OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott and his Pollie Pedal peloton will head to Warragul today after an overnight stay in Carrum Downs.

The Herald Sun reports that the group left Geelong for Queenscliff at 8am yesterday.

"We had a very pleasant fast ride down the Bellarine Peninsula to Queenscliff (and) a rather chilly wait for the ferry," Mr Abbott said last night.

"Then a nice trip across the entrance to Port Phillip Bay to Sorrento, a gentle pedal along to the foreshore at Rosebud where I had the chance to plant a tree."

Mr Abbott also announced a Coalition government would launch a foreshore restoration project as part of his Green Army plan.

"Then a rather circuitous ride to Mornington, to the lovely Royal Hotel on the cliffs overlooking the bay," Mr Abbott said.

There, he discussed road safety with a local couple whose son had died after a car door was opened in front of his bicycle two years ago.

"Then we had to form up in a couple of very large bunches to take an unsurveyed route to Carrum Downs, because of the traffic congestion caused by the Ironman (event).

"Rumours to the effect that had we gone into the Ironman course we might have been dragged into the event are incorrect."

Riding with Mr Abbott are shadow environment minister Greg Hunt, MP for Dunkley, Bruce Billson, MP for Farrer, NSW, Sussan Ley and shadow families minister Kevin Andrews.

The Pollie Pedal, which began in 1998, is raising money for Carers Australia. Last year's total was $300,000.

The ride takes in regional Victoria and NSW before it ends in Canberra on April 1.

Read more at the Herald Sun