Around the Bay, historically known as Around the Bay in a Day and currently held as United Energy Around the Bay for sponsorship reasons, is an annual mass-participation recreational cycling event organised by Bicycle Network in Victoria, Australia. First held in 1993, the event was created around the challenge of cycling a complete circuit of Port Phillip in a single day.
The traditional route starts and finishes in Melbourne, travels through Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, crosses the entrance to Port Phillip by ferry between Queenscliff and Sorrento, and follows the Mornington Peninsula back to Melbourne. Riders have historically been able to complete the circuit in either direction.
Originally conceived as a long-distance challenge, Around the Bay developed into one of Australia's largest mass-participation cycling events. The inaugural ride attracted 2,700 entrants despite organisers initially expecting about 500, and participation reached approximately 17,000 riders at its peak in 2012.
Although completing the full circuit remains the event's defining challenge, shorter distances were introduced as the event expanded. The contemporary event includes rides for recreational cyclists, families and children as well as the full-distance challenge. In 2025, more than 6,000 people participated across five ride options.
History
Establishment
Around the Bay was established by Bicycle Victoria, now Bicycle Network, in 1993.
Organisers initially hoped approximately 500 cyclists would attempt an ambitious new ride around Port Phillip. The proposed route started in Port Melbourne, crossed the West Gate Bridge, travelled through Geelong to Queenscliff, crossed the bay by ferry to Sorrento and returned to Melbourne along the eastern side of the bay.
Demand substantially exceeded expectations. Thousands sought to enter, creating a logistical problem because there was insufficient ferry capacity to transport all riders and their bicycles across the bay.
Organisers responded by dividing the field between clockwise and anticlockwise routes, with approximately half the riders travelling towards Queenscliff first and the remainder heading towards Sorrento.
The inaugural event was held on 17 October 1993. A total of 2,700 riders entered, while approximately 1,000 additional prospective participants were unable to enter because of ferry capacity. Around 100 volunteers supported the event.
The unexpectedly large response established Around the Bay as an annual event.
Early growth
Following the inaugural ride, Bicycle Victoria entered a partnership with The Smith Family in 1994. Additional ferry capacity allowed approximately 3,000 riders to enter, but the event again sold out.
More than 4,000 riders participated in 1995, supported by approximately 140 volunteers. Ferry capacity remained one of the defining logistical challenges of the event's early years, with multiple vessels used to move riders and bicycles between Queenscliff and Sorrento.
Participation continued to grow. Approximately 5,000 riders took part in 2001 and 7,000 in 2002. That year the start and finish moved from Port Melbourne to Catani Gardens in St Kilda.
The event increasingly attracted participants from outside Victoria, including interstate and international riders.
Expansion into a major participation event
Around the Bay exceeded 10,000 participants for the first time in 2005.
In 2006 the event expanded its format by offering four distances: 42 km, 100 km, 210 km and 250 km. More than 14,000 riders participated and over 400 volunteers supported the event. The longest route, known as The Legend, extended the traditional circuit to approximately 250 km.
From 2007 the event's start and finish were located at Alexandra Gardens, where Around the Bay became part of the Melbourne Cycling Festival.
Participation reached 15,609 in 2009, when a record 525 volunteers supported the event. More than 16,000 riders participated in 2010, setting another participation record.
The twentieth edition in 2012 attracted approximately 17,000 riders across six distances and ten route options, the highest recorded participation in the event's history.
The expansion of shorter distances during this period changed Around the Bay from a single long-distance circuit into a broader mass-participation cycling event while retaining the full circuit as its signature challenge.
Twenty-fifth edition and Albert Park
The 25th edition was held in 2017 and attracted approximately 10,000 riders. Participants could choose from nine ride options across distances ranging from 25 km to 250 km.
A substantial reconfiguration followed in 2018. United Energy became the naming-rights partner, while the event village and principal Melbourne start and finish moved to Albert Park.
A new 300 km route was introduced at the same time, becoming the longest option in the event's history. The route extended beyond the traditional circuit through parts of the southern Mornington Peninsula, including Point Nepean National Park, Arthurs Seat, Red Hill and Flinders.
The 300 km option was intended for experienced endurance cyclists and existed alongside the shorter recreational routes rather than replacing the traditional full-bay challenge.
COVID-19 interruption and return
Around the Bay did not proceed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria.
The event also did not proceed in its traditional form in 2021 during continuing pandemic restrictions.
Around the Bay returned in 2022, with almost 10,000 riders expected to participate.
The return restored the large-scale event after the first extended interruption since its establishment in 1993.
Contemporary event
The event has continued at a smaller scale than its participation peak of the late 2000s and early 2010s while retaining multiple distances intended for riders of different abilities.
The 300 km option was offered for the final time in 2024.
