How to Maximise Your MTB Weekend in Creswick, Victoria: Best Food Accom, & Side Quests

Creswick? Better mark it on your map! This charming little town outside of Ballarat has been given a makeover in the form of brand new mountain biking trails. Once a busy town in the gold rush era, now the  rush is to get into the surrounding hills to test out new singletrack.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Dja Dja Wurrung people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to the Djaara as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

The last stage of construction on the Djuwang Baring Creswick Trails was completed in late November, giving locals and early frothers the chance to put rubber on dirt and test out 60km of new trails.

The start of the trailhead at Hammon Park is located just 20 minutes from Ballarat and 90 minutes on the western side of Melbourne.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Creswick Trails Facts

Distance: All 60km of trail is currently open
Duration: A weekend, although if we had the time we could easily spend a week here
Elevation Gain: The largest climb is on Marsupial (W1) with 84m of elevation gain
Nearest Town: Creswick, the nearest big town is Ballarat

Creswick Bike Trails

The Djuwang Baring Creswick Trails are the newest addition to Victoria’s ever-growing mountain bike scene. Whilst they are new, the trail network’s accessibility from Melbourne and its well-constructed and maintained trails make it a top destination to spend a weekend away mountain biking in nature.

DirtArt began construction on the trails in late January 2023 and they smashed out the build. The trails were officially opened to the public on the 30th of November 2024.

The trailhead for Djuwang Baring is located at Hammon Park, just 200 metres east of the Midland Highway, making it an ideal location to split up your day to refuel at one of the cafes or bakeries.

Read more: Djuwang Baring Creswick Trails – 5 Best MTB Trails Near Ballarat

Grab a bite in town after long days of cycling

Far from being just a trailhead, Hammon Park is a mountain bike rider’s heaven complete with a pump track, toilets and shower facilities, water refilling stations and a bike wash and repair station. Everything here is tailored for you to ride and stay riding  as long as you can.

Out on the trails themselves, there’s a great variety of terrain that’s suitable for all skill levels, ranging from green (easy) to black (difficult). Whilst we were there we tested out a range of green and blue trails and picked our favourites. The trails are mainly a mix of flow or technical trails, but there are also quite a few jump trails within the network for more advanced riders.

Read more: Learn to Mountain Bike Without Breaking Yourself

As well as this, 30% of the trails are currently suitable for adaptive riders. To get more in depth trail information, visit the trail network’s website or download the Trailforks app for more precise information.

Once you’ve tired yourself out, head down Main Street and you’ll find there’s lots more on offer in and around Creswick than just mountain biking. We’ve pulled together the best places to eat, stay, and explore when you’re out of the saddle.

Side Quests in Creswick

As much as we’d all love to stay out on the mountain bike trails as long as possible, there’s a time for action and a time for rest.

Fortunately, Creswick is blessed with a number of scenic walking trails to take things at a slower pace. Our favourites were:

La Gerche Forest Walk

An immersive 2.2km walk looking back on history. Named after John La Gerche, this trail shows evidence of the nursery and surrounds that were established through the work of La Gerche, who experimented with collecting seed and growing a number of different varieties of trees in Sawpit Gully. A number of these trees still stand tall today.

For photographers and nature lovers out there, pay a visit during autumn to experience the changing of seasons as the deciduous trees turn hues of yellow and red. This walk is also dog-friendly and connects to the 210km Goldfields Track.

A pretty spot to stretch the legs

St Georges Lake

Choose your own adventure! Come down for a cruisy stroll alongside the lake’s edge, walk around the perimeter, or set up a picnic and have a swim on a hot summer’s day

Pro tip: From the main area, looking out to the other side of the lake, there’s a rope swing into the water.

Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes and Waterfalls

The History of Creswick

The Dja Dja Wurrung people were the original inhabitants of the land and Djaara, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clan’s Aboriginal Corporation, is still very active in the community today. Djuwang Baring, the name of the mountain biking trail network, means ‘long track’ in the Dja Dja Wurrung language.

Creswick boomed in the 1850s when the Victorian gold rush was at its peak. As the gold rush faded, the town slowly evolved to become known for its grazing, agriculture and forestry, eventually becoming known as ‘The Home of Forestry’.

John La Gerche was a prominent man in the history of Creswick and had a pioneering role in establishing and setting up a nursery in Sawpit Gully, and growing tree plantations for mine supports – he found that Monterey pines grew quickly for harvest. Today, the La Gerche Forest Walk commemorates his life’s work with historic buildings on site and evidence of his practices and work still visible.

How to Get to Creswick

Driving is the easiest and most convenient way to get to Creswick.

From Melbourne, it’s around 90 minutes by taking the Western Freeway and then following the signs into Creswick.

