Motorcycling is the stuff of life for many bikers. When it comes to being a bonafide rider, it’s all of the things involved with biking that make it a true adventure. Whether it’s picking out motorcycle accessories or participating in motocross, there’s fun to be had when it comes to motorcycling. Some riders even look forward to the routine bike maintenance!
But, it goes without saying that the best part of being a rider is taking an unknown trip down the road. Whether you’re packing up your tank bags and heading out for a long haul journey or going for an afternoon, there’s nothing like a good ride. And, when it comes to travelling the routes of Australia, there’s no shortage of trails. Whether you get heart-pounding adventure or some beautiful scenery, there are plenty of options. Luckily, whether you pack up for Adelaide Hills or the Great Ocean Road for an epic tour is up to you.
Before heading out on Husqvarna motorcycles or your Kawasaki, itu2019s important to do a few things. While youu2019ll want to make sure you know your route, itu2019s a good time to check over your bike. By checking the parts and pieces, fluids, tyres and packing the right stuff, you can be prepared for anything. And, the following adventure motorcycle tours through Australia will make a little work well worth it!
Located close to the coast and the stretch of Kangaroo Island, this is one of the best motorcycle trails in Australia. This unique stretch takes you on 159 kilometres of scenic views and challenging curves. It also offers some of the best sightseeing that the country has to offer! You’ll get the best of both worlds with some straight and narrow highway riding, and some twists and turns that offer a bit of a challenge. It’s all in the name and this route is hilly, so you’ll want to pack all the duds you need for the journey. Starting in Southeast Adelaide, this trail will have you riding through Mount Torrens and Mount Pleasant before hitting Gorge Wildlife Park. But, keep in mind that this route is close to the centre of Adelaide, which makes it prime for great pit stops. In addition to plenty of cafes and restaurants you’ll be raring to try, there are also many wineries along the way. And, while this can get in the way of a long-form ride, you just might find a destination worth stopping at for the evening!
This ride might take off in an entirely different direction than that of Adelaide Hills. But, this route that takes you from Birdwood Mill through to Chain of Ponds will offer all of the things that a motorcycle rider loves best! In addition to plenty of curves, there is also a lot of great scenery provided by Australia’s vast interior. While you’ll experience some straight old riding, the road will narrow around Angaston for some peppy twists and turns. While this is a short little run at about 20 kilometres, you’ll have the opportunity to check out many sights along the way. Some of the things you’ll want to watch for are Mount Pleasant, Sculpture Park and the Mengler Hill Lookout. There are also plenty of towns where you can stop for a bite or just take a midday breather whether it’s Williamstown, Tanunda or Kersbrook. And, since you’ll be deep in the heart of Barossa Valley wine country, you may want to end the day off road. There are plenty of great wineries in the area, and this area will definitely allow you to choose your own adventure!
Strathalbyn
This 40-kilometre ride is perfect for those who are looking for a Sunday’s ride on a beautiful road. Luckily, not only does this route provide plenty of stunning lookouts, it actually is perfect for the slow-paced rider! There may be a lot of great motorcycle routes in Southern Australia that are traffic heavy, but this route for Strathalbyn to Goolwa is a pretty quiet road. While you’ll have the opportunity to travel through the hills that surround Adelaide, this isn’t the type of motorcycle route that is going to be packed full of adventure. Instead, plan for a ride through plenty of beautiful scenery and sleepy settings that will make for a pleasant afternoon. At the end of your short tour, you may even want to stop in the coast town of Goolwa. From there, you can take in the beautiful scenery and hit up a local restaurant or café! If you’re going for your motorcycle ride in the summer, Goolwa beach is one of the best destinations in the area.
Great Ocean Road
This Australian area might not be located in the territory of South Australia, but it is one of the most popular destinations in the entire country! Fortunately, when it comes to Australia motorcycling, few destinations are going to offer the same sort of thrill that the Great Ocean Road does. Located in Victoria, this 120-kilometre ride will take you through Torquay and Glenaire. You’ll also pass by the Twelve Apostles, one of the natural wonders of the world! If that isn’t enough, the breathtaking scenery of the Victoria coastline and the stunning curves will make it a road you won’t forget anytime soon. As this area can be extremely busy when tourist season comes, you may want to travel it in winter for a little bit more breathing room. Luckily, if motorcycle travel in the high season is your thing, there are still a lot of back roads off the Great Ocean Road that offer plenty of rewards. From stunning scenery to charming coastal towns, you’ll find a thrilling world-class ride.
