Darwin to Perth or Melbourne?

[matdebat]

Anyone ever done either? Any tips as to which would be better for a January adventure?

[Jantar]

Darwin in January is their rainy season. As in hot, humid, wet, floods, rain etc. I wouldn't plan on any further than Darwin to Marrara. (That is like Auckland to Mangare, or Christchurch to Harewood, or Dunedin to Momona).

[warewolf]

Uh, January is not the month to go adventuring in the Aussie desert.

If you aren't already, try more focussed adventuring sites like Horizons Unlimited or ADVrider.com.

[Al]

Definately no venturing from Darwin until the end of May!
Big rain and a lot of wash-aways.

Best time for riding anywhere is June till October (ish).

Have fun

Al

[matdebat]

Buggar, have some time off which is why I chose January. Maybe stick to the slightly more southern parts. Is going to be considerably more expensive and challenging than my last trip around Cambodia

[tri boy]

Buggar, have some time off which is why I chose January. Maybe stick to the slightly more southern parts. Is going to be considerably more expensive and challenging than my last trip around Cambodia

How about Tassie?
Wild high country, coastal, good summer climate. Not really Australians.

[slowpoke]

Tassie is supposed to be great (one place I haven't been in Oz) but it's also been described as the most NZ-like for scenery/biking so you may be looking for something more typically Orstrahlyan on the mainland, I dunno.
My partner and I drove from Mt Isa (NW Queensland) down to Melbourne, then across to Perth with our life's possessions in the back of a Hilux 4WD. I can honestly say we weren't bored (even crossing the Nullarbor) as for a Kiwi everything was totally unlike anything we'd ever seen. Years later places and scenes still stick in my mind: like the frikkin' huge eagles and the half buried by sand dunes Telegraph Station on the Nullarbor, the weird lil' town where we had breakfast one day and asked for toast and a piece of fruit and somehow ended up with a peanut butter AND banana toasted sandwich, or the snow-like drifts of cotton on the side of the road in 35deg heat etc etc.
I've got no idea what you are into but if it was me: I'd start with a trackday at Phillip Island (one of, if not THE best track in the world), explore Melbourne, then do the Great Ocean road on the way to Adelaide, sample the wine and food of the Barossa Valley and the great roads in the Adelaide hills. Then set off across the Nullarbor checking out the caves etc, then I'd ignore the quick way to Perth and keep going around the bottom end sampling Esperance (stunning coastal town) and South West WA (Albany, Denmark, Margaret River etc) before getting to Perth.
Of course if you really enjoy it: the mining companies are absolutely desperate for staff so if you have a trade or don't mind learning to drive a 200ton dump truck then you could sign up and be on your way to earning $100k p/a before you know it. They'll fly you around the outback and pay YOU for the priviledge.
The only other problem is your timing...every other man and his mutt are also on holiday so you'll have a shit load of company along the way.

[burgermont]

Did a Perth Darwin Perth ride in April, recommend this one via inland route (Newman, Meeka, Mt Magnet) to Perth. 9600km return trip, some big distances to cover between fuel stops (300km in some cases). Was to hot at this time of year, May/early June would have been better as we were in high 30's each day. Great roads, excellent camping in most towns, cold beer just watch out for the locals, cows and kangaroos in far north, the locals tend to drink excessively and make nuisance of them selves.Cheers

[Shiner]

Buggar, have some time off which is why I chose January. Maybe stick to the slightly more southern parts. Is going to be considerably more expensive and challenging than my last trip around Cambodia

Hi
I am also planning to go for a bit of an adventure ride in Aus over summer, due those being my holidays. I am planning to buy or rent not sure yet from Melbourne and ride maybe up through blue mountians out to Broken Hill then down the Flinders ranges and maybe the Oonadatta track through to Alice. Not sure? What are your plans?
Any one got some tips for me?

[mbazza]

Hi Shiner,
Sounds like an interesting trip. I did a 12 day trip Sydney to Syd. Early July '07' as a dry run for a 2009 planned trip. As for hire, I hired a Tranny from Bikescape in Annandale Sydney and can recommend them. They have a variety of bikes as long as your pockets are deep. Cheers -

[matdebat]

Melbourne sounds like a great starting point, would love to do a few laps around philip Is as a starter. Looks like bike hire is around $110 a day which is fairly steep, might have to skimp a bit elsewhere. Has anyone shipped a bike to Aus before? Is it a big hassle?

