Our 15-day motorcycle tour Australia and Tasmania – Adventure Down Under includes a plethora of popular Australian attractions: lush eucalypti forest, twisty roads, romantic beaches and those adorable kangaroos. After arriving in Melbourne, we’ll begin the Adventure with a ride to Apollo Bay along Australia’s world famous and stunning Great Ocean Road. We’ll board an overnight ferry to Tasmania where we’ll enjoy four days of riding on this unique and beautiful island featuring great local food and seasonal rainforest wilderness on lovely rural back roads. When we return to the mainland we’ll head for Sydney via Victoria’s High Country and the Australian Alps as we climb Australia’s highest accessible road in the Snowy Mountains and ride up and down the Great Divide. We’ll also enjoy rides along the cliffs of the Blue Mountains, observing them though the blue mist that gives the mountains their name. We’ll end our Adventure in Sydney.
Interested in a longer Adventure? You can stay for another two weeks and do this trip “back to back” with our New Zealand Top Down Adventure.
At a Glance Your Australia and Tasmania – Adventure Down Under
Welcome to Australia! The Ayres Adventures tour leaders will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. During the course of the afternoon the tour leaders will hand over the bike to you and then host a short tour briefing to tell you more about this great adventure. After the kick off briefing you will enjoy a wonderful kick off dinner at a nearby local restaurant.
After a nice breakfast we will take off on our first days riding. It will be a nice easy day’s rider so that you can get comfortable with your bike and enjoy the absolutely breathing scenery as we ride along one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world, The Great Ocean Road.
For those that would like to enjoy more of the Great Ocean Road, you have the option of riding it again today. Alternatively you could ride up into the hinterland and enjoy spectacular views while riding really twisty roads between Lavers Hill and Colac. Later on in the afternoon we will head to the ferry terminal to take an overnight ferry to Hobart for a few days of spectacular riding around the island.
We will have an early breakfast on the ferry before disembarking and beginning a great day of riding on Tasmania. Our ride begins with a nice, easy pace through pleasant farmland before transitioning into long sweepers and mountain twisties as we head to Weldborough Pass. This pass is actually a clearing in a dense rain forest and is known for the huge tree ferns that grow alongside the road.
The East Coast of Tasmania is described as the sunniest and warmest spot in the state. We will be riding the spectacular 138-mile coastal strip which starts at the Bay of Fires, a little north of St. Helens, and extends almost all the way to Hobart in the south, taking in Maria Island, the Freycinet Peninsula, Wineglass Bay and Bicheno along the way.
Our free day in Hobart offers a number of great choices. Among the possibilities: take a ferry to the eclectic MONA museum, climb Mt. Wellington, enjoy the shops and cafes of Salamanca Place, take a kayak trip along the waterfront to sample some fish and chips or visit convict sites reflective of Hobart’s past as a penal colony.
For those desiring more time on the bike, there is a choice between two alternative rides to Port Arthur.
Our route today starts pleasantly along a country road past farms and rivers before we start gaining altitude as we climb through dense forest. We will pass both historic and present-day mining areas as we go up to the Tarraleah Powerstation Lookout. While not far in distance, today will be a full day of riding on absolutely spectacular and very twisty roads.
At over 4000 feet above sea level, Mt. Roland will provide a dramatic backdrop for our ride today. We will enjoy some great scenery before arriving at Devonport to board the ferry for our return trip to the Australian continent. We will stop in the town of Sheffield for lunch and to enjoy the many murals found throughout this small, charming town. Late afternoon we will board the Spirit of Tasmania ferry for our overnight cruise back to Melbourne.
After breakfast on the ferry, we will disembark and ride to the vineyards north of Melbourne and deep into the dense Eucalypti forest. As we head toward Mansfield, wide farmland will surround us before the road starts climbing up to the Powers Lookout (2953 ft). From this vantage point, we will have great views of the Upper King Valley and the Alpine National Park.
Today we will circumnavigate the Alpine National Park along the pleasant Kiewa Valley Highway, along Lake Hume and towards Mt. Kusciuszko National Park. Tonight we will sleep under the majestic watch of the highest peak on the Australian continent.
