For those looking to ride from the Rural City of Wangaratta to the Beechworth wine region, we’ve pulled together a snapshot of how it might look…
The morning light spills softly over Wangaratta as you clip into the pedals, the air still cool enough to carry the scent of damp earth and eucalyptus. Ahead lies the 40-odd kilometre climb to Beechworth — a ride that locals describe with a smile as “a little uphill the whole way.”
The first few kilometres roll gently through farmland, golden paddocks stretching wide, dotted with grazing cattle and the occasional magpie chorus. It’s an easy start — a smooth run along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, with the Ovens River glinting to the left. But beyond Everton, the character of the ride begins to shift.
From the Everton Station trailhead, the gradient nudges upward. What was once a leisurely cruise becomes a steady climb — about 500 metres of elevation gain in total. It’s never brutally steep, but it’s relentless enough to test your rhythm and your patience. The climb weaves through tall gums and pine forests, their scent sharp in the warming air. Each bend teases a little more sky, a little more view, and a little less breath.
As the kilometres tick by, the reward begins to reveal itself. The temperature cools, the light changes, and the landscape transforms from open plains to high-country charm — stone walls, crisp air, and hints of cellar doors tucked between hillsides.
The final stretch into Beechworth is a triumph: a quiet roll through tree-lined streets, where history meets hospitality. Legs weary but spirits high, you can lean your bike outside a cellar door like Pennyweight (just outside of town), or against the Cellar Door and Cantina of Eldorado Road – just on the main street (Ford St). A glass of Beechworth Chardonnay feels like the perfect recovery drink — bright, elegant, and just a little bit earned.
It’s a ride that asks something of you — steady effort, a willingness to climb — but gives back in spades. The journey from Wangaratta to Beechworth isn’t just about reaching a destination. It’s about arriving at a place where good wine, good roads, and a good story all meet at the top of the hill.
Ride Snapshot:
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Distance: ~43 km (one way)
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Elevation gain: ~500–550 m
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Difficulty: Moderate (gentle climb, but sustained)
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Best for: Recreational to experienced cyclists looking for a scenic, rewarding route
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Highlight: Rolling into Beechworth’s wine country — and earning that first glass
Keen for more?
To view the ride from Chiltern to Stanley via Beechworth, see here.
To view the ride from Myrtleford to Beechworth, see here.
To view the ride from Wodonga to Beechworth via Yackandandah, see here.