OPERA, OUTBACK & OCEAN GUIDED MOTORCYCLE TOUR

DAY ONE

The first day of riding on this great adventure begins on a high, both literally and figuratively, with a stunningly beautiful ride west to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) listed Blue Mountains; given their signature blue hue by the fine mist produced by the innumerable Eucalypt trees that thrive in the region.

Pushing further inland the ride continues on to the historic settlement of Lithgow and then on to Bathurst, Australia’s oldest European settlement where we ride up to Mount Panorama, home of Australia’s most iconic car race the Bathurst 1000. We then descend onto the Central West Plains and ride on to the small town of Parkes home of the famous Parkes Radio Telescope, which was instrumental in bringing pictures of the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing to televisions across the globe. You may recognise it as the star of the 2000 movie ‘The Dish’ which was loosely based on real-life events, with a little bit of liberty taken with a few of the minor details of course.

DAY TWO

The second day of riding is a relatively short one and will have you approaching the start of the ‘outback’, riding though legendary ‘bushranger’ country around Parkes and the small settlement of Condobolin a little further to the west. The route traces the course of the Lachlan River for a short distance before pausing for a while at the tiny (population around 1,400 at last count) oasis town of Lake Cargelligo situated on the shores of the eponymous lake itself. From Lake Cargelligo it’s then an simple ride to the next overnight stop in Hillston, located on the legendary Kidman Way.

Hillston epitomises small-town Australia and the Kidman Way is named for the successful pastoralist from Adelaide, Sir Sydney Kidman who died in 1935. The company which still bears his name: S.Kidman & Co, is still technically the largest private landowner in Australia.

DAY THREE

Day three marks the the first taste of ‘proper’ unsurfaced riding as we follow some of the many dirt and gravel tracks which abound in the region and start to ride into what could arguably be referred to as the ‘real’ Outback. It’s about 205km of dirt and gravel with a liberal sprinkling of dust, corrugations and sporadic patches of sand to keep stalwart motorbike adventurers entertained.

Broken Hill, birthplace of the mining behemoth BHP (Broken Hill Proprietary Ltd), is the eventual destination but you’ll be taking the ‘road-less-travelled’ to get there, riding through some fairly harsh looking landscapes and along some great dirt and gravel roads.

Depending on when you arrive in Broken Hill a great option for movie fans is to push on through the town and continue the short distance north-west to the tiny settlement of Silverton. This is an area famed for movie-making, cinema heritage and featuring as a post-apocalyptic backdrop in any number of blockbusters. Driving home its pedigree (pun definitely intended), Silverton is home to the iconic (and somewhat quirky) Mad Max 2 Museum – a must see, even if you’re not a fan of the movie!

It’s then a short hop back to Broken Hill to your accommodation for the night. Make sure you’re back at the hotel before dusk though as wildlife abounds in the region.

DAY FOUR AND FIVE

Leaving Broken Hill behind you’ll ride west on the isolated Barrier Highway to cross the South Australian frontier only a short distance from the town, bidding farewell to New South Wales and striking out deeper into the ‘Outback’. You’ll follow the Barrier Highway all the way to the small town of Peterborough (a great option if you’re looking for some lunch) and then turn north to ride past the working sheep station of Rawnsley Park, which is nestled right on the outskirts of the spectacular and impossibly ancient Flinders Ranges National Park and on to Wilpena Pound itself which will be our base for two nights.

Two nights are spent at the Wilpena Pound Resort to enable you to either explore the Flinders Ranges in greater depth on the many, many dirt roads which criss-cross one of the most iconic National Parks in Australia, or you can relax in comfort at the hotel and take advantage of the guided cultural tour offerings or scenic flight experiences available.

DAY SIX

Pushing south from the Flinders Ranges, down into a slightly cooler climate which makes it ideal for vineyards and grape production, it will come as no surprise that you’ll soon find yourself riding through Australia’s premier wine growing district of the Barossa Valley.

The Barossa Valley is home to a huge number of vintners (over 60 wineries at last count), many of whom have been producing wine for over 160 years – quite a vintage for a relatively ‘young’ country such as modern day Australia.

