Ducati Monster Forum

Making the trek from Brisbane to Sydney this weekend assuming the weather holds for the next couple of days. Called for rain but hasn't shown, this will likely be the weekend it does.......

So this is my plan:
   - Fly to Brisbane on Thursday morning;
   - Take A7 out of Brisbane to HWY 13
   - Take HWY 13 to Beaudesert
   - Take Beaudesert to Nerang
   - Take Nerang Route 90 to Mulwillumbah
   - Catch 201 South to Sawtell
   - Take HWY 1 @ Sawtell to Port Macquarie
   - Take Oxley Highway to the A15 in Bendemeer
   - Take A15 to Denman
   - Take B84 in Denman to B82 in North Rothbury
   - Tske B82 to M1 Near Freeman's Waterhole
   - M1 to Sydney

Does this route seem too crazy or ambitious for 3 days or so? Hoping to just have a lot of fun exploring and meet some great people along the way.

Open to other road going suggestions or info about any of the roads I've picked to take.

Loving Australia!!

Wow. Goodonya Titan. You should take a week off and ride down to Melb. A day each way and a few to explore Vic.
The NSW and QLD members should have good suggestions for roads and adventure. I wonder if Needle99 and Scoober1103 have done this ride.

Melb is on my list for a min of two visits. One to hang out with you and get a personal tour of the best roads in Southern Australia the other will def. be for the GP. With Stoner back in the camp, PI should be exciting with a large Ducati presence.

You're always welcome. [beer]

 I can't comment much on QLD or Northern NSW but I think the Oxley Hwy is about the best in NSW outside of the Snowy Mountains, however the best of it ends before you reach Walcha. I would suggest turning left at Walcha and head down to Gloucester via the Thunderbolts Way, its a bit of a goat track in places compared to the Oxley but really spectacular scenery, rugged country, much more fun than the Oxley west of Walcha. From Gloucester depending on how much time you have left there are several alternatives, you could continue down the Bucketts Way/Pacific Hwy to get home quick or cut thru Dungog and Singleton onto your original route.   Good luck !  Will be a great ride !

How you getting along with the wrong-side-of-the-road?  Making sense of it I hope  [thumbsup]

getting used to it. It was rough go at first. Making turns is the hardest part at first and roundabouts. But getting the hang of it.

Fraser's is right up the street from my place. Gotta find me a good mechanic. They dont seem like the type I'd let touch my bike. "We tend to use only genuine Ducati and Termi parts. We dont much like working on modified motorcycles...."

This any help?

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=42737.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=42737.0)

I can personally vouch for the goodness of Brad Black, but not so convenient for a Sydney resident. 

thx Ung.

Hi Titan,

When you say 90 from Nerang, you mean down the 97 around Hinze Dam?
That road is one of our favourites around the area.
I would probably not go to Beaudesert, I would head up and over Mt Tamborine. You could always do both I guess.
If there is a heavy Police presence we sometimes do the easier run along Route 90 to Canungra and then from there around to the 97 (taking a shortcut along Claigaraba Rd)
Plenty of coffee shops in Canungra and on the weekends quite often a good spot to sit and bike watch. Tony that is the Coffee shop we went to when you were up.

Given you are flying into Brisbane I assume you are hiring a car and driving rather than riding?

Riding down on the Duc.....Should be epic! [popcorn]

So many roads so little time.
Great stretches.
Glenn Innes to Grafton via Gwyder H'Way.
Grafton to Coffs via Nymboida and Dorrigo(Waterfall way)
Walcha to Port Macquarie via Oxley H'Way.
Taree to Buladelah via Lakes way or M1 with detour via Wooton bends.
Gloucester to Raymond Terrace via Stroud Dungog.

I would probably dodge the Sawtell Port Macquarie section if I could. Heaps of road works, traffic, police and very little scenery unless you detour in to the little coastal towns which have spectacular beaches but probably need more time.

I would probably dodge the Sawtell Port Macquarie section if I could. Heaps of road works, traffic, police and very little scenery unless you detour in to the little coastal towns which have spectacular beaches but probably need more time.

So finally was able to pick up my Monster in Brisbane on Christmas Eve and immediately got on the road to see how far I could get before settling for the night. Simply put the roads were amazing.......Each and every single one of them had something memorable about it.

Things saved to the memory bank:

1) It without fail will rain during part of the ride. Cant count hte number of mountain passes that either started or ended with a brief rain shower.
2) Every mountain pass has epic views of the lowlands and are a thrill to ride. The sections that climb via nice sweeping corners to the tight and twisty stuff on the decent.
3) The way the roads are done in some spots you can see the next 5-6 corners. It's fantastic  [Dolph] [clap]
4) Cows, sheep and horses galore.
5) Heed the signs steep decents, bumpy roads, etc. They're there for a reason.
6) People are super friendly; talked about the coppers with a blok on a Harley outside Newcastle, rode with a couple on two Aprilia RSV4 Tourna up through the Newcastle, the PCH
7) Know your bike - gas spots are infrequent up there, so knowing you have enough from point a to b is critical.

Can't wait to do it again soon. thanks for all the help. The road suggestions made my trip easy and unforgetable

Andy55 and I are meeting up for a ride on Sunday if anyone is game. Location TBD

Glad you and the bike are safely reunited in Sydney.
Good to hear you enjoyed the ride.  [thumbsup]

Thanks Craig. Had it been a different time, I would have loved to meet up and get to see Brisbane.

Wow good job mate, glad to hear you made it safe and sound without bumping into a roo or wombat!