Australia

SYDNEY for 3 nights. Sydney is Australia’s largest and oldest city, often regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with over 4 million inhabitants. Sydney is a significant global and national tourist destination and is also known as one of the most vibrant and lively cities in the world. Sydney is famous for its beautiful beaches located near the city. The most famous ones are Bondi Beach and Manly Beach. We will take a boat tour of Sydney Harbour. From the water, there is a magnificent view of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Sydney city. The boat trip can also take us to Manly Beach, which is definitely worth a visit. Sydney Tower is also an attraction located in the city center. It stands 305 meters above the ground and serves as both a landmark and an observation tower. There is an observation deck at 250 meters, which includes a revolving restaurant. For those not afraid of heights, there is a skywalk on the outside of the tower at a height of 268 meters. For those interested in shopping, there are several large shopping centers in the city center. I recommend waiting to do shopping until after the tour.

BLUE MOUNTAINS Driving Day 1: Sydney – Blue Mountains. 120 km We will pick up and check out the bikes in the morning, after the worst rush traffic has subsided. PS: Australia drives on the left side of the road. The first leg is not a long journey (110 miles) and takes us to Blue Mountains National Park, which is the most visited park in New South Wales. It is a mountain range with deep rugged canyons reaching up to 760 meters. There is an opportunity for bushwalking down into the valley, as there is a trail via a cliff. Here, you will experience unique wildlife. The view over the park is breathtaking, and restaurants are built at the lookout points where you can enjoy food and the view. There is also the Katoomba Scenic Railway, which is the steepest railway track in the world according to the Guinness World Records. The railway descends 415 meters down sandstone cliffs through a tunnel. The gradient is 52 degrees. We will stay in Wentworth Falls at an old “Pub Style” hotel from the 1900s.

Hunter Valley Driving Day 2: Blue Mountains – Hunter Valley. 310 km From Blue Mountains, we drive towards Kurrajong Heights before turning onto Putty Road, which is designed for motorcycle riding. Here, we will truly put our riding skills to the test. We need to arrive early in Hunter Valley as we will try to visit one of the many vineyards in the area surrounding Hunter Valley. We will overnight in the town of Cessnock. Cessnock is a small sleepy town known as “The Gateway” to Hunter Valley and the many vineyards in the Pokolbin area. In Cessnock, you can find many small restaurants and shops.

ARMIDALE Driving Day 3: Hunter Valley – Armidale. 350 km We start the day with some highway driving before turning towards Stroud and Gloucester. Then, we take Thunderbolt Way towards Armidale. This road is also designed for motorcycle riding and offers breathtaking landscapes. We will make a stop in Walcha, a small sleepy town where we will have lunch. Then onwards to Armidale, which has a lot of wilderness with many waterfalls and rich wildlife. Armidale is an attractive and graceful city with tree-lined streets. Where the new cosmopolitan world and the old world coexist with varying degrees of harmony, Armidale has become an important center for the Northern Tablelands with a population of over 25,000.

Located at a cool 980 meters above sea level, Armidale has the highest airport in Australia. Armidale is also a university town with many students. There are over 50 venues and pubs in the city. We must explore this!

Coffs Harbour Driving Day 4: Armidale – Coffs Harbour 210 km. We start the day on The Waterfall Way towards Dorrigo, on absolutely beautiful roads and landscapes. Places we will visit today are Wollomombi Falls, a waterfall that drops 220 meters. We will also visit Ebor Falls and have lunch in Dorrigo. Then towards Bellingen and Coffs Harbour, where we will stay overnight. We arrive early in Coffs Harbour, so we can enjoy the beach, which is a 5-minute walk from the hotel, or simply relax by the hotel pool. Coffs Harbour is one of Australia’s largest timber ports and is the main commercial center of the mid-north region of New South Wales. It has been rated as having one of the best climates in the country – more sunshine than further south and less humidity than further north. Because of this, Coffs Harbour has become a major tourist center.

Byron Bay Driving Day 5: Coffs Harbour – Byron Bay 250 km We start on the Pacific Highway towards Grafton. We will drive along the coastal route as much as possible, as many of the coastal towns have only one way in and the same way out. Places we will encounter include Ballina, Woodburn, Yemba, and Byron Bay Lighthouse, to name a few. We will spend 2 days in Byron Bay. Here, we will find beautiful beaches and many cozy restaurants and bars. Byron Bay. There may be few cities in Australia with a more contradictory identity than Byron Bay. On the one hand, historically, it has been associated with the alternative lifestyle of the 1970s and seen as an interesting hippie retreat in northern New South Wales. On another level, it has been seen as a very upscale place, a “getaway from it all” sanctuary for those from the affluent southern states who do not wish to mix with the “people” living in the more vulgar coastal towns like Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.