[Shiner]

Hi Shiner,
Sounds like an interesting trip. I did a 12 day trip Sydney to Syd. Early July '07' as a dry run for a 2009 planned trip. As for hire, I hired a Tranny from Bikescape in Annandale Sydney and can recommend them. They have a variety of bikes as long as your pockets are deep. Cheers -

HI
I will be flying into and out of Melbourne
been looking into hiring a bike a bit more. I will be in Australia for about 40 days, if I rent a bike all that time it is getting pretty pricey. Also I am thinking I would like to ride the Oodnadatta track. The rental place I have emailed will only rent out the BMWDakar for that track and it is $112 a day. Work that out for 40 days! Temps can get pretty hot in January 50 degrees c, so I have to carry lots of water. Might be better to buy, but could take time to find something suitably kitted out for the desert. Any one with any ideas here?

[Frodo]

Aussie and big and much of the west is pretty boring. I rode around the outside in 1979 on a CB750 and feel asleep on the Nullarbor. I had to leave Darwin before November because of the wet (the roads aound Broome were dirt then).

Check out this website about a recent book written by a Kiwi about his trip www.twistingthrottle.com. Boredom is a big issue in his book. Worth a read.

Unless you want say you've done it, there's lots more interesting country in Aussie, such as in the south east like Shiner suggests.

Cheers

[Titanium]

HI
I will be flying into and out of Melbourne
been looking into hiring a bike a bit more. I will be in Australia for about 40 days, if I rent a bike all that time it is getting pretty pricey. Also I am thinking I would like to ride the Oodnadatta track. The rental place I have emailed will only rent out the BMWDakar for that track and it is $112 a day. Work that out for 40 days! Temps can get pretty hot in January 50 degrees c, so I have to carry lots of water. Might be better to buy, but could take time to find something suitably kitted out for the desert. Any one with any ideas here?

You would probably be better of buying a bike if you plan to ride for 40 days, not sure if you are.

Pick up a KLR 650 or something like it and sell it when you return, hell I would even buy it off you for a fair price ....

If I can help out before you arrive, let me know .....

Aussie is full of flat, long, straight roads ... if in Melbourne head out east round Gippsland and head north through the mountains .... anywhere west is FLAT, except the Great Ocean road.

Shiping a bike will cost you around $1300 NZD each way, you can get a dispensation to ride here with out paying GST or stamp duty.

Check out http://www.dotars.gov.au/roads/safet...ting.aspx#5.09

7. Overseas visitors to Australia - Part 9 on Application Form
In accordance with the provisions of certain international conventions on road traffic, Australia recognises the temporary import of vehicles for a period of less than 12 months by visiting foreign nationals of signatory countries who hold a visitor's visa.

In this category vehicles may be allowed entry in one of two ways:

By presenting a valid Carnet de Passage en Duane at port of entry to Australia, in which case no Vehicle Import Approval is required (Note: a vehicle must have sufficient registration cover from the person's home country to cover the period of the temporary import).
By submitting an application to import a vehicle accompanied by a copy of a current overseas registration document valid for the period of the visit and passport pages showing nationality, personal details and valid Australian visitor's visa.
If you are travelling on a "Temporary Resident" Visa then you are not eligible to import your vehicle under (b) above.

Neither visitors nor temporary residents are eligible under the Personally Imported Vehicle Scheme described in this brochure (refer page 8).

Documents required to be submitted with the application form for category above:

$50.00 application fee (for category (b) above), purchase document, current overseas registration document valid for the period of the visit, passport pages showing nationality, and Australian visitor's visa



Cheers


Peter

[Shiner]

Thanks Peter
good information. Buying a bike is more ideal option. Just a little concerned about gettiing something suitable with boxes or a very least some way of carrying water. I do have soft panniers that would be sufficient.
I lived a year in Melbourne and a year in Bright so know the south east victoria a little, and love it a lot, so will definately spend some time revisiting and exploring new places. But have been reading about the Oodnadatta track and it has captured my imagination. Would love to get out there.
Thanks for the offer of help as, if you are serious I may take you up on that offer. Would be nice to have someone scout out afew bikes before I get there as I arrive on 21Dec and want to be out of the city before xmas. Was thinking of approaching shops on Elizabeth street see if they do buy back deals?
Any way keep in touch.

sue