MARYBOROUGH TALBOT MARYBOROUGH TALBOT B A LLARAT -M A R Y B O R O U G H R D DER B Y R D P Y R E N E E S H WY PYREN E E S H W Y ELGIN R D HI GH ST Talbot Arts & Historical Museum Maryborough Railway Station Battery Dam & Aboriginal Wells Talbot Farmers Market (3rd Sunday of the month) Talbot Railway Station Paddy’s Ranges State Park Maryborough State Forest MARYBOROUGH TALBOT CLUNES CRESWICK BALLARAT MARYBOROUGH TALBOT CLUNES CRESWICK BALLARAT Riding a legend ‘Through stringy-bark and blue-gum, and box and pine we go; New camps are stretching ’cross the plains the routes of Cobb and Co.’ The Lights of Cobb & Co by Henry Lawson. The townships along the Ballarat - Maryborough Heritage Trail Cycle Tour began as remote settlements serviced at various times by the Cobb & Co stagecoaches. Beginning in 1853, Cobb & Co grew to cover 44,800kms per week. Your tour takes you along some of these legendary Cobb &Co routes. Watch out for bushrangers! The Route, 91kms Maryborough – Talbot, 18kms Day 1 begins in Box-ironbark country. Bird watchers rejoice, for when these trees bloom in spring, parrots and honeyeaters descend in droves. As you break out to open grazing land look for an old bluestone ford scarred with deep ruts from the passing of countless wagon wheels – perhaps even from the Cobb & Co. Talbot – Clunes, 25kms Day 2 starts along dirt tracks through scrubby bushland, darting the occasional wallaby, before bursting into a wide- open landscape offering spectacular views to Mt Beckworth. Aged eucalypts line the quiet lanes before the day finishes in the old gold glory of Clunes. Clunes – Creswick, 24kms Day 3 is filled with reminders of the past. Historic pastoral holdings, grand homesteads and vineyards line the quiet lanes as you meander the undulating terrain. The day ends in a rush of adrenalin as you descend into the heritage forestry town of Creswick. Creswick – Ballarat, 24kms Your last day is among eucalypts until you hit the outskirts of Ballarat. The ride dips and climbs as it weaves through forest lanes, made seasonally colourful by wildflowers. Finally you follow the Yarrowee River trail all the way to town where a well- deserved rest awaits you. BALLARAT-MARYBOROUGH HERITAGE TRAIL Cycle Tour Bicycle Track Train Station Bus Stop Points of Interest YOU ARE HERE MAP LEGEND Suggested route to connect with Cycle Tour (see ‘Getting to the Trail’) Please follow these markers along the trail Immerse yourself in the heritage and beauty of Victoria’s central goldfields. The 115km, 4 day cycyle tour offers a mix of forest and farming tracks with each day ending at a charming historic township. Swift Parrot Cycling the tour Before you travel, check the latest weather conditions for fire and flood warnings. Regular fire warning updates can be accessed through the CFA website at warnings.cfa.vic.gov.au. Do not ride on Code Red Fire Warning days. Trail Overview < N 0 5 10 kilometres to Talbot > INKERMAN ST MAJORCA RD NOLAN ST BURNS ST ALBERT ST YOU ARE HERE YOU ARE HERE MARYBOROUGH RAILWAY STATION MARYBOROUGH RAILWAY STATION 100 0 < N metres Getting to the trail 0 2 3 4 5 1 kilometres < N Cobb and Co stopping at the Empire Dining Room, corner Alma and Nolan Streets, Maryborough circa 1860.