Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail

General Meeting – February 2026
2026-02-18 10:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Victoria
What: The Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail’s General Meeting
When: Wednesday 18th February 2026, 10:30am
Where: Axedale Tavern, Axedale
Who: Members and interested individuals are invited to attend
Other: Following the conclusion of the meeting, there will be an opportunity to enjoy meeting other like-minded people over lunch

High Camp Flora Reserve working bee
2025-11-22 09:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Victoria
This is a working bee, to clean up an area around the former High Camp railway station platform. Members from Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail, Wallan Environment Group, Mitchell Bicycle User Group, and Mitchell Environment Group (BEAM) are involved with this project.
Location: High Camp Flora Reserve, Crawfords Rd, High Camp, Vic.
Time: Start 9am. Conclude 12 noon. Morning Tea at 10.30
Purpose: to clear fallen timber and related material from an area around the former station platform to enable picnic tables and signage to be installed at a later date.
Have: Sturdy footwear, gloves and clothing, sunscreen etc. Bring a rake and/or mattock, although most equipment will be provided.
Transport: Self transport, or contact Lindsay Clay (see below)
Please contact Lindsay Clay via sms to 0427 439 735 or email lindsayclay@bigpond.com if you intend to participate.

Annual General Meeting - 2025
2025-10-15 18:30 - 19:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Cycling Clubrooms, Tom Flood Centre, Water St, Bendigo, Water Street, Bendigo, Victoria, 3550, Australia
What: The Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail’s Annual General Meeting
When: 15th October 2025, 6:30pm
Where: Cycling Clubrooms, Tom Flood Centre, Water St, Bendigo
Who: Members and interested individuals are invited to attend
Guest Speaker: Graham Hill, co-author of ‘Bendigo’s Backyard Birds’ publication
Other: Following the conclusion of the meeting, refreshments, then a General Meeting will be held

Last Wednesday of the Month ride – September 2025
2025-09-24 09:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Pratts Park Road car park, Pratts Park Road and Rifle Range Rd, Strathdale, Vic, Australia
End of Month Special Birthday Ride! Wednesday, September 24th

Date:- Wednesday, 24th September, 2025.
Route:- Through the Wellsford Forest to Axedale Tavern, then back along the OKRT. We will be riding along gravel roads in the Wellsford Forest, then some quiet country roads near Axedale. The route is generally flat. There should be a lovely display of wattles.
Distance:- Approx 40 km
Start:- Pratts Park Road carpark near the Rail Trail.
Times:- Start 9.00, return approx. 12.30.

This will be a special ride as three of our members are celebrating significant birthdays.
Cakes for morning tea will be provided to go with your coffee.

Contact Judy for any other information.

Pyalong High Camp ride - Thursday August 28th
2025-08-28 09:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Pyalong General Store, 25 High Street, Pyalong, Victoria, 3521, Australia
A special end of month ride this month, on Thursday 28th August is from Pyalong to High Camp and return.
We have a delightful loop out of Pyalong. We leave Pyalong and climb into the picturesque granite country to the south-east of town. After admiring the view, we will ride to the High Camp Flora Reserve where Lindsay will provide us with an overview of the plans by the FBKRT to develop the area to highlight the indigenous, rail-related and settler heritage of High Camp – home for the Taungurung People and once a thriving railway town. After High Camp we cross over the Northern Highway and ride the 10km gradual downhill to Mollison Creek where we will stop to admire the largely intact timber trestle railway bridge. We then ride through Pyalong, using the Northern Highway underpass to arrive at the finish near the Pyalong General Store.
After the ride, join us for lunch at the Pyalong Pub.
Ride details:

Meet near the Pyalong General Store / Post Office for a 9:00 AM start (please do not park directly in front of the general store, there is plenty of parking and public toilets nearby)
The ride is 34kms long with approx 515 metres of climbing and descent. Most of the climbing occurs between Pyalong and High Camp.
The ride is predominantly on sealed roads with low levels of traffic and with approx 3kms on unsealed roads.

