Natural Attractions

The road climb from Harrietville to the Mt Hotham village is one of the most spectacular cycling climbs in Australia – definitely one for the bucket lists of committed road climb cyclists, and not for the fainthearted.

It’s a long climb (30.8 kilometres) with three distinct sections that will keep you on your toes, but the great views and sense of achievement at the end are worth it. The average gradient is 4.2 percent, but in some sections it’s up around 10 per cent, to really give your lungs and legs a workout.

The stretches that will really test you are:

The Meg at 5.5kilometres (300metres at about 10 per cent)

CRB Hill at 23.5 kilometres (1.1kilometre at 10 per cent)

Diamantina at 28.3kilometres (1.4kilometre at 9 percent – but the views of the Razorback and Mt Feathertop will take your breath away)

By the time you’ve conquered the final climb at Diamantina, the end is in sight. You can stop at The Cross and take a photo of the incredible views to make your riding friends jealous.

Roll through the Mt Hotham village for another kilometre or so and grab refreshments at The General, open year-round.

Going down is mostly – well, down. The road is shared with cars, trucks, motorcycles, caravans, and everything except pedestrians.

Compare your time against the Strava segment.