This is going to be a half day ride not a full day like the other blogs I have posted. The reason being is that you would find it really hard to find by yourself.
Since Auckland is such a big place you will really find it hard to navigate your way out of. The quickest way is to head north via the North Western Motorway to the Great North Road exit. Then head south on the Great North Road until it turns into Ash Street. Go straight and head along Rata Street and Titirangi Road. When you reach Titirangi, turn right into scenic drive.
It gets real easy from here on in.
This ride is really enjoyable ride along Scenic Drive, the trees along the road are a really high along the road it will be hard to see any scenery. Then to Piha Road turnoff on the left. The camber is all over the place so just watch this corner.
Phia Road has few side roads and its very narrow, windy and twisted so this is great fun. The one side road you might like to do down is the one to Karekare. It is a narrow road even for motorcycles but it’s a really great road to ride. Then once you reach the end then take the Lone Kauri Road back to Phia Road.
Not far past the Karekare turnoff you will be overlooking a huge cliff then the black sandy beach of Phia. The run done the side of the cliff is even more fun going up let alone going down. There are some nice shops in Phia so you will be able to get a good lunch there.
If your a local to Brisbane you will know this ride very well but remember this is also for the visitors. And they may not know about one of the worst kept biking rides in Australia. Yes, that’s right we are talking about the ride to Dayboro and Mount Mee.
Leave Brisbane on Samford Road through Samford Village. This back road will take you round Lake Samsonvale up to Dayboro, here you will find an amazing bakery and even better pub. Head north on Highway 58 in Dayboro and ride along taking in the spectacular ridge road to Mount Mee. Keep your eyes open for the view of Glass House Mountain along the way.
Just before you reach Mount Mee take the fork in the road to the right which is signposted to Campbells Pocket and Wamuran. When you reach the D’Aguilar Highway you would have wondered how you got there so quick. It is probably because you enjoyed that bit of road.
Turn right heading toward the town centre of Caboolture, turn right to Morayfield and head south until you reach Bruce Highway. From here it’s just a short ride back to Brisbane. This ride is about 140km. If this seems a little short, consider reversing the route and turning right in Samford Village. This road will take you up to Mount Glorious on the even more famous Mount Glorious/Mt Nebo motorcycle road. In Mount Glorious you’ll find the famous and popular haunt for riders and some serious bike candy out the front too.
Come back to Brisbane via Mount Nebo and Brisbane Forest Park. Please take care here as the road conditions are not that crash hot.
If the home of the National Motor Museum, wineries and Hahndorf and the amazing Whispering Wall in Cockatoo Valley doesn’t attract you well sorry this ride included them all.
Start on the Osmond Rd then take the turn off for Hahndorf/Woodside. Birdwood and follow Mount Barker Road into Hahndorf. Here you will find great coffee, cakes, and a beautiful tree lined street with plenty of motorcycle parking. Hahndorf is the perfect location for a spot of morning tea.
Go back up the road and turn right at Ambleside Road. This is a nice little road which will take you along to Onkaparinga Valley Road. Turn Right. Eventually you will end up in Birdwood via Woodside and Mt Torrens. In Birdwood you will find the home of the National Motor Museum with its cars and motorbikes on display. Across the road there is a motorbike shop/museum called Bills, check it out and its free.
The B10 road which you are on will take you to Angaston then through to Nuriootpa which is in the heart of the Barossa Valley wineries.
Once you have sampled some of the Barossa’s greatest wines take the B19 and then turn left at Sandy Creek. If you then turn right heading towards the Barossa reservoir will see you going towards the amazing Whispering Wall. Take the B31, turn right and then take your of one of the many amazing bike roads you can take back to Adelaide.
Just outside Hobart provides so many great rides, Richmond is great but just a little too close. The road to Strathgordon is probably one of the best roads to ride on in Australia but that is now a little too far away. Port Arthur is just too well known and the Bruny Island only has one road. This leaves the best of them all to last.
Leave Hobart via Sandy Bay on B68. The first stop is at the Shot Tower if you can make some space to park your bike between all the tourist buses. The next stop will be at Kingston to take in the train carriages cafe and the Antarctic Headquarters with exhibits, photos and models. Take a fuel stop in Kingston as there are not many stops in the upcoming kilometres.
Follow the coastline Channel Hwy down to Gordon and then to Huonville. Take a sharp left onto the A6 with is called they Huon Highway. Keep going on south to Geeveston and here you can take in a stop at the Forest & Heritage Centre. Buy a ticket to the Tahune Air Walk and then take a quick trip up the tarred road into the forest what ends up at the treetop walk. There is a cafe which will watch your helmet and jacket whilst you climb.
Now back to Hobart, go back the way you came to Huonville but go straight up to the A6 until you get to Lower Longley. Take the old Huon Highway and you will have a bit more road to enjoy before reaching Hobart.
All in all it will be about 240km.
The Royal National Park, is a great one-day ride for Sydneysiders.
The RNP is just south of Sydney, NSW and is one of the oldest established national parks in the world. The park is loved by outdoor lovers such as families, fisherman, canoeists and motorcyclist. As it is central to the city, its a great meeting point to then take a ride down the to the coast line where many of the small towns love the tourists.
In Audley there is a kiosk that serves light refreshments. If you’re looking to take a break from riding, canoes are available for hire here. You will be paddling up the Hacking River and there are plenty of bush walking tracks if canoeing is not for you.
Grand Pacific Drive has an amazing road surface, bitumen for most of the road length with several sections of low to mid speed corners which is bliss on a bike. However as the years have rolled on the speed restrictions have been on a constant decrease and are now 60km/p and the maximum speed is 80km/p. This is due to wildlife running out onto the road and on some corners under the trees there were damp spots.
“It is still a pleasant ride as you ride down the hill going towards Audley Weir then up through the bends on the other side of the hill as you head past the settlements of Maianbar and Bundeena and the beach area of Wattamolla.” AMCN 28 April – 11 May 2010 issue.
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