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Around the Bay

Port Phillip Bay, VIC

CyclingHard

At a Glance

ActivityCycling
Disciplineroad_event
DifficultyHard
Distance210.0 km
Elevation Gain800 m
Trail TypeLoop
SurfaceSealed
Best SeasonOctober
Bikes Allowed

About the Around the Bay

Australia's largest cycling event - 210km circumnavigation of Port Phillip Bay from Melbourne, with 16,000+ riders each October.

Around the Bay (originally Around the Bay in a Day) is Australia's largest cycling event - a 210km loop of Port Phillip Bay from Melbourne, attracting over 16,000 riders annually each October. Run by Bicycle Network, the event offers multiple distance options including 210km (full circumnavigation), 135km (single direction with ferry), 100km, 50km and 20km routes - making it the only major Australian cycling event accessible to recreational riders alongside seasoned long-distance cyclists.

The full 210km route runs Melbourne-Beach Road-Frankston-Mornington Peninsula-Sorrento-ferry across the Heads to Queenscliff-Geelong-Werribee-Melbourne. Total elevation gain is a modest 800m - the route is largely flat to gently rolling, making it more an endurance challenge than a climbing event.

The event runs almost entirely on dedicated bike paths and quiet seaside roads, with marshalling and traffic management at all intersections. The Sorrento-Queenscliff ferry crossing is a unique feature; cyclists board with bikes and cross Port Phillip Heads en masse before continuing the western leg.

Gradient profile — Avg gradient: 0.4%, Max gradient: 6%.

Around the Bay Safety & Warnings

Long event - pace nutrition; ferry crossing requires bike loading; coastal headwinds.

Around the Bay Highlights

210km bay circumnavigationSorrento-Queenscliff ferryBeach Road16,000+ riders

Around the Bay Facilities & Huts

Beach Road Cafes
Sorrento Ferry Terminal
Queenscliff
Geelong Waterfront

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