warburton has public charging points near the visitor centre. The bakery there does a decent coffee while you wait.

10. Yarra Valley Grammar to Warrandyte
Distance: 25km return
Surface: Sealed shared paths
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Ringwood
Local tip: Warrandyte has several cafes with power points—just ask nicely. Most are cyclist-friendly.

11. Eltham to Hurstbridge
Distance: 22km return
Surface: Sealed rail trail
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Greensborough or Eltham
Local tip: The Hurstbridge train line runs parallel—if you run out of battery, jump on the train. No judgment here.

12. Healesville Sanctuary Loop
Distance: 15km circuit
Surface: Sealed roads and paths
Nearest camping gear stockist: Bunnings Chirnside Park
Local tip: The sanctuary has charging points in the car park if you’re visiting. Entry fee applies, but the facilities are excellent.

Seasonal Intelligence — When to Ride What

Victoria’s weather doesn’t do subtle. Here’s what each season throws at you and which bunnings camping equipment actually survives the conditions.

Summer (December-February)
Early starts are non-negotiable. Anything after 8am on a 35-degree day is asking for trouble. Fire risk zones—particularly Kinglake and Toolangi—may be closed on total fire ban days. Check the CFA website before you head out. Your camping gear needs to handle heat: reflective tarps, decent ventilation, and more water than you think you need.

Autumn (March-May)
Peak beauty, peak crowds. The vineyards look spectacular, but campsites book out weeks in advance. This is when the best camping gear Australia retailers do their biggest business—plan your purchases accordingly. March tends to be the sweet spot: warm days, cool nights, manageable crowds.

Winter (June-August)
Mud realities hit hard in the Yarra Valley. Cheap gear fails here—I’ve watched a budget tent collapse under steady rain near Healesville. Bunnings’ mid-range tarps and ground sheets hold up surprisingly well, but skip their entry-level sleeping bags for anything overnight. The rail trails drain well, but fire trails become boggy messes.

Spring (September-November)
Magpie season is real and it’s not a joke. Swooping season runs from September to November, and some riders swear by cable ties on their helmets. Bunnings sells them cheap. The weather’s unpredictable—pack layers and expect four seasons in one ride.

The Unexpected Discovery — What Nobody Tells You

Two years ago, I found the Healesville-to-Marysville back route entirely by accident. Missed a turn, ended up on a fire trail, and discovered the most stunning descent of my cycling life. What I also discovered was that my “premium” tent pole had snapped somewhere around Toolangi, and I was facing a night in a structure held together with hope and bad language.

The Bunnings in Lilydale closes at 7pm. I arrived at 6:47pm, muddy and desperate, and walked out with a $12 heavy-duty groundsheet, a roll of gaffer tape, and a replacement pole from their basic dome tent range. That groundsheet has since outperformed the $120 “ultralight” version I’d bought from a specialist retailer—it’s heavier, sure, but it’s survived three Yarra Valley storms without leaking.

Here’s what the “best camping gear Australia” lists miss: sometimes accessibility beats quality when you’re 40km from anywhere with a broken pole. The best gear is the gear you can actually get your hands on when things go wrong. That’s why I now plan my rides around Bunnings locations as much as trailheads. It sounds unglamorous, but it’s saved more than one trip.

When to Save vs When to Splurge:

• Save: Groundsheets, basic tarps, gaffer tape, emergency ponchos, cable ties (magpie defence)
• Splurge: Sleeping bags for anything below 5 degrees, waterproof panniers, quality lights, your actual tent
• The middle ground: Bunnings’ mid-range cooking equipment is genuinely fine for car camping and short bike trips

Pack List for Your First Overnight Ride

Before you head out, here’s a practical starting point tied to the camping gear Australia ecosystem:

What to buy at Bunnings:

• Heavy-duty groundsheet (the silver tarps in the gardening section are excellent)
• Basic tool kit (Allen keys, tyre levers, spare tubes)
• Gaffer tape (wrap it around your pump to save space)
• Cable ties for emergency repairs and magpie season
• Head torch (their Ozito range is surprisingly decent for the price)

What warrants specialist investment:

• Quality panniers or bikepacking bags (waterproof is non-negotiable in Victoria)
• A sleeping bag rated to at least -5°C comfort (Yarra Valley nights get cold)
• A tent you can actually set up in the dark when you’re exhausted

The one item most people forget: A charged power bank. Not for your phone—for your e-bike if you have one, or for emergency communication if you don’t. The Yarra Valley has patchy reception in parts, and a dead phone when you need to check a map or call for help is a problem.

The Yarra Valley’s been waiting. Your gear doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to get you there.