Alternatively, Creswick Railway Station is accessible from Melbourne’s CBD on the V/Line service via Ballarat – the trails are just 1km west of the station.

If you’re coming from Ballarat, take the Midland Highway into the centre of town and follow the scent of the mountain bike riders heading to the trailhead at Hammon Park.

Where to Stay Near the Creswick Trails

We stayed at the RACV Goldfields Resort and had a great stay! The accommodation backs up onto a golf course and as the sun set, we saw an abundance of roos skipping along.

Time to nod off!

A big reason we chose to stay here was due to the undercover secure storage for our bikes and bike washing facilities, making it a no-brainer for peace of mind and proper gear maintenance. They also had a buffet breakfast which ensured we were well-fuelled for some big days out on the trail.

Alternatively, Creswick Motel and the studios at Creswick Holiday Park are other options located more centrally in town and closer to the trailhead.

Where to Eat Near the Creswick Trails

Creswick has a number of local food hotspots and, like the trails, has a good variety for everyone.

During our time in Creswick, we tried out:

• French pastries at Le Peche Gourmand – Is there a better way to start your day than a coffee and a French pastry?
• Creswick Country Bakery – A classic bakery with a build-your-own sandwich bar – good to maximize time out on the trails (and avoid the lunch rush).
• Black Cat Truffles – With a hint of fine dining at affordable prices and a peaceful and serene setting between Creswick and Ballarat, this place was a winner.
• Farmers Arms Hotel – A classic country pub vibe with hearty meals and cold beers on tap. A nice way to wrap up a day or weekend in Creswick.

The grounds at Black Cat Truffles are gorgeous

If there’s one place not to miss on this list, it’d have to be Black Cat Truffles by chef Liam Downes, who was recently featured on MasterChef. The restaurant backs onto the farm where they harvest their own truffles, coupled with a fresh and seasonal menu and a game of giant Jenga to keep it light. It’s a must on any itinerary to Creswick. Speaking of…

Suggested Creswick Itinerary

What you’ve all been waiting for! Here’s how to maximise your mountain bike weekend in Creswick from a crew who’ve done it.

Day 1

• Arrive in Creswick early in the morning and head straight to Le Peche Gourmand for a pastry and coffee before hitting the trails (be sure to check what days Le Peche Gourmand is open to avoid disappointment).
• Ride for a couple of hours before lunchtime, warming up at Hammon Park and sinking your teeth into Green Apple (G8).
• Grab a salad roll at Creswick Country Bakery.
• Head back out onto the trails and, this time, park at the junction of Brackenbury and Port Phillip Road. Do some laps on Warami Galk Galk (L8) and Marsupial (W1) and, if you’re feeling confident, send some intermediate blue lines.
• Check into accommodation at RACV Goldfields Resort, eat upstairs at Springs Bar and Terrace and watch the sunset over the golf course.

It’s a comfy and convenient place to put your feet up

Day 2

• Start the day a bit slower, taking in some history on the La Gerche Forest Walk (2.2km).
• Brunch at Black Cat Truffles. Make sure you reserve in advance as it’s quite small and popular. Brunch is available 9am-11am on weekends, the rest of the day is dedicated to truffle hunts and degustations.
• Head to the junction of Brackenbury and Port Phillip Roads for easy access to the Wood Coupe area of Djuwang Baring. Tackle Marsupial (W1), Martuk (W6), and Wire (W2), keep lapping until your heart is content.
• Relax by St Georges Lake until mid-late afternoon.
• Head back to Brackenbury and Port Phillip Road junction, this time to send Warami Galk Galk (L8), Rainbow Way (L5), and Windlass (L3). By this time, your skills should be much sharper and ready to increase the degree of difficulty slightly.
• Finish the evening in Creswick at the Farmers Arms Hotel with a good meal, a frothy on tap, and a game of pool.

St Georges Lake is a must-visit

Day 3

• Relax in the spa at the RACV Goldfields resort and give your legs some TLC.
• Get down to the buffet breakfast and replenish all that fuel you lost sending the trails all weekend.
• Give your bikes a good clean before checking out.
• Start planning your next trip back to Creswick!

Nab a treat from Le Peche Gourmand before you leave!

FAQs for Visiting Creswick

What other adventures are around Creswick?

Make sure to check out Ballarat, you can even hike there from Daylesford! For something more low-key, stop in at Dunnstown Sunflower Field to pick your own bouquet.

What’s the climate like in Creswick?

Being in Victoria means that the temperature in Creswick can vary quite a lot between summer and winter. It can reach the high 30s in summer and in winter, it’s likely you’ll get single digits. Pack accordingly