G'Day fellow forum members.
My wife and I are travelling from Darwin to Carrns, then back through Townsville, Brisbane then on to Sydney, Melbourne & back to Adelaide. We are departing Darwin on Sunday 10th Aug and have three weeks to make it back to Adelaide. (Doesn't look as if we'll make it to Bike Week now)
We are travelling two up on the Goldwing and towing a trailer and would appreciate advice on which are the best roads / routes to take as well as good camping / cabins accomodation to stop at.
What are the must see attractions to see in this part of Australia ?
All advice would be much appreciated.
Regards Bob & Julie
Hey Bob & Jules,
Easy solution south of Brisbane mate. Straight down the M1 to the Gold Coast. You are very welcome to spend a night or two at my humble abode. 2 mins off the H'Way & real easy to find. A hot shower, clean sheets & cold beer. I should have my Nightster by then and maybe a few of the Goldie locals could get together & take you guys,(& me) the scenic route. Maybe a dinner, drinks & get together one night?
This isn't an empty offer guys. You really are most welcome & would be great to meet you & hear about the trip. Doors are open anyway.
Cheers, Locky.
Cheers everyone, this insider info on roads / routes are what we are after. We have traveled a lot of areas south of Brisbane before, but we have never been North of Brisbane. So we are after the good goss on roads / attractions from Cairns - Brisbane. Thanks a bunch for the offers places to park for the night, when we have the routes and dates set down we will definatley catch up with as many forum members as we can.
Bob
I'll give you a run down of Darwin to Threeways (Barkley Hwy turn off) Roads and attraction on the way with some good spots to stay.
I'll do it tonite as I'm suffering at work right now up to my ears in it
Hey Lofty,
You are probably already aware that the coast road between Cairns & Port Douglas has rivaled the Great Ocean Road as Aússies' most scenic road. It is biker heaven too and can't be missed if your in the area.
Drove through there hungover once!!
Right o Bob, here's the lowdown on the Territory
While in Darwin LEE POINT VILLAGE RESORT caravan park is a stones throw from the ocean and about 15 minutes from the city. Not sure if they have cabins. You have also got the FREESPIRIT RESORT DARWIN (also next to NT Motorcycle centre) which is about the same distance from the city but on the way out of Darwin. Darwin has a half a dozen parks scattered around the place.
Check out this site for details of van parks http://www.arounddarwin.com.au/caravan_darwin.html
Darwin stuff see link http://www.darwinattractions.com.au/otheratt.html
Heading out of Darwin you can go 2 ways. Straight down the Stuart highway or left to Kakadu. Either way you will end up eventually heading south.
Darwin route you head down the Stuart highway towards Pine creek and then Katherine.On the way you have the obligatory croc farm (although I think it may have closed its doors to the public 'cause there is one in Darwin now). Further down the track you have Berri springs (swimming) and the Territory wildlife park close by. Good for a look if you like wildlife. http://www.territorywildlifepark.com.au/
Further on (100km from Darwin) you have Litchfield national park swimming, site seeing etc check link http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/litchfield.html
After that 30km down the Stuart highway you have Adelaide river which has the WW2 war cemetery. 120km further on Hayes creek road house then another 50 odd to Pine creek where you'll find gold mining history and train history.
From here I'll start back at Darwin and point you through Kakadu. Ether way you will end up at Pine creek.
About 35km from Darwin on the Stuart Highway you crack a left onto the Arnhem highway to Kakadu National park (110km no fee) to Jabiru (219km) to where I am. On the way you go through Humpty Doo (good pub), and get to Adelaide river (same river as above but a long way down stream) There you have the Jumping crocodile cruises. Next Coroboree Park tavern and then over the Mary river to the Bark Hut inn. Onwards another 96km South Alligator river (resort, cabins) and the a further 39km to Jabiru. 2 van parks 1 with cabins. If you come this way your welcome to stay.
From Jabiru you head down the Kakadu Highway to Noulangie rock (aboriginal rock art galleries) Yellow waters, cruises on the wetlands, birds crocs, Barra fishing etc. From Jabiru on the Kakadu Highway its about 110km of relatively straight road but nice country that changes all the time. Mary river roadhouse is the next place you come to and then a further 70km you are on the Stuart Highway at Pine creek.
