Cycling in Ballarat: Clubs, Popular Routes and the Home of the Australian Road National Championships
Ballarat is one of Australia's great cycling cities, home to world-class courses, active clubs and the prestigious Australian Road National Championships each January.
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Ballarat holds a special place in Australian cycling. The city and its surrounds offer terrain that challenges and rewards riders of every level, a strong club culture that welcomes beginners alongside seasoned competitors, and the extraordinary distinction of hosting the Australian Road National Championships, commonly known as the RoadNats, most years in January. For anyone who loves cycling, Ballarat is a destination, and for locals, it is a playground.
The Mount Buninyong circuit, located a short distance south of the city, is the jewel in the crown. This challenging course winds through farmland and climbs the distinctive slopes that give riders a genuine test of climbing ability and bike-handling skill. Each January when the RoadNats come to Ballarat, the best cyclists in the country tackle this circuit in front of enthusiastic roadside crowds, and the atmosphere rivals anything the professional cycling calendar can produce. Watching elite riders fly past on a summer's morning at Mount Buninyong is one of the great free sporting experiences in regional Australia.
For club cyclists, Ballarat has well-established organisations that cater to road riders, mountain bikers and track enthusiasts. The Ballarat Cycling Club is the hub for road and criterium racing in the city, running regular club events, social rides and competitive races through the season. Membership is open to riders of all abilities, and the club's weekend rides are a friendly way to explore the region's roads in a group setting while building fitness and skills.
Popular riding routes fan out from the city in every direction, taking in rolling farmland, historic goldfields landscapes and the pleasant circuits around Lake Wendouree. The lake loop is particularly popular for casual riders and families, offering a flat and scenic route that can be completed in a leisurely session. More ambitious riders head into the hills toward Buninyong and beyond, finding climbs that rival anything on the Victorian cycling calendar.
Whether you are a competitive racer, a weekend warrior or someone who simply enjoys exploring the landscape on two wheels, Ballarat's cycling community is ready to welcome you. Contacting the Ballarat Cycling Club or checking the AusCycling website for affiliated clubs in the region is the best first step toward getting on the road in one of Australia's finest cycling cities.
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