Ride High Country Fund Round Two

Overview

Located three hours North East of Melbourne, Victoria’s High Country is fast becoming Australia’s premier cycle tourism destination. Boasting over 300kms of Rail Trails, 10 Mountain Bike parks, endless Gravel backroads, and a superb Road Cycling network, including the 7 Peaks road climbs. The quality and extent of its cycling opportunities are unmatched and attract more cycle tourism visitation and yield than any other Australian region.

The region currently receives 103,000 cycle tourists per year, spending $50 million in the region – more than any other regional destination in Australia. Cycle tourism visitor growth is forecast to continue, with the conservative scenario projecting 255,000 visitors participating in cycling in Victoria’s High Country by 2025.

Ride High Country Fund is now closed.

Objectives of Program

The Victorian Government invested $12 million towards a ten-year plan to help build on the region’s cycling strengths and make it the premier cycling tourism destination in Australia.

Funding Details

Projects must demonstrate the relationship to the following four categories:

Accommodation: Experiential accommodation, eco-pods, bike hotels, contemporary backpackers’ accommodation, extensive integrated resort facilities and hotels.
Bike Hubs and services: Expansion of existing businesses or creating new businesses to enhance the cycle tourism experience and create an active precinct where cyclists gather.
Food and beverage operators: New or expanded food and beverage offerings that are cyclist-friendly and located at strategic sites to enhance the cycle visitor experience, e.g. along rail trails, at trailheads or bike hubs.
Tour operators: Bike hire and bike shuttle companies that enhance the cycle visitor experience through improving existing and/or providing new cycling-related services; and tour operators with a focus on increasing interstate and international visitation through partnerships with local businesses.