Ok, now you are talking. But just remember that you are planning the equivalent of starting in Washington DC, heading down to Florida, over to Cuba for a week or so. Back to the big Isl, across to New Orleans, up the Mississippi to the Canadian prairies. Into New England, then a quick sprint back to DC and buying and disposing of bikes at each end. Once again doable, but bloody hell, you will need a holiday when you get home! Myself, I would contain it to the SE corner. Roughly Fraser Isl, down to Tassy, across to Adelaide, up to the Flinders ranges. Western NSW taking in Broken Hill and Bourke.
If the Great Barrier reef is desired. Don't think that you have to go all the way to Cairns to experience it. A few hours north of Fraser Isl you have the fast developing industrial city of Gladstone. Never the less you can access the reef from here and typically at a cheaper rate than touristy Cairns and other city's further north.

Cheers

Graeme

Graeme,
Yeh we know it's a long ways but we're used to long trips and know our limits. No problem about the time to sell the bikes because I can stay as long as it takes. Hope to have the bikes set to pick up when we arrive by using my friend in Melbourne. Thanks for the tips about the Reef. Now that we've changed the dates Uluru is back on. I know to some it's just a big rock but then the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground..... Still want to see it if possible. If we start in Sydney working our way south then west and north to the junction leading to Cairns maybe we'll not see much rain.
I was looking at holidays for kids and looks like we'll miss most of the vacationers so prices will be down, rooms more available and camping sites easy to find.
Oz is so big I'm going to break our trip down in pieces to make it easy for anyone to comment more specifically.
Starting with Tasmania. If ferries are anything like here bikes can pretty well always get on because they stick them along the sides. True in Oz?
Places we want to see include Pt Arthur, Isle of the Dead, Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park in Taranna, Freycinct N Pk, Lake St Clair, Cataract Gorge Reserve and the Seahorse Park. Any of those not worth visiting for some reason and any others you'd like us to consider. Remember we have no reservations anywhere so don't hesitate to suggest something because it looks like it's off our route. The map is just a general guideline so we know which way to start off each morning. Also, any preferences for starting off west and going counter clock-wise or the reverse is better for some reason?
So here's a map of the whole trip and the Taz leg. By the way if anyone knows how to get more towns on a directions map in Google please tell me. After 5 towns it calls it quits. That's the reason I've got 3 maps of Taz. Also what's the attachment size limit?

I've just done Tassie... ebook here... and I suggest you don't miss Cradle Mountain, Strahan (cruise up the Gordon River) and Binalong Bay.

Sounds like you have certainly done your homework. There is an argument to go clockwise around Aus. Because the prevailing winds rotate that way, although that is always subject to change. It's certainly the approach the grey nomads take when towing their caravans behind their 4X4's. But I wouldn't let that worry you too much. I think it's probably best to go the way you mentioned, because the weather/seasons work out best. Tassy whilst it's still warm and Qld&centre at a more comfortable temp. As the time approaches, I may be able to offer a bed or two for your convenience. I'm in the Bega valley, half way between Melbourne and Sydney. This is dependant on my work, as I work away for extended periods.

Cheers

Graeme.

Oooops, the previous post should read anti-clockwise. Sorry for any confusion.

Graeme.

Looked at all your photos and have added a number of things you mentioned to the list of stuff to do or see thank you. Looks like you had a great trip but more rain than I would like but c'est la vie.
What were the ferry conditions? Did you need a reservation? Was there lots of space for bikes?
Several times you mentioned free camping such as at Binalong Bay. Does the Oz version mean toilets and showers or just a spot to park a tent?

Thanks for the advice and the possible invitation Graeme. After looking you up it appears you're near a great biking coast road to Pambula from just south of Mystery Bay. Is it worth checking out? Either way we'll be close to you as we head south so will be sure to give you a call.

That's not a hurricane, its rotating in the wrong direction, that's a cyclone :)

An 80 plus year old was talking to me the other day about this unseasonal weather - according to him its just a normal cycle, he remembers cyclones in May coming as far South as Bundaberg.


Last Sunday the island I live on was hit by a water spout, about 3kms of beachfront damaged - 2m thick trees snapped in half, others blown over. I shall have to check with the octogenarian about that!!!

My two-bits:

I did that exact loop on a BMW F650 back in September 1996 - minus the Darwin and the Tasmania legs. I started in Sydney and looped counter-clockwise.

I had very good timing and had excellent riding weather for all of the trip except a couple of days on the south-east coast. The ride was warm and sunny heading along the east coast. In the interior the night temps were a few degrees above freezing, with daytime highs in the low-30s Centigrade. I did encounter a couple of days moderate rain with cool temps in the hills south of Sydney, but then when I got to Sydney the weather warmed right up again.

You can find my journal of that trip here: Australia 1996

Enjoy your trip. Australia is a great place for riding a motorcycle!

Glad you guys are keeping the thread alive. Instead of answering questions here and there I decided to go through one guide book, note any questions and then maybe present 20-30 at once. I'm almost done with one of the 4 books I have so will be posting soon. It's fun planning all this stuff and I always get a guidebook and note stuff but seem to end up winging it a lot. Not noting any restaurants (unless it serves an unknown or only local dish) or hotels unless they are overlooking a herd of kangaroos. Most of the stuff we're interested in is geographical and flora/fauna. Just an example - has anyone been to Sea Horse World in northern Tasmania? Worth going out of our way or just a "wait in line forever" tourist trap?

Cool Mezo. Just the kind of response I was hoping to get for my questions. Thanks

Bruce's journal
 

Bruce,
Just finished reading your journal. Got lots of tips and ideas thanks. Any traveler would find this an interesting read
I think. For anyone else reading it for info I couldn't get the Clubman website to work so maybe they are out of business.
Was Airlie Bch the only place you got bug bites?
"I ask about the road to the Camooweal Caves National Monument. "Oh!" exclaims the clerk. "You weren't thinking of going there were you?" She then tells me that currently the road is extremely bad and that even many 4W.D vehicles are getting stuck." Anyone know if it's still that way and is the Caves Monument really that special to make the trip?
Me, I love oatmeal so gonna be looking for a Chico roll. Are they available everywhere?
We probably won't be jumping on any busses so is there anywhere else that the Turgid Ferns are easily accessible?
Was there a particular reason you went on the Dorrigo/Nymboida road to Grafton?
Unlike you I love roundabouts. You don't have to stop at all usually and if there is traffic inside you merge in behind them with no fuss. Using them in England and France was great. The bike could fit in anywhere so I was often out and ahead of all those roundabouts that also have traffic lights.
Thanks again Bruce, enjoyable read.

Glad you enjoyed it. That trip was 18 years ago (!) and I still think about it often. I hope to go back to Australia someday, but I would want to go for a longer stay, say 3 or 4 months instead of just 1.

If you Google "Clubman Motorcycles", you can find the company, but they seem to be smaller and don't appear to do rentals or sales anymore. Too bad; they rented me a good bike at a very reasonable price. I'm not sure who is the best company to rent a bike from in Aus now.

No answers to any of the questions?