Narre Warren is a big suburban hub in Melbourne's south-east, but look north and the land begins to lift. Narre Warren North and the Harkaway hills rise behind the town, a rolling patchwork of paddocks, horse properties and pockets of bush that climbs towards Lysterfield and the southern foot of the Dandenong Ranges.
That rise is what makes this a high point on the ride. The roads north of the Princes Highway, through Harkaway and towards Belgrave, quickly shed their suburban character. Narrow, bumpy lanes snake over ridges, with views back south across the flat country to Western Port on a clear day. Some of these roads are tight and patched, with blind crests and loose edges, so treat them with respect. Cyclists love the climbs here, and you will share the road with plenty of them on weekend mornings.
The area has a long history of orchards and grazing before the suburbs spread east, and Lysterfield Lake, a former reservoir now part of a park, is close by. Mountain bike trails built for the 2006 Commonwealth Games run through the hills there. The bush is home to kangaroos, wombats and plenty of birdlife, so dawn and dusk demand caution.
For the practical side, Narre Warren has every service: fuel, cafés, big supermarkets and fast food along the highway. It is also a good place to gather a group before the run towards the Grampians or the ranges. Head north and within ten minutes the traffic lights are behind you and the gum trees close in.