If you go direct from Darwin to Pine Creek on the Stuart Highway its 233km. If you go Darwin to Pine Creek via the Arnhem and Kakadu Highway (through Kakadu) its 463km
All this is on good sealed roads with plenty of fuel stops.
To be continued...........
Just keep your eyes open in this place LoftyBob, It has really gone downhill in the last few years
I came down from Darwin last year with a mate and he had mapped out the best places to stay on the way down, Trouble was I got pissed each night and cant remember the names of the towns
I will ask him tomorrow, There are definitley places you dont want to spend the night
Then again you can always camp beside the road
** EDIT - Removed by HDFAdmin **
Please avoid posting this stuff.
Hey Lofty Bob,a great spot that not too many people know about is about 20km northeast of Mackay called Cape Hillsborough,check it out you won't be sorry. From memory I think there are cabins/camping etc,beautiful spot. My wife and I have done a lot of travelling on a bikes between Brissy and Melbourne and a few of the standout rides were 1. Walcha to Port Maquarie (QLD) - if you like bike roads (corners and scenery) this is one of the best 1st half open country and 2nd half as described 2.Great Ocean Road (Melbourne) - which is a great bike road with beautiful scenery but can get busy. All the roads that join the New England to the Pacific highway are good bike rides but Walcha to Port Maquarie is the pick. Of course the 3.Snowy Mountains Highway - is a must depending on when you are there weather wise,others include the 4.Putty road (NSW) - which ends in Windsor (near Sydney), and the 5.Bells Line of Road across the Blue Mountains(NSW).When you get to the sunshine coast take a ride through the sunshine coast hinterland - turn off near Nambour then ride through Mapleton,Montville,Maleny head towards Peachester and on to Woodford and Back to the Highway via Caboolture,my home town. Have a great time.Oh yeah,have a look at the bike museum at Nabiac Somewhere after Port Maquarie heading south from memory (blink and ya miss it),about 300 or more bikes when I was there and lots of history and nic nacs. Although Port Douglas to Cairns is a nice run I don't agree with whoever mentioned earler that it rivals the Great Ocean Road,I don't think it's even close.
That's great info , thanks everyone. Starting to plan the trip now, only 6 weeks untill we leave
When you get to Gympie get off the Bruce hwy and take route 51, this will take you to just north of Brisbane without sitting on the hwy for hours. This is an awesome ride and the pub at Kenilworth does one of the best meals on the Sunshine Coast. Follow 51 from Gympie to Kenilworth, Malaney, Landsborough, then head down Steve Irwin way past Australia Zoo through Beerburrum and you will come back out on the Bruce about 1/2 an hour from Brisbane, fro there you have a few options ie; gold coast or Bris. If you have time don't miss this ride.
Spent an hour this morning finishing off part 2 of the Territory "things to see and do" and the website refused to submit it. Not happy. Have to start again when I calm down!!
Just picked up the new trailer for the trip, 5 weeks left before we leave.
If you see the barge on the road, give us a wave. It may be a Jappa, but it was built in the States.
We hope to catch up with as many of the forum members as we can, and perhaps do a few cruises as well.
I will probably be at work when you ride through but if i am home you can crash here if you want(its a bit cramped with 3 kids). You will have to park your bike 3km's away and walk here as this is Harley country. If you are riding to Cairns from Townsville i would head up the Palmerson Hwy going through Milla Milla, Malanda, Atherton, Mareeba, Mount Molly, heading then down the Rex Hwy to Mossman and then on to Port Douglas and then down the coast road to Cairns which is a great ride. It would be about a 7-8 hour ride from Townsville but would be worth it. There are a number of good sites on the Tablelands that are only a short ride from the main road away as well(10-15 minutes eg. Tinaroo Dam). If you want some more information let me know and i will see what i can do.
Thanks Tapey, that's a great route idea and the way will head up to Cairns.
Good one Magilla, but worse than selling a house, I had to sell the Fatboy to pay for that lot.
Regards Bob
We have nutted out the general route/time frame for our trip. So if we are near your area, and there is a run or cruise happening, let us know and we can try and catch up with a few of the forum members.
Regards Bob & Julie.
Total distance is 11,386 Km's