The Putty Road
It might be located in New South Wales and it might clock in at only 16 kilometres. But, what this route lacks in scale it makes up for in the sheer thrill of the ride! Located close to Newcastle and Australia’s eastern coast, Putty Road is at the nexus of many of the country’s most prominent parks. In fact, it sits in the heart of Wollemi National Park, Yengo National Park, Blue Mountains National Park and Kanangra-Boyd National Park. Fortunately, this makes for a truly thrilling and picturesque thrill ride. While this trail is second to none if you happen to have the road to yourself, it can be a bit less thrilling when it’s busy. It’s important to play it safe while you’re riding your bike so make sure you watch for vehicles that hog the centre line. If you’ll be riding along Australia’s east coast in search of some of the best biking destinations, Putty Road might be the route you’re looking for.
Oxley Hills
This fun road adventure might be located in New South Wales. But, luckily for an avid rider, it’s worth the side trip out of South Australia for an exciting motorcycle adventure. Not only is this one of the best rides in Southern Australia, it’s actually one of the best road adventures that you’ll find anywhere in the country! Beginning close to New South Wales east coast in Wauchope, this fun road will take the lucky rider through 165 kilometres of thrill ride. While the road has 70 kilometres full of epic twists and turns, there are more than 300 corners that stretch the length of this riding route altogether. And, it spells one of the best adventures that can be had on two wheels! Ending further inland at Walcha, this road travels through the Bulga Forest, the Cottan-Bimbang National Park and Mummel Gulf National Park. While there might be some lovely road scenery, you’ll be too busy taking on those turns to notice!
Bylong Valley Way
Much like Strathalbyn, the Bylong Valley Way can be a quieter road route than a lot of the thrill rides Southern Australia has to offer. This means it can be a great place for dirt bikes! But, whatever bike you decide to take, you’ll love sailing along the 141 kilometre stretch of New South Wales. Luckily, this road is pretty new so you’ll still get to take advantage of that new pavement feel and a lot less traffic than the better travelled routes. But, it’s important to be safe and keep in mind that it’s not a main road so there are other hazards to deal with. That means that you should keep an eye on your speed and watch for big trucks that are taking the backroads. As long as you play it safe, you’ll enjoy the serene and picturesque journey that begins in Sandy Hollow. On the back of your bike, you’ll travel through Baerami, Widden and Bylong. You’ll also be riding through Goulburn River National Park and may even be able to spot Nullo Mountain in the distance! This route may be a great Sunday ride, but it’s also the perfect way to explore more of the back roads of New South Wales and Southern Australia.
What to Bring for the Journey
Whether you’re going on a shorter adventure or your thrill ride in Southern Australia is just one leg of your tour, it’s important to be prepared. While you may want to keep your tank bags and carry racks as light as possible, there are things you’re going to need. Make sure you pack your ID, your motorcycle insurance, a phone charger and a map for those areas where you can’t access your phone. You’ll also want to think about basic toiletries in the event that you’re not stopping at a hotel. Shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and suntan lotion can go a long way towards keeping your comfortable if you’re not up for stopping. But, one of the most important things if you’re getting out on the road is your tool kit! If you’ve removed anything from it recently, it’s a good idea to check it out and make sure you have everything you’ll need. In addition to a hex key, screwdriver and adjustable wrench, pack an air pump in case of tyre trouble.
Check Your Bike
It’s easy to take the soundness of your motorcycle for granted. However, before setting out on any motorcycle journey, whether it’s an hour or five days, you should be prepared. Take a look at your bike and make sure that all of the bike accessories are firmly affixed. You’ll want to check out your frame guards, bash plates, carry racks and skid plates to ensure everything is as it should be. If anything is looking rusted, it may need to be replaced soon. Give your tyres a little kick to make sure they’re properly pumped. Tyres for bikes are one of the most important parts of road safety, so these should be ready for any bumps. Before starting off, it’s also important to start up the engine and make sure that all of the lights and signals are working. It might seem unnecessary, but doing all these things beforehand can make a big difference when it comes to your ride. Finding problems before you hit the road means you won’t have to deal with unnecessary hiccups while you’re on the journey!
Few places have the sheer vastness of space that Australia does. However, that doesn’t mean your only option is travelling through the roads of the Outback and staring out at the desert! Instead, you might want to consider heading to Southern Australia for plenty of turns, twists and some world-class sights that you won’t get anywhere else. Whether you take Bylong Way or travel along Oxley, there’s plenty of exploring to be done in Southern Australia. You may even want to head to New South Wales to take a stab at the Great Ocean Road. Fortunately, all that’s required to get out there is some pre-trip maintenance on your bike and packing all of the essentials. Whether you go in summer or winter, there are plenty of routes in South Australia that will keep you excited about getting out there on your motorcycle!
References
https://bboffroad.com.au/blog/want-to-ride-motocross-5-steps-to-becoming-almost-a-pro/
https://www.roadrider.com.au/hills-alive-touring-south-australia/
https://www.bikesales.com.au/editorial/details/8-of-australias-best-motorcycling-roads-57504/
https://www.adventuremotorcyclehire.com.au/trip-information/55-motorcycle-rides-in-south-australia