Alexandra is a small town on the Goulburn Valley Highway, a few kilometres from the stop, and it sits at the edge of the high country where the farmland of the Goulburn Valley meets the forested foothills of the Great Dividing Range. It was a gold and timber town in the nineteenth century, and the old buildings along the main street still show it. The Avenue of Honour, an avenue of memorial trees planted after the First World War, runs into town, and in autumn the leaves turn a spectacular red and gold, a quietly moving sight.
For a rider, this is a gateway to some good roads. To the east and north lies Lake Eildon, a huge reservoir with arms reaching into the hills, popular for boating, fishing and houseboats, while to the south the Cathedral Range State Park rises in a jagged ridge of rock, visible from the highway. Mansfield, about forty kilometres away, is the gateway to the alpine country, and the road there passes through farmland, forest and small villages.
Alexandra has about two and a half thousand people, with a fuel station, a supermarket, bakeries, pubs and cafes, which makes it a sensible start and finish. If you are staying overnight, a pub meal and a cold beer are a good way to end the day. The roads out of town are generally smooth, with long bends and rolling hills, though you should keep an eye out for kangaroos and wombats at dusk, and take care on narrow bridges.
The best time to ride here is spring or autumn, when the days are mild and the colours are strong. Summer can be hot, and bushfire danger can close roads, while winter brings cold nights and the possibility of snow on the high ground. If you are planning to continue east toward Omeo, fill the tank before leaving, since fuel is limited in the mountains. Take a moment at the river, where the water is clear and the red gums stand tall.