Wyndham Vale is one of the new suburbs on Melbourne's western fringe, where housing estates spread across the basalt plains towards Geelong. The landscape is flat, open and often windswept, with stone walls built by early settlers from the volcanic rock and low volcanic hills such as Mount Cottrell rising from the grassland. It is not the most scenic place on its own, but it is where the city releases you towards the coast and the Otways.
The plains have a quiet, stark beauty. Native grasslands once covered them, and remnants survive in reserves, with wildflowers in spring. Kangaroos can sometimes be seen at dawn on the edges of the estates. To the south lies Werribee, with its grand Werribee Park mansion, built in the 1870s by wealthy pastoralists, and the Open Range Zoo. To the west, the granite outcrops of the You Yangs rise from the plain, with tracks and lookouts popular with walkers and mountain bikers.
The riding here is mostly about getting somewhere. The Princes Freeway runs fast and straight towards Geelong, while minor roads cross the plains in long straights with few bends. Wind is the constant companion, gusting across the open land, and summer can bring scorching heat and fire risk. Traffic around the new estates can be heavy at peak hours.
Fuel, supermarkets and fast food are plentiful in Wyndham Vale and Werribee. For something better, head to Werribee or carry on towards Geelong. Beyond, the ride continues to the Great Ocean Road and the rainforests of the Otways, where the riding becomes far more rewarding. Take a break, drink plenty of water on hot days, and prepare for the curves ahead.