Shiraz is what the Barossa region is famed for but it’s also home to some fantastic riding which twists through the vine draped valleys, over the hillsides and through long, sweeping curves. Save the wine-tasting for the evening and savour the riding during the day, we guarantee no unpleasant aftertaste!

DAY SEVEN

Leaving the Barossa behind you’ll soon be axle deep into some of Australia’s finest, yet least well known riding: the Adelaide Hills. Hairpin after hairpin and curve after curve wait to greet you, all amongst lush and beautiful forest scenery resplendent with ghost gums and innumerable other eucalypts. Care will be needed not to get distracted by the amazing scenery as many of the roads through the hills will demand your full attention!

The ride continues on to Meningie on the shores of Lake Albert and gateway to the internationally recognized Coorong National Park which is a series of dunes, lagoons and lakes fringing the waters of the Southern Ocean.

You’ll ride the full length of the Coorong National Park squeezing in a few dirt track diversions along the way to break up the asphalt, before heading to the picturesque seaside town of Robe for an evening of relaxation.

DAY EIGHT

Day eight is a push inland through small towns and settlements towards the natural spectacle that is the Grampians National Park.

The ancient hills of the Grampians National Park make for an awesome sight as you ride toward them. This area of granite highlands is jam packed with wildlife, superb lookouts and beautiful waterfalls. The visitor centre at Halls Gap can provide all the information you’ll need for getting the best out of your time there and will give you a great overview of the area, ensuring you get to see everything you want during your stay.

It’s a relatively short day in teh saddle which provides plenty of time spent exploring the park on foot or on two wheels, whichever is your preference!

DAY NINE

This day of riding will take you down one of the worlds most renowned coastal rides, the Great Ocean Road. The Ocean Road showcases some of the finest coastal scenery in Australia and certainly manages to justify the ‘Great’ portion of its name!

Constructed by returning soldiers after the First World War it’s an incredible piece of coastal highway and is often referred to as the world’s largest war memorial. As soon as your wheels hit asphalt, you’ll realise just how special the Great Ocean Road really is. The route twists and turns, hugging the picturesque cliffs as it winds a sinuous path along the coast. Curve after sweeping curve are seamlessly stitched together, almost purposely designed to give maximum enjoyment to any motorcycle riders lucky enough to be there.

There are plenty of small coastal towns to stop for a break and a coffee, serving up fantastic ocean lookouts along with the great refreshments. We’ll stop at the many viewpoints with the lovely Otway Ranges provide a lush backdrop to the quaint towns when the road darts inland away from the coast.

It takes longer than you might expect to ride along this gem of a road, there’s simply so much to see. Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto, London Bridge, The Arch, the list of amazing sights and experiences goes on and on! There are plenty of opportunities to get a bird’s eye view of the scenery via aerial excursions along the way so if you’re not worried by small planes and helicopters this could be a great option.

You’d be unlucky not to spot that iconic Aussie creature the Koala in the trees above as you ride past the Cape Otway Lighthouse, before pushing on towards Apollo Bay and the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road.

DAY 10

Heading for Melbourne via the Goldfields region of Victoria to take in the quaint, old fashioned towns of Castlemaine and Daylesford, with their brilliant bakeries and cafes is a great way to wind down after such an exciting motorcycle tour.

It’s unsurprisingly Australia’s premier gold heritage region, although the chances of you making a fortune are fairly slim it’s enough just to admire the grand street-scapes and historic architecture. A welcome opportunity to slow the pace down a little and take stock before heading on for the capital of Victoria, Melbourne.

Note: This tour covers a range of surfaced and unsurfaced routes so is only suitable for people with some experience at riding in such conditions. If you’re not sure, contact us first and we’ll be happy to advise!

PRICING OPTIONS:

* BRING YOUR OWN BIKE:
If you decide to use your own motorcycle on tour, please be sure to let us know what it is before showing up – no scooters in the outback please!

Please note: Pricing for the ‘bring your own bike’ is based on a shared room. If you’d like your own room then that’s no problem, but it does involve and additional cost of AU$ 1,234.

** PILLION PASSENGER:
Add on this amount to the ‘Rider in shared room’ cost if you would like to ride with a pillion passenger and share a room with them during the tour.