Even many Melbourneites don't know that there's an idyllic gravel cycling paradise called Phillip Island just 125 kilometres south of their CBD’s Federation Square.

The island is better known for viewing fur seals at The Nobbies and Seal Rocks, attending motorcycle and car racing at the Phillip Island Circuit, and its sunset Penguin Parades, when little penguins come ashore in groups.

Phillip Island’s Greatest Strengths

That's all great, but for cyclists like Ralf Stoeckl, Phillip Island's greatest strengths are its roads and gravel trails.

Ralf is a keen rider and has had a house on Phillip Island for 16 years.

“For riding, there are daily group rides every morning at 7 AM for the fast group and 7:30 AM,” he told CycleHub.

“They mostly do road rides,” says Ralf, “but on Sundays, the 7:30 group does a CX (gravel) ride.

“In summer, there's another gravel ride at 5:30 PM from the Bicycle Repairman in Cowes. It's the ‘Bike, Beer, and Burger’ ride. The ride is about two hours and always ends up in the brewery.”

Ralf says all the group rides are very friendly, and there's no pressure and no official club.

Ralf was happy to share the best gravel routes with CycleHub readers, but locals will be glad that he made us promise to hold back a few secrets.

Where to Ride on Phillip Island

Phillip Island is only about 26 km long from east to west and 9 km from north to south. Still, it's easy to string together longer rides without ever touching a tyre on the mainland. Ralf and his cycling buddies regularly ride more than 100 kilometres around the island.

One of the best gravel rides is east of the island to Cape Woolamai, with its beautiful scenery. You travel east to the old airport and drop down from there to the ocean beach. If the tides are low, the sand will be firm, and you will be able to ride on the beach almost like a normal road.

At the beach’s far east end, there are stairs called the Magiclands Steps. They take you up to a hiking trail where you can ride out to the Cape Woolamai Beacon and then back in a loop.

“We've been doing this ride for years,” says Ralf. “It’s the most picturesque and my favourite on the island, but it is dependent on the tides.”

Strava users can see the 44 km Cape Woolamai route here.

Strava users can ride this 55 km gravel-and-road route that Ralf stitched together to hit most of the Phillip Island highlights, though not Cape Woolamai.

For a longer gravel-plus-road ride that also hits Cape Woolamai, try this 97 km route Ralf put together for you on Strava.

Scenic Pyramid Rock

Another scenic destination is Pyramid Rock at the southernmost point of Phillip Island’s midpoint. This iconic, pyramid-shaped granite formation offers dramatic views of Bass Strait.

Pyramid Rock is a popular spot for whale watching from April through November and for wildlife spotting.

From here, you can head east out to Cape Wollemi, as described above.

Alternatively, you can go west along the Bass Coast and head back north again after about 5 kilometres on Berry Beach Road.

If you really want to stretch your legs, don't turn north on Berry Beach Road. Instead, keep going east until you get to The Nobbies on the far western tip of Phillip Island. This is another gorgeous spot and a famous place to spot seals.

Strava users can ride this Cowes - Pyramid Rocks - The Nobbies route.

A Secret Cycling Trail Near Phillip Island

You can cycle off the island via the bridge at its north-east end. It takes you to San Remo.

“From San Remo, it's easy to access another secret trail that I love,” said Ralf.

“Keep going east for another five km or so, then turn right on Punch Bowl Road, which will take you straight south to the coast. That's where you find the 8-km coastal walk called the Bass Coast Walking Trail.

You can cycle on this beautiful trail, but watch out for hikers and dog walkers.

Cycling from Melbourne

Getting between Phillip Island and Melbourne doesn't have to require an internal combustion engine… if you've got the legs. You can easily cycle from Melbourne down to Phillip Island. You can ride to Stony Point and take a ferry across to Phillip Island, or you can go the long way around by road, trail, and bridge.

Check out Ralf’s 82 km Melbourne to Phillip Island route on Strava. It starts in Brighton and ends at Phillip Island’s family-owned Ocean Reach Brewery in Cowes.

“If you plan on taking the ferry, I suggest that you book,” Ralf said. “I've gotten caught out a few times this year and had to ask my wife to pick me up in the car.”

Book online at Western Port Ferries’ website. Note that there are different schedules for weekdays, holidays, and weekends.

Where Else Can You Cycle?

Where else in the Phillip Island area can you cycle?

There is some riding on French Island, where the ferries also stop.

There’s also abundant gravel and road riding up and down the Mornington Peninsula.

Ralf admits he hasn't explored these areas much because he has an abundance of riches in Melbourne, where he lives when he's not on the island, and on Phillip Island itself.

If you've cycled on Phillip Island, let us know. What is your favourite route? Email us at inbox@cyclehub.com.au.