The route can be viewed at https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51292581

Any questions or booking, please contact ride organiser Tim Laugher.

General Meeting – August 2025
2025-08-20 10:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Axedale Tavern, 105 High Street, Axedale, Axedale, Victoria, 3551, Australia
What: The Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail’s General Meeting
When: 20th August 2025, 10:30am
Where: Axedale Tavern, Axedale
Who: Members and interested individuals are invited to attend
Other: Following the conclusion of the meeting, there will be an opportunity to enjoy meeting other like-minded people over lunch

Last Wednesday of the Month ride – July 2025
2025-07-30 09:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Axedale Public Hall carpark, Axedale Public Hall, High Street, Axedale, Victoria, 3551, Australia
Last Wednesday of the Month ride – 30th July 2025

AXEDALE TO HEATHCOTE
Meet 9.30am at the carpark, Axedale.
Ride O’Keefe Trail to Heathcote.
Refreshments at Fodder or Gaffney’s Bakery
Return Heathcote to Axedale.

Adrian has kindly offered to meet riders at Heathcote and provide a lift, plus bike, back to Axedale, if you are not wanting to do the return trip.
Please let Judy know if you would like to ride from Axedale to Heathcote and then get a lift back with Adrian. Thank you!

For further information contact Judy

General Meeting – June 2025
2025-06-18 10:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Axedale Tavern, 105 High Street, Axedale, Axedale, Victoria, 3551, Australia
What: The Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail’s General Meeting
When: 18th June 2025, 10:30am
Where: Axedale Tavern, Axedale
Who: Members and interested individuals are invited to attend
Other: Following the conclusion of the meeting, there will be an opportunity to enjoy meeting other like-minded people over lunch

Waranga Rail Trail Celebration Ride
2025-05-18 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Victoria
With official Waranga Rail Trail opening ceremony occuring on Saturday 17th May, 10am, during the Rushworth Market, there is also a planned ride on the trail for Sunday 18th May.
With the option to start the ride from either Murchison or Rushworth, or any other point and time, depending on your ability, the aim is to meet at Little Bourke Street at 12noon, for a bring your own picnic lunch. Little Bourke Street is approximately 900m to the East of Harriman Road and has a large cleared area adjacent to the rail trail with vehicle access. It is expected that there is a contingent coming from the Bicycle User Group Shepparton (BUGS), so it should be a good gathering.
As there is no water available, be sure to carry your own. The nearest toilets are at Harriman Point, approximately 2kms ride from Little Bourke St. There is no formal finish time for the ride, so feel free to take your time!
For those staying locally on the Saturday Night, a suggestion for dinner is at the Wallenjoe Hotel in Stanhope.
Don’t forget to bring your own lunch, and drinks and the organisers look forward to seeing you over the weekend. Graeme Hanigan

General Meeting - April 2025
2025-04-30 10:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Axedale Tavern, 105 High Street, Axedale, Axedale, Victoria, 3551, Australia
What: The Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail’s General Meeting
When: 30 April 2025, 10:30am
Where: Axedale Tavern, Axedale
Who: members and interested individuals are invited to attend
Other: Following the conclusion of the meeting, there will be an opportunity to enjoy meeting other like-minded people over lunch

Last Wednesday of the Month ride – February 2025
2025-02-26 09:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Pratts Park Road car park, Pratts Park Road and Rifle Range Rd, Strathdale, Vic, Australia
*** start time change for hot weather – now 9:00am ***

Wellsford Forest, Honeyeater Reserve and Strathfieldsaye
When:- Wednesday, 26th February
Meet:- 9:00am at Pratts Park Road car park
Route:- Wellsford State Forest, O’Keefe Trail, Honeyeater Reserve, Strathfieldsaye. Coffee and Cake:- Forage Cafe
Return to Pratts Park Road car park.
Mal Ward will be the leader.

