Day 1: Melbourne to Phillip Island (Cowes)
Head south-east from the City to the Mornington Peninsula - a scenic ride and an attractive detour of your way to Phillip Island. Continue around Western Port to the east towards Koo-wee-rup and south to Cowes. Don’t miss Victoria’s most popular natural attraction – the nightly parade of hundreds of little penguins at Phillip Island. The island is also home to Australia’s largest colony of fur seals, the Koala Conservation Centre, and don’t forget the MotoGP (Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix) in October each year.
Day 2: Phillip Island (Cowes) to Lakes Entrance
On the southern most tip of the state is the Wilsons Promontory National Park, famous for its abundance of flora and fauna, wild ocean beaches and mountain views. From the accommodation centre at Tidal River to the white sands of Squeaky Beach, Wilsons Promontory offers spectacular views. Nearby Ninety Mile Beach stretches from north of Yarram to Lakes Entrance, and is great for swimming and fishing.
Day 3: Lakes Entrance to Bega
On the way to Bega, enjoy the beautiful wilderness coastline and spectacular scenery of the Croajingolong National Park. Visit the Killer Whale Museum at Eden, home to an extensive history of this magnificent creature. Taste the cheese that made Bega famous, and see the history of cheesemaking in the Bega Valley at the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre.
Day 4: Bega to Batemans Bay
On the way to Batemans Bay, take a quick detour to Umbarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre (Wallaga Lake via Narroma). Nearby, the Moruya township dates back to 1850. On the Clyde River’s broad estuary, Batemans Bay has numerous beautiful beaches nearby and surfing, boating, snorkeling and fishing experiences for all. Batemans Bay offers local seafood restaurants, casual cafes, art galleries and studios.
Day 5: Batemans Bay to Sydney
Head north along the Princes Highway, through Ulladulla, via Jervis Bay, Nowra, Berry, Kiama, to Wollongong. This region boasts more than 30 national parks, marine parks and reserves – stop at Jervis Bay for a cruise to spot dolphins, and sometimes whales. Kiama is famous for the “Blowhole” – a must see on the way. From Wollongong, continue along the ‘Grand Pacific Drive’ north to Sydney. Before arriving in Sydney, visit Royal National Park, the second oldest National Park in the world.
Day 6 & 7: Sydney
Spend the next two days exploring ‘The Harbour City’ and region – a city perfect to explore on a motorbike. Make sure you take time to see all the main sights in the city, including the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Royal Botanic Gardens, Taronga Park Zoo, Fort Denison, Kings Cross, Chinatown, and famous Bondi Beach. Next day, jump on your bike and enjoy a ride out to Manly and the Northern Beaches on the north-side, the Hawkesbury River, or a scenic ride up to the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.
Day 8: Sydney to Canberra
Take the Federal Highway to Canberra. Visit the Bradman Museum in Bowral and learn about the life of Sir Donald Bradman, and why Australian’s have such a love affair for the game of cricket. As the National Capital, Canberra has a huge choice of things to do including Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre and much more. Take a walk on the shores of Lake Burley Griffi n, a central recreational feature of the Capital.
Day 9: Canberra
Start your day with a trip to the internationally recognised Australian War Memorial. With an art collection of more than 100,000 works, magnificent sculpture garden and its clever design, the National Gallery of Australia should also be on the ‘must see’ list. If you have kids, take them to the National Museum of Australia with state-of-the-art technology and hands-on interactive exhibitions.
Day 10: Canberra to Jindabyne
Head south from Canberra to Cooma. You are now heading into “The High Country” – stunning scenery, mountains, Alpine vegetation and climate. During the summer months these roads offer motorbike riders spectacular scenery and a beautiful cool climate to explore. In winter, this is a popular ski fields region. Continue to Berridale and Jindabyne. Stop at Mt Gladstone to enjoy 360-degree views over the Snowy Mountains and Mt Kosciuszko. Jindabyne is the perfect place to base yourself for a visit to Kosciuszko National Park.
Day 11: Jindabyne to Myrtleford/Bright
Continue along The Alpine Way to Thredbo. Take a mountain walk via the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift. Head north to Khancoban, and west along the Murray Valley Highway, via the shores of Lake Hume to Kiewa. Then south along the Kiewa Valley Highway, and west again to Myrtleford and Bright on the Great Alpine Road. From here, you can easily visit Mount Buffalo National Park, Mount Beauty and Alpine National Park.
Day 12: Myrtleford/Bright to Mansfield
From Mrytleford, head north-west to Wangaratta. From Wangaratta you can either take the more scenic route south via Whitfield and Tolmie to Mansfield, or along the Hume Freeway and Midland Highway via Benalla to Mansfield. Between Wangaratta and Benalla is Glenrowan, famous for the ‘Glenrowan Siege’ by Ned Kelly and his gang of bushrangers in 1880. Continue on to Mansfield. A ride up to Mt Buller in the summer months offers stunning alpine views. This is a great area for bush walking.
Day 13: Mansfield to Healesville
In summer the Alps offer stunning scenery and cooler climates than found in other areas. Note: during the winter months, if the roads are covered in snow or ice, this area (Mansfield to Mt Buller and Mt Stirling) is not recommended for motorbikes. From Mansfield, head to Alexandra, through Bonnie Doon, and continue on to Lake Eildon National Park. Take a short detour to Marysville, a quaint sub-alpine village with forest walks, cafes, arts & crafts, and then continue south along the Maroondah Highway on to Healesville.
Day 14: Healesville to Melbourne
Healesville is famous for the Healesville Sanctuary; this popular sanctuary houses native birds and animals in a mainly natural bushland setting. From Healesville, head west to Yarra Glen, the heart of the picturesque Yarra Valley. The Yarra Valley is a world-class wine region, with more than 30 wineries, and a region well-known for delicious farm fresh local produce. Take time to enjoy the sights and tastes of the Yarra Valley before getting on your bike for the last ride into Melbourne.
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