Next Melb cruise ideas

[Ric]

While the last cruise is still fresh in everyone's minds, we should start planning the next one.
Here's a couple of suggestions. I like the first one, because I've never been to the Thomson Dam, but it does require a one hour freeway commute at the start and end just to get to the interesting roads.
The second option is a lot easier for those of us coming from the West!
Have a look through previous routes at viewtopic.php?f=34&t=14074 or suggest one of your own.
Just bear in mind, roads like the Great Ocean Road, or Mornington Peninsula are really not an option because there's too much traffic on a Sunday morning...

Route #1 FAR EAST (never done before) Pakenham, Moe, Thomson Dam, Walhalla for lunch, back to Pakenham. 301 km, 4 hours 53 mins Link

• Pakenham -> Moe 86.6 km – about 1 hour 4 mins (freeway)
• Moe -> Thompson dam 50.1 km – about 59 mins (twisties)
• Thompson dam -> Walhalla 31.8 km – about 48 mins (twisties) Lunch in Walhalla
• Walhalla -> Moe 47.0 km – about 58 mins (twisties)
• Moe -> Pakenham 85.3 km – about 1 hour 4 mins (freeway)

walhalla.png (276.62 KiB) Viewed 7389 times

Route #2 NORTH WEST (First half of the 30-Oct-2011 mega-cruise.) Tullamarine, Mt Macedon, Woodend, Trentham Falls, Bacchus Marsh. 158 km, 3 hours 3 mins link
Those who wanted to get back to the East without paying tolls could head back down the Ballarat Freeway. Any who wanted a bit more driving could head north from Bacchus marsh, and across to Diggers Rest then back to Tullamarine.

• Tullamarine -> Mt Macedon 70.0 km, 1 hour 17 mins (morning tea at the Mt Macedon Cafe, or we could do it at Woodend)
• Mt Macedon -> Trentham Falls 41.0 km, 55 mins (loos, but no food here. Trentham is close by, which has food etc.)
• Trentham Falls -> Bacchus Marsh 47.2 km – about 51 mins
  

macedon.png (400.56 KiB) Viewed 7389 times

[PinkK]

Happy with either, only problem is that the best roads at Thomson aren't accessible unless you have a key to the res, but there are still plenty of fun roads near by

There are some nice places near Hazelwood don't remember what road it was, but I think the roads where around Morwell Nat Park, it may be too far for a lot of people though.

[bosc0]

The road to and from Walhalla would be fantastic. My high school had a camp there, so i've only done it in a mini bus. Super tight twisties, with big drop offs

[cruisn]

My high school had a camp there, so i've only done it in a mini bus.

That was the "special ed" bus yeh.

[MH3.0R]

Personally, I like number 1, the Far East, but I would amend the start to the north so we take in Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction, Gladesville, Powelltown, Icy Creek (morning Tea), then south to Willow Grove and Tanjil South and then cut back up to the Thomson Dam and Walhalla. Could make Walhalla for lunch if we don't stop too long for morning tea.

For a return leg, I hate the freeway, so I would also head south across the Strezlecki's and then to Korumburra. Probably start from Moe, Coalville, Naracan, Thorpdale, Leongatha and Korumburra, then finish up at the car wash and cafe at Cranbourne North! This would make a full day cruise for those want to avoid the freeways.

Map here:

https://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?msid=203062721149592862156.0004ccdb24742afae8c49&msa=0

[PinkK]

Me likey, finishes closer to home

[3rspecb]

I've done very similar to route 1. Was a great day but a long and tiring drive from the west.

[Victripper]

Route 1 seems best for me but happy to do either.

That or the Doncaster Run... Have walked to Tunstall a few times and could walk back from Cherry Hill Pub but probably never will

[owen]

I don't mind the first one, nor the freeway drive. 20 liberties driving together on the freeway, I'd be a happy spectator

[deadlegs]

I like route 2 simply cause its waaaay closer to home for me. Route 1 does look like it would be fun though. Does anyone else think that 5 hours is a bit too long?

[bosc0]

Route 2, we'd have to visit Gravity Hill right?

Shitty clip!

That was the "special ed" bus yeh.

Window lickin good yal.

[Ric]

Route 2, we'd have to visit Gravity Hill right?....

Yes, that is point "E" on the route.
It might just be me, but the optical illusion didn't work for me.

[bosc0]

Same thing happened when i went, the car sometimes needs a little help. A small push or pop of the clutch would do the trick, magic

[MH3.0R]

I like route 2 simply cause its waaaay closer to home for me. Route 1 does look like it would be fun though. Does anyone else think that 5 hours is a bit too long?

You can participate in a cruise for as long as you want. You don't have to do the whole course. It is just people like me who do freeway driving every day and absolutely detest spending my weekends on them unless I have to. So while I am cruising, I will always take the more scenic and twisty routes as this is where my car feels and sounds best.

We have had several cruisers turn up at the start, to go no further, meet at lunch and go no further, and even meet at the end point. There are no hard and fast rules and we are all happy to meet with other like minded and passionate people between the cruisy bits.

In answering your direct question, for me personally, 5 hours is about the minimum. I know others will only want 1 hour (otherwise too many kms on the car ), but I don't consider that a cruise. That's more like going shopping...

[deadlegs]

In answering your direct question, for me personally, 5 hours is about the minimum. I know others will only want 1 hour (otherwise too many kms on the car ), but I don't consider that a cruise. That's more like going shopping...

I see where you are coming from but i kinda think that if I'm going to make the 1 hour 40 minute drive from Geelong to the start point, I might as well stay for the whole cruise and thats where i think 5 hours is a tad too long cause its still another 1 hour 40 minutes home. Big day, thats all. I'm not concerned about km's at all. Since we bought the car in Feb this year we've already put 21000km on it.