Located in the Snowy Mountains, Jindabyne offers a number of interesting options on this free day: trout fishing, Segway tours, bush walks along the edge of Lake Jindabyne, and mountain biking are among the possibilities. Or you could choose to just relax at our resort and take in the beautiful surroundings.
For those interested in more time on the bike, there is the option of riding in Kosciuszko National Park.
Today’s ride offers a stunning change from the highest peaks of the continent with their alpine forests down to the coastal plains.
Leaving the coastal plains and hilly countryside we will ride up the Great Divide. The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia’s most substantial mountain range and the third longest land-based range in the world.
Today we will be exploring the Blue Mountains with their spectacular views including Princess Rock Lookout, Wentworth Falls, and Echo Point to name just a few.
After breakfast the tour leaders will arrange your transfer to the airport and wish you a safe flight as you head back home.
Total – 2,300 miles
The route is entirely paved, with a variety of road features.
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Please contact us about low frame and/or low seat options for our bikes.
- Deduct $250 for a Suzuki DR650
- Includes Suzuki DL650 Vstrom
- Includes BMW F700GS
- Additional charge of $250 for a BMW F800GS
- Additional charge of $250 for a BMW F850GS
- Additional charge of $300 for a BMW R1200GS LC
- Additional charge of $400 for a BMW R1200GS Adv
- Additional charge of $600 for a BMW R1200RT LC
- Additional charge of $400 for a BMW R1250GS
- Additional charge of $700 for a Harley Heritage Softail
- Additional charge of $700 for a Harley Road King
- Additional charge of $750 for a Harley Street Glide
- Additional charge of $1,050 for a Harley Ultra Classic
- Personal motorcycle: deduct $1,100 from the rider price.
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 885mm/ 34.8 inches
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 835 mm / 32.9 inches
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 820 mm
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 880 mm / 850 mm
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 34.4 inches / 873 mm (adjustable)
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 850.9 mm / 871 mm
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 895 mm / 35.2 in
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 840 mm / 820 mm
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 850 mm / 33 inches
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 647 mm / 685 mm
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 670 mm / 716 mm
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 662 mm / 685 mm
The pictures may include optional equipment.Seat Height: 695 mm / 739 mmStandard Inclusions
- Late model, low mileage motorcycle
- All accommodations
- A’ la carte dining
- Two Ayres Adventures professional tour leaders
- Airport arrival/departure transfers
- Luggage handling
- Comfortable support vehicle for non-riding companions
- Comprehensive pre-trip planning and assistance
- Customized trip booklet with day-by-day itinerary and attractions
- Two commemorative shirts
- Adventurer Club travel award credit
Meals
- All breakfasts
- 13 dinners
Special Inclusions
- Overnight ferry to Tasmania
Deposit per person: $800
Single room supplement – $1,2002023 Schedule
| Date | 2023 Adventures | Length | Price (USD) | Co-rider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 14 - 28 | Australia and Tasmania - Adventure Down Under (Melbourne to Sydney) | 15 days | $9,975 | $7,500 |
2024 Schedule
| Date | 2024 Adventures | Length | Price (USD) | Co-rider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 13 - 27 | Australia and Tasmania - Adventure Down Under (Melbourne to Sydney) | 15 days | $9,975 | $7,500 |
Cancellation fee and refunds
| FROM DATE OF SCHEDULED COMMENCEMENT | AMOUNT FORFEITED |
|---|---|
| More than 60 days | 50% of deposit |
| 60 days or fewer but more than 45 days | 100% of deposit |
| 45 days or fewer but more than 30 days | 50% of full tour payment |
| 30 days or fewer | 100% of full tour payment |
A great experience
I expected Australia/Tasmania to be fun and it was. What I hadn't expected were the fantastic twisties in the mountains and the almost magical scenery - from beaches to valleys to mountains. A great experience.
Daniel's Adventures include:
Dutch Treat Adventure (now named Normandy and the North Sea)
Australia and Tasmania – Adventure Down Under
Santa Fe, NM
Private Tour Inquiry
We are happy to book any of our motorcycle tour as a private tour. For most tours, we require a minimum of 8 bikes, or 12 participants (riders plus co-riders). We can provide a private motorcycle tour for smaller groups, but a surcharge may apply. We can also customize any of our regular tours for a private group.