The Tonimbuk Circuit

This is a glorious loop of approx 75 km, taking in a mixture of sealed and dirt roads. The roads are mostly quiet with little or no traffic and your efforts in the saddle will reward you with some classic Australian bush scenery.

The ride starts in busy Pakenham and heads out along Bald Hill Rd to Bunyip. This first section is almost dead flat but watch out for passing cars. Once you turn north at Bunyip you will leave the traffic behind and you can start to really enjoy the pleasure that country cycling provides. The road starts to climb steadily and soon you cross the Princes Highway and head to Tonimbuk.

After a few kilometres the bitumen ends although the surface is still quite good. There are a few short climbs interspersed with some short descents. Take the time to savour the experience because this road is earmarked for development in the near future – a great pity ! At Mortimore Reserve you should take a break because the next 5 km is the hardest part of the ride. The gradient quickly kicks up and you will soon be grinding in your granny gears. Once you reach Gembrook you can reward yourself with a stop at one of the excellent eateries and a rest in the park. If you are lucky you might see the Puffing Billy.

The ride back from Gembrook to Pakenham is much easier with long downhill sections. Most riders will complete it in one hour or less.

Total Distance: 75 km

Click here for the Google Earth route.