8 DAY ONE-WAY TOUR, NOOSA TO PHILLIP ISLAND, SELF-GUIDED

 

Here is the plan; book your flight into Brisbane International Airport at the start and fly home out of Melbourne at the end and we will take care of trucking your motorcycle home to Noosa.

 

If you are just wanting to do a one-way ride, Brisbane to Melbourne then you can still use this awesome route as a basis for the ride and you are welcome to add any number of extra days to your ride.

 

 

An early start from Noosaville and just follow the Bruce Highway onto the Gateway Arterial to get through Brisbane.

Once across the Brisbane River just follow the Pacific Highway south taking the Nerang turnoff (no 69) and follow the Tourist Drive (Route 10, map 7) to Murwillumbah for a lunch time stop. After lunch the suggested route is via Uki and Nimbin to Lismore, Casino then on to Grafton and Nymboida. Nymboida is situated 40km south of Grafton on the Armidale Road.

 

 

The suggested route follows the Armidale road to Dorrigo. The road consists of some typical easy back roads before climbing over a tight, twisty mountain pass. This soon opens out to more open farm country with beautiful sweeping bends and lovely rural vistas. Approximately 53kms from Nymboida, turn left to the quaint little town of Dorrigo where the smell of fresh coffee brewing at the "Worlds Smallest Motorcycle Museum" will have you wanting to stop!

 

After the coffee stop follow the twists and turns of The Waterfall Way down to the quaint town of Bellingen and onto the Macksville Pub for lunch (turn sharp left over the bridge at Macksville). After lunch, ride on to the resort town of Port Macquarie for the night.

 

 

The famous Oxley Hwy which runs from Wauhope to Walcha is so good you will want to spend all day on it but the ride must continue! There is an excellent restaurant on the left just before the bridge as you enter Walcha.

 

This will make the ideal coffee stop as you head for the country music capital of Tamworth. The PowerHouse Motorcycle Museum (on the right entering town) has a fantastic collection of classic motorcycles from the 60's to the 80's, every one beautifully restored so it's definitely worth calling in to inspect and show respect! Tamworth will also make a handy lunch time stopover. After lunch, head on south down the New England Highway, pick a small town for afternoon coffee then continue on to Singleton for your next overnight stop.

 

 

Head south along Singleton's main street which is John Street. This becomes Putty Road, one of Australia's legendary motorcycle roads. Ride for 154km then turn right at the Kurrajong turn-off and follow Blaxlands Ridge Road to the Bells Line of Road where there is an ideal coffee stop only a few kms on the left at the large fruit barn. Take a right turn towards Lithgow then follow the signs to Mt Victoria.

 

Arriving at the T-intersection at Mt Victoria, turn right and follow the signs to Oberon for a suggested midday meal stop. After lunch at Oberon, take the stunning, recently sealed (new) Shooters Hill Road south to Goulburn via the quaint little village of Taralga. From Goulburn there is a choice of the freeway into Canberra or the approximately parallel secondary road through Tarago then on to Canberra.

 

 

Watch for the ever-present roo's as you exit south from Canberra. The 100km stretch to Cooma "enjoys" a very strong Police presence especially on MotoGP and WSB week so care needs to be taken with speed as you ride. Plan your morning coffee stop in Cooma at a small motorcycle friendly restaurant on the left just before the first main intersection in the centre of town. Be sure to refuel in Cooma before starting the next leg of the day's ride.

 

Riding west from Cooma, follow the Snowy Mountains Hwy to Kiandra where you turn left for Cabramurra and Corryong (route 23, map 49). Alternatively if the weather is good, you could ride the Alpine way via Jindabyne, Thredbo and Khancoban (route 15, map 49).Either way, a well derserved rest at Corryong for lunch somewhere in the main street is the go! After lunch, continue on to Tallangatta, Kiewa, Dederang, Mt Beauty then Bright (route 55, map 49).

 

Please Note: If weather conditions do not permit the high country routes of the Alpine Way, the Cabrumurra road or the Mount Hotham road, you will need to divert to Lakes Entrance via Bombala and the Cann Valley Highway. Either way, you will encounter some of the very best roads of the tour so you havn't been robbed!

 

 

Weather permitting, the ride up and over Mount Hotham (route 47, map 49) is one of Australia's absolute best rides. Excellent tarmac, endless corners, little traffic, breath-taking snow capped vistas? just stunning.

 

Stop at the top for the obligatory photo opportunity before riding on to historic Omeo and further on, the excellent run alongside the Tambo River as it snakes it's way to the ocean.The busy Princes Highway between Bairnsdale and Sale can be avoided by turning left 5kms past Bairnsdale and following the back-road to Sale (route C106) through Meerlieu and Cobains.

 

Taking the South Gippsland Hwy from Sale (route 57, map 50) will take you through Yarram, Foster, Koonwarra, Inverloch and Wonthaggi before viewing one of the most spectacular vistas of all time as you crest the rise on the approach to Phillip Island and are stunned by the pure beauty of Westernport Bay as it stretches forth before you. In a couple more kilometres you will arrive in the little fishing village of San Remo then cross the bridge onto Phillip Island. You have arrived!

 

Please note: If the weather does not permit the ride over Mt Hotham, an alternative route through Mansfield, Alexandra, Healesville, Pakenham and Koo-wee-rup can be used.

 

 

Excitement is at fever pitch as you join the throng of bikes heading trackside for Australia's mecca of motorcycle racing at the famed Phillip Island race circuit. The world's best riders will be out practising and competing for pole position for the big race but there will also be some Australian Championship races held as well to wet your appetite.

 

The regular MotoGP Expo will be showcasing all the latest models in the big expo shed so there will be plenty to keep you going all day!

 

 

It's back to the track this morning to catch all of the action of the big day. Gates open at 7.30am so it is best to get there early, relax with a coffee and check out the manufacturer exhibits and Expo before the madding crowds converge.

The big bikes will be booming down Gardner Straight in morning  practice for the main event in the afternoon. Lots of sights to see, bikes to look at and atmosphere to soak up as you wander around the circuit checking out the best vantage points. The support classes and MotoX demo's will keep things firing along until the main race begins.

 

 

 

Any riders flying home to NZ or any other countries on the Monday after the race weekend can drop their bikes at Melbourne Airport where the Aussie Biker bike transporter will be waiting.