Events

A stunning ride on a collection of lovely backroads with magnificent rural and mountain scenery as the constant backdrop. If you are a confident rider who hasn’t ventured far from the city on your Vespa then this event will introduce you to the joys of riding through pretty countryside on quiet roads with little traffic. Those new to the club and the world of Vespa are particularly welcome so perhaps we could call this event “Warby for Newbies.” 

Warburton is an attractive town nestled in a valley between mountains 75 kms east of Melbourne. The brooding hulk of Mt Donna Buang frames the town. Behind the row of old quaint timber shops in the main street there is a delightful picnic spot along the banks of the Upper Yarra River. Here you’ll find dogs, ducks and kids splashing amongst the rocks in its bubbling waters. A platypus or two are known to inhabit the waters in this town. In days gone by grand guest houses provided a retreat in fresh mountain air as an escape from the grimy city. The town still retains its health resort reputation. Pretty houses with wood fire smoke drifting from their chimneys set in lovely English gardens make “Warby” a very picturesque town with pretty postcard views. In the old days steam trains brought in flour and wheat for the Sanitarium Health Food Factory. A new factory was built in 1936 after floods washed away the original one. Although no longer in use, the building is considered a modernist architectural gem.

 

The route to Warby and back is the highlight of this event. It has been enhanced since we last ran this popular ride. More lovely quite roads have been included that bypass a highway section. It will be a lazy meandering ride on delightful sealed back roads. The route passes through picturesque scenery featuring rolling pastoral landscapes, farmhouses, vineyards, orchards, berry farms, creeks and rivers. At times our road provides an intimate experience where the forest canopy cocoons us, at others it presents open vistas as grand as a Wagner Opera. These are great roads for two wheels and for those who enjoy curves and the unfolding ever-changing narrative of a winding road. The route to Warburton is via Park Orchards, Wonga Park, Coldstream, Gruyere, Woori Yallock and Milgrove. Just before lunch we will all fill up at the only petrol station in Warburton. Our 52 km return route to Mount Evelyn is via Yellingbo and takes us through the attractive red soil fruit and berry growing district around Wandin East. The ride totals about 128 kms. The ride will conclude with a farewell coffee in Mount Evelyn. Participants can make their own way home from here as Canterbury Road is just a short distance away. However if you’d like to be led back to town, just follow me. The route will be corner marked so you don’t have to worry about navigation. Ride at you own pace and just follow the directions given by the rider who will be waiting at each turn. 

Britannia Mall, 485 Whitehorse Road, Mitcham (about 24 kms east of Melbourne). Pull into the left (North side) service road at the start of the Mitcham shopping strip before Mitcham Road < map > Please consider other Britannia Mall patrons and quietly park your scooter neatly along the wall of the Pet Stock Store as this side of the mall wall has no doorways.