Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail 1: Smythesdale Lunch

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Start the morning off right with breakfast at the Lake View Hotel as you look over beautiful Lake Wendouree.

You will need a hybrid, Cyclecross, mountain bike as today we are getting off road and hitting the crushed granite sand surface of the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail.

If you’re looking for a change of scenery or a fun family ride, this is the perfect ride!

Head straight out of down, under the iconic Arch of Victory and not long after take a left on to the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail.

You’ll ride open grasslands and eucalypt forests as you make your way to Smythesdale, an attractive 19th-century town.

Stop for lunch at the Courthouse Hotel or pack a picnic before making your way back along trail.

You will be stopping close to where we started with a coffee to wind down at Pipers By The Lake.

Distance: 44.16km

Elevation gain: 274m

Ride type: Road

Start: Lake View Hotel

Content: City of Ballarat


22 Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree VIC 3350

Get Directions


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Across Victoria’s Midwest, we acknowledge that we travel across the ancient landscapes of many First Peoples communities. These lands have been nurtured and cared for over tens of thousands of years and we respect the work of Traditional Custodians for their ongoing care and protection.

We recognise the past injustices against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country. As our knowledge grows, we hope that we can learn from their resilience and creativity that has guided them for over 60,000 years. As we invite people to visit and explore Victoria’s Midwest, we ask that alongside us, you also grow to respect the stories, living culture and connection to Country of the Ancestors and Elders of our First Peoples.

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© 2023 Ballarat In The Know. This initiative is funded by the City of Ballarat and Tourism Midwest Victoria.