Ural Victorian Autumn Tour 2026

Generally every Autumn, a group of Ural owners get together for a multi-day ride. It’s organised by Ural owners, is often based in Victoria and very well attended by Ural riders who are keen to travel especially for the ride from all over the east coast. This year was no exception:

“Based at Porepunkah, our five days of riding all variations of terrain and roads inclusive of mountains, lakes and rivers is now done, dusted and a little rained upon. 

We failed to find Dezi Freeman but we did get within 40km of his hideaway on our ride through Old Tallangatta and around the Hume Weir. We had planned on sharing the $1m reward amongst our thirteen Urals and two support vehicles. 

Each ride day was planned to be different and they certainly were, changing from mainly bitumen and a little ‘very smooth’ dirt on the first day  to a rough and rocky track on day 2 traversing the Goldie Spur Track on our way from the Buckland Valley to Lake Buffalo. Apologies to those that found it a little rough but the scenery was to die for (if you were not paying attention).

We were back at Porepunkah for lunch and set off again later that afternoon for Mt Buffalo.  We checked on the Chalet renovations and then continued up to the Horn.

Day 3 was a sealed road run through the mountains…..Mt Beauty, Falls Creek and Mt Hotham.  We dodged the rain across Hotham Heights with a sedate run down the hill on a wet road back towards Bright/Porepunkah.

Thursday (Hahns birthday) was back past Lake Buffalo in the opposite direction and across a picturesque dirt road towards Edi, where we had our morning coffee stop. While doing the recce ride of this road 6 weeks earlier a friend travelling with me misjudged a corner which resulted in a helicopter ride and a Ural written off by his insurance company……..Ural and rider both now back on the road. 

Shortly after the coffee stop, the rain started.  We were headed for Shane Jacobson’s (Kenny the dunny man) recently acquired and renovated pub at Dederang.

We arrived suitably wet but not disappointed.  Pub, food and beverages all good and yes, the dunnies are decorated to  a “Kenny” standard.  

Day 5 saw Mt Porepunkah invaded by our ‘confusion’ of Ural’s.  A good Ural track and only a 50km return trip with absolutely the very best 360 degree view of the countryside from the Trig Point at the top…..also the very coldest point of the entire week….the wind was x$#&@ cold.  The afternoon was kept free for those wishing to relax before heading home the next day……that meant an early happy hour. 😜

This week was not just about riding.  The social side was fantastic with a great bunch of people who all got on so well together.  Happy ‘hours’ every night…..there were laughs, a birthday party, a lot of stories and just a couple of tears. 

Hard saying goodbye to friends from four states.  

Planning is underway for March 15-19. 2027. 

Thank you all for joining us and thanks to those that lead a ride, enabling me to cruise at the rear.   

Lee & Princess”

Check out each day of the ride on Harry’s youtube: VARSTy2026

A big thank you from us to Lee for your words, Lee and Norm for organising another great Ural ride and sharing your photos with us. Thanks also to Peter for sharing his photos and Harry for putting together the YouTube videos