Diamond Creek is a leafy outer suburb in Nillumbik, north-east of Melbourne, where the city begins to dissolve into hills, bush and small farms. The creek itself runs through the town, and the area has a long association with goldmining, artists and people seeking a bit of space. Neighbouring Eltham is known for its mud-brick houses and the Montsalvat artists' colony.
As a start and fuel stop, this is a practical choice. There are filling stations in town and in nearby Greensborough and Hurstbridge, and once you head north towards Kinglake or east towards the Yarra Valley, services become fewer and further apart. Top up here, grab a coffee, and you are ready for some of the best riding near the city.
The roads radiating from Diamond Creek are a big part of the appeal. Heading north through Hurstbridge, the route to Kinglake climbs into the ranges with flowing bends and increasingly forested surrounds. The Kinglake area was devastated by the Black Saturday fires of February 2009, and you can still see the scars and the regrowth in the forest. Riding through, it is impossible not to feel the weight of what happened there.
Traffic around Diamond Creek can be busy at commuter times, with narrow roads and a single-line railway crossing that can hold you up. Wildlife is a real hazard further out, and in summer bushfire risk can close roads or make the ranges an unwise destination on extreme days. Check conditions before you go, then enjoy the quick transition from suburb to genuine country.