In 2025 the program was consolidated into five principal ride options: the 220 km Classic, a 135 km route beginning in Geelong, 100 km and 50 km rides, and the family-oriented Lap the Track event at Albert Park.
More than 6,000 riders participated in the 2025 edition.
Routes
Full bay circuit
The defining Around the Bay route is a complete circuit of Port Phillip.
The traditional ride connects Melbourne, Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Queenscliff, Sorrento and the Mornington Peninsula. Riders cross the entrance to Port Phillip using the Queenscliff–Sorrento ferry.
The ferry crossing distinguishes Around the Bay from most Australian mass-participation road cycling events and has shaped the organisation of the ride since its inception. Limited ferry capacity forced organisers to divide the inaugural field between clockwise and anticlockwise directions and prevented approximately 1,000 additional cyclists from entering in 1993.
The length of the principal circuit has varied slightly with changes to start locations and routing. The contemporary Classic is approximately 220 km.
Alternative distances
Although Around the Bay began as a challenge to complete the entire circuit, alternative distances became increasingly important as the event grew.
By 2006 riders could choose between distances of approximately 42 km, 100 km, 210 km and 250 km. Subsequent editions offered additional routes, allowing less-experienced cyclists and families to participate without completing the full circuit.
The 300 km endurance route introduced in 2018 extended the event beyond the standard bay circuit. It remained part of the program until 2024.
Following the retirement of the 300 km option, the 2025 event offered five rides. The 220 km Classic remained the principal full-distance challenge, while a 135 km ride began at Geelong. Riders could also choose 100 km and 50 km routes or the family-oriented Lap the Track event at Albert Park.
The range of distances has allowed Around the Bay to operate simultaneously as a long-distance endurance challenge and a broader recreational cycling festival.
Fundraising
Fundraising became a major component of Around the Bay soon after its establishment.
Bicycle Victoria began a partnership with The Smith Family in 1994, one year after the inaugural event. The charity partnership supported educational programs for disadvantaged Australian children.
In 2005, almost 11,000 participants raised approximately A$300,000 for The Smith Family.
Fundraising reached approximately A$440,000 in 2006.
In 2009, Around the Bay raised A$1 million in a single edition for The Smith Family for the first time.
The partnership became one of the longest-running charitable associations connected with the event. The Smith Family reported that by 2016, after 23 years as the official charity partner, Around the Bay had raised nearly A$10 million for the organisation. The 2016 edition alone raised close to A$1 million.
Later editions have supported other charitable organisations. Maddie Riewoldt's Vision was the charity partner for the 2025 event.
Organisation and volunteers
Around the Bay is organised by Bicycle Network, formerly Bicycle Victoria.
The event requires substantial temporary infrastructure across Melbourne and the Port Phillip region. Operations include traffic management, road closures, route signage, rest stops, food and hydration, mechanical assistance, medical support, rider information, ferry coordination and start and finish facilities.
The Queenscliff–Sorrento ferry crossing creates an additional logistical requirement because riders and bicycles must be coordinated with ferry capacity and the arrival of participants travelling in different directions.
Volunteers have been central to the event since its first edition. Around 100 volunteers supported the inaugural 2,700 riders in 1993, increasing to approximately 140 volunteers in 1995.
More than 400 volunteers supported the 14,000-plus riders in 2006. In 2009 a record 525 volunteers supported 15,609 participants.
Volunteer roles have included route marshalling, rest-stop operations, rider assistance, event logistics, start and finish operations and other support services.
The continuing importance of volunteers reflects the scale of delivering a one-day cycling event over routes extending for more than 200 km around Port Phillip.
Safety and weather
The event takes place primarily on public roads and uses traffic management, temporary road closures, route signage, marshals, medical support and rest areas.
Several editions have been affected by severe weather.
The 2007 event was held in temperatures reaching approximately , accompanied by hot northerly winds.
The 2010 edition was held in wet conditions, with one ferry service cancelled before the event. More than 16,000 riders nevertheless participated.
Strong winds affected the 2016 event and produced particularly difficult conditions for riders.
Serious incidents have also occurred. During the 2006 event two riders suffered heart attacks and were taken to hospital.
In 2008 several cyclists were injured when a vehicle struck a group of riders before the start of the event on the Nepean Highway. Later that day another participant died after a collision with a fellow rider near Olivers Hill in Frankston.
Participation
Around the Bay experienced rapid growth during its first two decades.
The inaugural event attracted 2,700 riders in 1993, despite having initially been conceived for approximately 500 participants. Participation exceeded 4,000 by 1995, reached approximately 5,000 in 2001 and increased to around 7,000 in 2002.
The event passed 10,000 participants for the first time in 2005. More than 14,000 rode in 2006, 15,609 participated in 2009 and more than 16,000 took part in 2010.
Participation peaked at approximately 17,000 riders in 2012, when participants could choose between six distances and ten route options.
Approximately 10,000 riders participated in the 25th edition in 2017.