I was planning a 3-6 month tour in the mountains again from Sept 2024 to March 2025 while I waited on a new contract. However, I ended up fracturing my humerus and severely tearing two rotator cuff tendons in August. I really was not able to ride very much again until February.  So I took off for a month in the VIC High Country in March to salvage a bit of the planned tour.

You can read my journal for the tour here: March 2025 Tour

I rode through a few different towns to the 2023 tour, so I thought I would add resource details for them as an addendum in case that is helpful for others planning a ride. I've stuck those town details down below the maps.

You really don't need a GPS or any online route planning tools for the VIC High Country. The Rooftop map series are excellent and have a lot more detail than you would find on any of the route planning tools. You'll find all the 4WD blokes carry the Rooftop maps as well. HEMA maps haven't been updated in a long time, and even the new editions show tracks that aren't there, cross private property or that have been closed. 

I just use the Rooftop maps for whatever area I'm in and the VIC gov's "More to Explore" app which allows me to see where formal campsites are and what the topo lines look like to know if there is likely to be some hike-a-bike. I don't need turn by turn directions or to know what every single metre of elevation on a ride looks like. So just know that you can 'ride naked' in this area and be just fine. 

Tallangatta - camping at the Showgrounds or caravan park. One motel.  Bakery is good here; takeaway shop is fine. A couple other cafes. Two pubs with very average food (they seem to go in and out of business so don't depend on them). Small IGA supermarket. Place to charge an e-bike. Easy water resupply. On very popular rail trail so they are used to seeing cyclists.

Eskdale - tiny IGA but has the basics. Pub with meals and basic accommodation. Takeaway shop. Cheap caravan park with shade and a great camp kitchen. 

Mitta Mitta - Expensive caravan park but The Mill camping area on the edge of town is free. Easy water refill and good public toilets here. General store has really good food at reasonable prices. Homemade slices and muffines, as well as homemade meat pies that get great reviews. Pub does meals and has some accommodation. Pub can get booked out on holiday weekends. A brewery or distillery sort of place a few kms outside of town also does meals on some days. No IGA and general store pantry type items are limited - Eskdale is better for this.

Omeo - Small supermarket with the basics. A bit of a laundromat. 2 pubs, 2 bakeries (one does highly regarded pastries and meat pies), chemist, good info centre/library, historic museum, post office, and guy who has a bike/coffee shop with irregular hours. Can charge phone at oval at picnic table, park has good public toilets/BBQ/showers. Brand new mountain bike park. Caravan park has changed managers and has really gone downhill with lack of maintenance and no onsite managers. Both pubs have accommodation and there are a couple motels. Bus service a few times a week over the mtns to Wangaratta. Bus does not allow bikes. Bus service to Bairnsdale a few times a week, and it does have the capacity to take a bike or two if you ask nicely (as the run is also a freight service).