The ride to Bealiba is an extension of the ride to Goldsborough. To Bealiba, the track surface is unmade and gently undulates through box ironbark forest. The section to the Bealiba Reservoir is sealed and then unmade road. From the reservoir, the section along Boundary track is rougher and there are some short steeper rises before rejoining Ponderosa track. This track passes trough two gates which should be left as you find them either open or (normally) closed.

Alternatively you can retrace your wheel tracks from Bealiba or take the relatively quiet sealed road back to Dunolly.

Timber.
The first settlers arrived in the 1840's, their early homesteads were made from 'daub and wattle' with shingle roofs. Bealiba derived its name from the Aboriginal language meaning 'Redgum Creek', and Redgum along with the other timbers of the Box-Ironbark forests have been a major influence on the town. Logging has been an active industry for over 120 years and at one stage there were six sawmills operating. Redgum has traditionally been used as a building timber, whereas the Yellow Gum, Grey Box and Ironbark have been used for fuel and fencing materials.

It's hard to imagine that only a century ago there was barely any bush left in much of the Dunolly district due to clearing for mining and later for farming. One new arrival commented that on getting off the train at Dunolly Station in 1920, she thought she had arrived in hell, 'a more barren scape she could not imagine with barely a tree, shrub, or even a blade of grass as far as the eye could see'. That is why in the 1890's new regulations were enforced to protect the larger trees. Even though logging still continues today, as you will see along your bike ride, restrictions are still maintained and some areas have been earmarked to be fully protected.

Flora & Fauna of the Box-Ironbark forests.
The Box-Ironbark forests once covered an area of 3 million hectares, however 85% of the original forests have been destroyed since European settlement. Few ecosystems can compare to the rich biodiversity of this forest, with over 1300 plant species, 300 animal and 3000 bird species calling it home. However the Box-Ironbark forests are now classified as one of the most threatened in Australia, with around 200 species of bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, insect and plant, listed as threatened with extinction.

On your ride keep your eye open for:

Reptiles such as Lace Monitors, the venomous Tiger or Brown Snakes, Bearded Dragons, Jackie, Blue Tongue and Stumpy tailed lizards.

Birds such as Honey Eaters, Magpies, Kookaburras, Rosellas, Cockatoos, Corellas, Galahs, Ibis, Pelicans, Coots, Blue Wrens, Finches, Owls, or the rare Swift Parrots and Grey-crowned abblers. (re, Brenda & Gary Cheers list in previous Golden Triangle Cycle Rides).

Mammals such as Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Black Wallaby, Possums, Sugar Gliders, Brushtailed Phascogales, Fat tailed Dunnarts, Echidnas.

Plants to be seen on your ride through the Box-Ironbark forest, List in Golden Triangle Bicycle Rides), include the various wattles, flame heath, everlasting, flax lillies, bushpeas, yam daisies, grevilleas, buloke, she oak trees and many rare orchids. To appreciate the variety of wildflowers in these areas it is best to come during the months of August/September.