Oldbeers Little Aussie Holiday

Well I'm back home in NZ after almost two weeks riding in Australia. FWIW, here are my thoughts and impressions, from the perspective of someone who has never ridden there before.

It's a big place. I did nearly 4,000 kms and it was all done in a tiny part of the country between Sydney, Albury, Omeo and Goulburn. There is clearly much else to see.

It's quite a long way between drinks. Everything is spread out and there is much more nothing than I am used to inbetween the somethings. The somethings don't always have gas stations. Just because there is a place name on a map it doesn't mean there is anything actually there. It pays to plan well. If you run out of gas it's going to be a long walk.

Many of the roads are spectacular in both design and construction. The Snowy Mountains Highway from Tumut to Adaminaby and the amazing Charlottes Pass Road look and feel like racetracks on a humongous scale. A lot of B roads are pretty good, in scenic locations. The C roads feel like NZ roads, crappy surface, bumpy, slower geometry. I didn't actually ride many but if the ones I rode were representative, then gravel roads in NZ are generally easier and nicer to ride. Still dusty though in summer

I was concerned about wildlife interactions with the bike but need not have been. In the two weeks all I saw alive was 2 wallabies and 1 goanna. Everything else was roadkill. I suspect this was something to do with when I was riding. Not usually before 9 and off the road by 5. Also flies.... there are more in Auckland than I saw in NSW and Vic.

As I had encountered in other trips to Oz, tourists are very well catered for. Lots of great info centres (the one in Jindabyne was stunning) free maps, easy to find accommodation all of a good standard. Very friendly people everywhere.

Best decision of trip....bringing my mesh jacket and not my normal textile one. I would have cooked.

Best road/riding experiences...the SMH from Tumut to Adaminaby especially the part where you emerge from the trees onto the alpine grasslands. Just stupendous. And Mt Hotham....wowsers! I don't like heights much....I was riding in between the double lines in places to keep as far away from the edges as I could... And riding first thing in the morning through groves of gums with the sun dappling through the trees and the scent of eucalyptus in the cool air - just magic.

Best gravel road.....River Road from Jingellic to Wymah Ferry. (Wait until the ferry is back in action though as the ride around to the Granya pass to get back to the sealed road on the Vic side is boring) Highly recommended....Cudgewa Bluff Road from North Cudgewa to Walwa (thanks Glitch!) More magic.

Best meal.....Dinner at Tomahawk in Bright. Highly recommended....tea and home made scones with cream and jam at Tintaldra shop. (tell Betty I sent you)

Most comfortable bed.....Hotel motel in Corryong. (no camping for me...)

A final thank you to the Australian weather deities. Even the 100 mm of rain predicted for Central Coast held off until I was safely on my way to the airport....on a cheap and super efficient train. As I looked out the windows of the terminal it was chucking it down. Otherwise, warm dry and perfect for riding. Was a bit too hot at times but rather that than cold and wet. Thanks to Yamaha for making such a solid bike. I had no problems that were not of my own making and none of those was serious. A great trip.

What a wonderful country you guys have to ride in.

This is where I went...not particuarly adventurous but a lot of fun.
Day 1 https://goo.gl/maps/jmyMArhUJ8E2
Day 2 https://goo.gl/maps/Ar7oju2Vbhn
Day 3 https://goo.gl/maps/jK2fit2FMJm
Day 4 https://goo.gl/maps/8FiManZXg5L2
Day 5 https://goo.gl/maps/tnouXLmZgtQ2
Day 6 https://goo.gl/maps/rco18QmGCW32
Day 7 https://goo.gl/maps/ap4R6zXxN4J2
Day 8 https://goo.gl/maps/KDoirpLTfrK2
Day 9 https://goo.gl/maps/teLdBYnUson
Day 10 https://goo.gl/maps/AH7oE6Sdgrj
Day 11 https://goo.gl/maps/Vbe8b7xjx5u
Day 12 https://goo.gl/maps/thGHfLY4fnT2
Day 13 https://goo.gl/maps/GvSqugrv6A72

The reason for the slab back to Goulburn and up on Day 11, instead of cross country to Crookwell and Taralga was that was the day of the Tathra fires and it was blowing a bldy gale... Didnt fancy riding past a lot of freshly ploughed fields.

Pictures from the trip, if I can get them to load.....will follow

https://www.dropbox.com/s/usacqvx6s1jfwx1/20180311_100429.jpg?dl=0
 
Photos...hopefully
https://www.dropbox.com/s/usacqvx6s1jfwx1/20180311_100429.jpg

DSC00195.JPG
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
Thanks for the long and elaborate "first post" :clap: (makes for a great intro, too :)
Good to see you enjoyed Australia's South-East corner, even though it was a fairly short visit overall, there's soooo much more to see and places to go.

Hope the Little Tenere didn't create too much of a sore butt and not making the Yaouk Rd. loop can't be forgiven :D
Hopefully you can sort out the pics-issue, maybe have to upload to another site (google ?) for directly linking into forums/ blogs etc.









Dropbox is one of the crappiest link-sites on the web.
Still, it's possible to link directly, but very laborious and time-consuming.
Check https://cantonbecker.com/etcetera/2014/how-to-directly-link-or-embed-dropbox-images/
 
hmmm..... better find yourselves something else to do while I sort this out....and possible open a google account...
 
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