Australia and Tasmania – Adventure Down Under

At a Glance Your Australia and Tasmania – Adventure Down Under

Day 1 – Arrival in Melbourne

Welcome to Australia! The Ayres Adventures tour leaders will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the 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.

Day 2 – Melbourne to Apollo Bay – The Great Ocean Road, 117 miles

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.

Day 3 – Apollo Bay – Melbourne for overnight Ferry to Tasmania, 158 miles

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.

Day 4 – Devonport (Tasmania) – St. Helens, 161 miles

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.

Day 5 – St. Helens – Hobart, 155 miles

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.

Day 6 – Free Day in Hobart – optional riding, 130 miles

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.

Day 7 – Hobart – Strahan, 192 miles

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.

Day 8 – Strahan – Devonport for overnight ferry to Melbourne, 192 miles

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.

Day 9 – Melbourne – Milawa, 248 miles

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.

Day 10 – Milawa – Jindabyne, 223 miles

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.

Day 11 – Free Day in Jindabyne – optional riding, 186 miles

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.

Day 12 – Jindabyne – Ulladulla, 260 miles

Today’s ride offers a stunning change from the highest peaks of the continent with their alpine forests down to the coastal plains.

Day 13 – Ulladulla – Leura, 260 miles

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.

Day 14 – Leura – Sydney, 130 miles

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.

Day 15 – Depart Sydney

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