First General Meeting for 2025
2025-02-19 10:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Axedale Tavern, 105 High Street, Axedale, Axedale, Victoria, 3551, Australia
Our first General Meeting for 2025 will be held on Wednesday 19th February at the Axedale Tavern. The meeting will commence at 10.30am, and as always lunch will be available for members who wish to stay on.

Last Wednesday of the Month ride – January
2025-01-29 09:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Baptist Church, McIvor Hwy, 757 McIvor Highway, Junortoun, Victoria, 3550, Australia
Time for the first “Last Wednesday of the month” ride for 2025!
Meet – Baptist Church, McIvor Hwy
Time – 9.30am
Ride – O’Keefe Trail to Napier Street. Cross over to the Creek Trail and ride to Omari Restaurant for coffee and cake.
Return to Baptist Church on the same route.

Please let Judy know by Monday, 27th January if you intend to ride so she can book a table at the Omari Restaurant.

Last Wednesday of the Month ride - November
2024-11-27 09:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Pratts Park Road car park, Pratts Park Road and Rifle Range Rd, Strathdale, Vic, Australia
When:- Wednesday, 27th November
Meet:- Pratts Park Road car park
Time:- 9.30am.
Distance:- approximately 30 km.
Route organised by Mal Ward:- this will be a mostly flat ride on good gravel tracks through the Welsford Forest, O’Keefe Rail Trail, quiet roads to Strathfieldsaye for coffee at ‘Forage’ then back through Wildflower Drive. It will include the Honeyeater Bushland Reserve, rim track, wetlands.
All welcome!

Annual General Meeting (AGM) and General Meeting (GM)
2024-10-16 18:30 - 21:00 UTC | Tom Flood Centre, Bedigo, Park Rd, Bendigo, Victoria, 3550, Australia
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) and General Meeting (GM) of the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail Inc., will be held at:
Date: Wednesday Oct 16th
Time: 6:30pm for AGM, followed by GM
Location: Cycling Clubrooms, Tom Flood Centre, Bendigo
The guest speaker for the AGM this year will be Ian Padgham, Adventurer.

Tree planting event - Campaspe River Reserve in Axedale
2024-09-30 08:30 - 23:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Campaspe River Reserve, Axedale, Axedale, Victoria, Australia
There will be another tree planting event, this time at the Campaspe River Reserve in Axedale, starting at 8.30am Monday September 30th, 2024.
New members are always welcome, and a great chance to get involved with your sleeves rolled up.
here will be a social coffee at the nearby Rise and Grind café afterwards. Come along and get to meet some of the great and passionate Friends. BYO gloves and sunscreen, and some drinking water. All else will be there.

Last Wednesday in September Ride: Axedale - Heathcote
2024-09-25 10:00 - 14:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Axedale Public Hall carpark, Axedale Public Hall, High Street, Axedale, Victoria, 3551, Australia
Riding with COTA (Council on The Ageing)
When:- Wednesday, 25th September
Meet:- Axedale carpark for 10am departure.
Ride:- Axedale to Heathcote and back along the O’Keefe Trail.
Lunch:- Gaffney’s Bakery, Heathcote.

COTA Victoria Bicycle Group from Melbourne will be joining the FBKRT group for this ride along the O’Keefe Trail. There will probably be about 10 riders in their group who will be keen to meet us and enjoy riding with us.
For those who want coffee first, arrive earlier at the Axedale carpark and pop across the road to Rise and Grind or the Axedale Tavern to buy one.
We will take time on the ride to read about the history of the trail and enjoy the views at Lake Eppalock.
Members of the COTA Victoria Bicycle Group have invited us to join them in the evening for a meal at the RSL, Bendigo.
Please let Judy know if you intend to participate in the ride and particularly if you wish to have a meal at the RSL, as numbers will have to be confirmed.