Brisbane. Driving Day 7: Byron Bay – Brisbane. Approx. 180 km We drive on the Pacific Highway and cross the border into Queensland, then take the coastal road towards the Gold Coast. We make a short stop on the Gold Coast along the beach, then head towards Brisbane. We will arrive in Brisbane around 3:00 PM. We can then stroll down to South Bank. Popular South Bank in the city center is Australia’s only artificial beach. Here, you can enjoy Brisbane’s relaxed atmosphere, dine at one of the many restaurants, and watch the world go by. Brisbane. Rest day or optional excursion to Australia Zoo Approx. 180 km

(Driving Day 8) Australia Zoo is Australia’s largest zoo, which was operated by the crocodile man Steve Irwin until his death. Now his wife and daughter continue to run it. The trip to Australia Zoo will be an optional excursion that you can choose to do or simply take the day off and explore Brisbane. Brisbane is the largest city in Queensland. The local slang name is “Brissie” in true Australian tradition of word abbreviations. The city’s inseparable connection to the river is reflected in the nickname “The river city”. Other nicknames like “Brisneyland” and “Bris Vegas” refer to the city’s particularly relaxed lifestyle. Brisbane has 1.8 million inhabitants and is experiencing strong growth. It was established as a penal colony for deported Englishmen in 1824. Ordinary citizens were not allowed to settle until twenty years later.

Lismore. Driving Day 9: Brisbane – Lismore Approx. 240 km. We drive out of Brisbane on the highway before turning towards Tamborine Mountain. Tamborine Mountain (including Tamborine National Park, Mount Tamborine Village, North Tamborine, Eagle Heights, and Canungra) is characterized by stunning views, tea rooms, and gift shops. Located 62 km from Brisbane and perched on the edge of a steep slope behind the Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain is both an actual geological phenomenon (the result of a lava flow from Mt Warning) and also a collective term for a range of small villages stretching along the 8 km ridge of the mountain range. The name does not come from a musical instrument but from the Koori term for the area. Then onwards to Nimbin. Now we are back on the bike paths and through mountains and valleys that we got to know at the beginning of the trip. Nimbin is an old hippie town, so don’t be surprised if you are offered something to “smoke.” We stay overnight in Lismore. Lismore is a prosperous, significant, and quite cosmopolitan city with 43,000 people. The area around Lismore has become an important base for those wishing to pursue creative endeavors and alternative lifestyles. Consequently, there is a high concentration of painters, carpenters, potters, filmmakers, musicians, poets, designers, and dancers. Therefore, there are many galleries, studios, and theaters in the area.

Port Macquarie Driving Day 10: Lismore – Port Macquarie Approx. 400 km. We start the day on beautiful roads towards Grafton and Coffs Harbour. Places we will pass today include Katomba, Nambucca, Kempsey before reaching Port Macquarie. We will also drive along the coastal route as much as possible before reaching Port Macquarie. Port Macquarie must be one of the best tourist destinations on the NSW coast. It has everything: a history that dates back a long time, superb nature reserves in the area, some interesting historical buildings, great surfing beaches and excellent fishing opportunities, a nice museum, beautiful walking trails around headlands and beaches, plenty of entertainment, they even have a koala hospital.

Lake Macquarie Driving Day 11: Port Macquarie to Lake Macquarie Approx. 280 km. We start the day by driving along the coastal route towards Taree. Then we will travel a stretch on the Pacific Highway before turning onto The Lakes Way. Then there will be plenty of small roads leading to Lake Macquarie. We will be staying in the Belmont area near Lake Macquarie. Lake Macquarie is Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, covering an area of 110 square kilometers in the Hunter Region of New South Wales. Most of Lake Macquarie’s residents live near its shores. It is connected to the Tasman Sea by a short channel. Lake Macquarie is twice the size of Sydney Harbour and is the largest permanent saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere.

Last driving day towards Sydney. Driving Day 12: Port Macquarie – Sydney. Approx. 180 km. This day will be a “relaxed stage” towards Sydney. We will drive only small roads towards Sydney before going through some traffic to reach the bike rental shop. Here, we will return the bikes. After a long and challenging trip, it will be good to arrive at the hotel for a shower. Then we will explore Sydney, celebrating the end of the bike tour for this time.

Sydney for 3 nights. Now we will do what we didn’t have time for in Sydney during the first few days. The possibilities in Sydney are endless. For example: The Sydney Aquarium, one of the most visited attractions in the country. The aquarium showcases over 650 different creatures from Australia’s oceans and rivers, and it is one of the world’s largest aquariums. The main exhibition features large tanks with sharks and fish, with acrylic glass tunnels underwater that visitors can walk through. The aquarium also has exhibits of crocodiles, octopuses, and seals. There is a large aquarium with 2.6 million liters of water that houses a recreation of the Great Barrier Reef.