March 18, 2008 -

I mainly use this as a connecting route from the outer Eastern suburbs to the Southern roads of the strezlecki ranges. However it is a fun ride in its own right. I have seen cops on the approaches to this stretch but never past Powelltown.

From Powelltown the road winds its way up the side os a valley and over the range through a series of tight corners. The Road surface as at the start of 2008 was good, but this road is used by logging trucks and can get cut up fairly quickly in bad weather. Watch left handers for gravel in the apex (the tin tops are notoriously sloppy that way). Once you clear the top of the range the road opens up to a series of fast open sweepers. The forrest gradually clears to hilly farmland. There is one major junction. Turning right takes you up a steep climb out of the valleys and onto a plateau. From here it is a relatively open and straight run through a couple of small clusters of houses to Neerim South. Stop at the milkbar and enjoy a coffee and some fresh air.