Round Oz
 

Gidday

I am planning a lap of the main island of Oz with 3 other guys. Dont want to stay on the tar all the way. Want to do Cape York . Will be riding Honda Transalps and will be on the Cape end of May.

Considering that we wont be on dirt bikes is the Telegraph Track possible? Any recommendations of route, things not to miss, or other hazards?

:helpsmilie:

Transalps will be fine up the Cape. The best way to do it would be to park them in Cairns and do a guided tour on supplied bikes. There's three companies, I did an eight day tour and wouldn't swap the experience for anything. It's expensive, and the Cape will be good on your own, but if you can afford it, pay.

Where else do you plan to go?

Thanks skidder

What was so good about the guided tour of the Cape. Was it the people, the back up, or was it the local knowledge that we wouldnt have on our own.

Our plan was to do a lap sticking mainly to the main road and looking for interesting diversions. Sounds like you have done an Oz trip. Where did you go? What was good ? What wasnt worth it? What would you recommend?

Regards

Don't miss the Outback
 

If you stick mainly to the circuit route you'll be missing the great central parts of Oz.

You will probably start in Sydney and head north to Cape York, thus going anti-clockwise. I'd suggest to go as far west as through the Kimberley area (Gibb River Rd), include the Bungle Bungles and head towards Alice via the Tanami track. The area around Alice offers superb sceneries and hikes (Kings Canyon, Katja Tjuta, Uluru). Further south you could do the Oodnadatta track, maybe risk a ride to Lake Eyre. If time allows make a detour from Marree to White Cliffs via Cameron Cnr (very lonely Outback) and carry on via Broken Hill to the Flinders Range, down to Adelaide - and you're back on the coastal route.

IMHO the Westcoast down to Perth and the looooong haul through the Nullarbor Plain doesn't offer that much variety to the eye as does the "Red Heart" of Oz. The South East might be a choice for a second visit ;-)

Enjoy!

Hans

Oops!
 

Sorry, I had meant the South West....

But mentioning the South East: Again, if you just plod along the coastal route you would miss the grand alpine region. This is definitely a must-see!

Hans

Skidder,
Who were the 3 tour companies up in Cape York. I plan to go there in the second half of march.
Cheers,
Charles

Hey Kiwi, fancy meeting you here when we are only about 160km apart at home!!!
A M8 and I are doing the same(?) thing as you guys at the same time!! We start off from Brisbane in mid May heading right up the tip, via some VERY remote places like Cape Melville, Lockhart river and then Kowanyama on the way down to the Gulf country. Up Borroloola ways, Roper bar out to Mataranka and then right thru Arnham land to Nhulunbuy( Gove peninsular and mine).
Back to Darwin then GRR with MANY detours, the remotest being up to Kalumburu and Mitchel falls.
Then down the western waaaay to Perth. Kalgoorile to Wiluna then the old Gunbarrel to Uluru and on to AS. then Oodnadatta and Birdsville, Innaminka to the 'corner' and finally we make our ways right out east to Brizzy.
2 months, 2 DR650's, 1 dream.
We may see each other( or not!!) along the way eh?
PM me if you would like to compare notes!! Jamie.

Some areas require permits - from the Aboriginal Communities ..
these include

Arnham land
Kalumburu (depends on where ?)
Old Gunbarrel

Yeah, know all that thanx dude. Actually, NT is removing the permit system, thou only somewhat temporarily, on the 28 Feb so Arnham will no longer be the problem it was going to be, wot with their 'no motorcycle' clause in the application!!! Reinstatement will be in July as I know at this time as the new Rudd government won't support the removal but cannot stop it, only reverse it in due course, our good luck I guess.
Its all in hand, I hope kiwi knows all these things too?