As one of the richest and most beautiful countries in the world, Australia has a lot to offer. From huge cities to the wild outback, it seems Australia has something for everyone. The best part of this amazing country is definitely the untouched nature the government fights so hard to protect. Of course, this country is also huge, meaning that you have to have an elaborate plan if you plan on seeing everything worth seeing.
Author: Mianna Korben.
Your journey starts with a high-quality bicycle that’ll be able to withstand the hardships of the road ahead. After all, there’s no better way to get to know a country than to bike through it. You get an intimate feel of the land and form a relationship with it few others get to. For your adventure to be fun and successful instead of stressful, you’ll need to find out which bike routes are the best and cover the most interesting points. As well as that, you should pick the perfect time to visit Australia, as you’ll want to see the whole country in bloom.
With the tips below, you’ll be ready for an adventure of a lifetime. Where?
The cycling routes you can take are all beautiful, but which one you choose depends on what you want to see and how long you want your trip to last. Australia is a very popular country to cycle so you won’t have trouble finding the scenic route that suits your needs just right. As well as the views and spots you’ll see and pass through along the way, it’s important to choose a route based on your skill level.
If you want to challenge yourself along a scenic yet dramatic route, you’ll love The Gap to Mt Glorious via Mt Nebo in Queensland. This might be a shorter route starting in Brisbane, but it’s also rather challenging. Though this is mostly a climbing ride, it’s suitable for both mountain and road bikes. If you prefer travelling with a mountain bike, don’t miss out on the fire trail that’s part of this route. It runs parallel to the road and is even more adrenaline-inducing than the original route. It’ll be safer to travel clockwise as the road in Samford Valley is much steeper and not maintained. Those looking for something easier but just as scenic should consider riding along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. Located near Melbourne, this is one route not to be missed. The 12 Apostles of Australia and the crystal clear waters are only two things you’ll get to marvel at along this route. You’ll also get to explore numerous nooks and crannies along the way. One of the most popular plans for this route is to start in Warrnambool and finish in Geelong, thus riding the full 281km of pure bliss. It usually takes around five days to complete this route. One of the longest and most beautiful routes in Australia is definitely the Munda Biddi Trail through Western Australia. Being a 1000km long, this route takes you through numerous fire trails, railway lines and bush tracks, river valleys, forests, rural villages, and small towns. It seems the whole of Australia is contained between Mundaring and Perth, all the way down to Albany. The best part about this route is that there are many ways you can approach it. This means that you don’t have to be an experienced cyclist and can travel according to your level of skill. Generally, it takes around three weeks to complete it, but you can also divide it into sections and take your time completing it. After all, there’s around 50km between towns with places where you can rest, meaning that you don’t have to miss out on anything just because this might be one of your first biking tours. ![]()
Margaret River, Western Australia [Image Source]
How?
The question of how is more complicated to answer than just saying “on a bike.” You have a long road ahead of you, so it’s imperative to travel with the right bike, as well as to prepare it properly. The biggest issue here is that you can’t simply bike into Australia because it is a continent completely cut off from the rest of the land.
Instead, it’s much more convenient and cheaper to purchase your bicycle once you’re already in Australia. In a new country, it’s tough to find a good local bicycle store that you know won’t rip you off. It’s also very easy to get lost in a huge city like Sydney or Melbourne. Thankfully, the internet’s got your back. Shopping in a well-stocked online bike store can save you a lot of time and money. You’ll get to decide on the perfect bike without pushy salesmen in your way, you won’t waste time on scouting the perfect local store, and you’ll be walking away with a quality product worth every cent. Now that you’ve got your bike, it’s time to start preparing it. Service your bike when you first get it, then once more right before the start of the journey. This way you’ll be sure you won’t be dealing with technical difficulties while you’re on the road. Of course, you can’t just jump on your freshly-serviced bike. You need to bring the essentials with you in order to have a truly comfortable trip. Food and water should be at the top of your priority list. Next, don’t forget the pump and spare inner tubes and tyre levers. You’ll also want to have money in cash with you and your house key. This way, you’ll be prepared for almost any situation that you can encounter on the road. It also might be a good idea to do this with a riding buddy. If you’re a beginner or this is your first biking tour, having a riding body is essential. You’ll want to have someone you can count on when the going gets tough. God forbid you encounter danger or have an accident, it’ll be much easier to get out of it if you have someone with you. Riding buddies take care of each other no matter what. ![]()
Marrinup, Western Australia, Australia [Image Source]
When?Finally, all that’s left to answer is when. The success of your trip can depend entirely on the weather conditions. Most bicycle routes take only Tasmania into account, as it has only one climate zone and is fairly easy to ride through. The Australian mainland is vast and therefore features a lot of different weather conditions. This is why it’s important to pay attention to the time of year you visit, as you’ll know exactly what cycle you’re walking into by the month of your arrival. Generally, the best time to visit Australia depends on where you start your journey. If you’re going from Melbourne, you should start between November and April. It’s advised to skip January and February, though, as the weather can be too hot. Starting at the top, we’ll have the opposite situation. As the north of Australia tends to be unbearably hot in the summer, it’s best to start your journey in winter. As well as that, there can be heavy rains in this region in the summer, potentially harming your whole trip. June, July and August are the best times to visit Queensland, as the temperatures are mild and ideal for cycling. Another useful piece of advice is to take a look at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. This website holds information about Aussie whether in specific towns, as well as the history of each town. Aside from the weather, you’ll need to watch out for the wind conditions. Thankfully, the site also features handy wind diagrams you can easily understand. The hardest wind patterns to master will be along the WA coast. You’ll need to look into this part of the route in great detail to figure out when and how to move. Also, take into consideration the duration of your journey to figure out when it’s best to start it. On average, it takes people around 47 weeks to cycle through all the most beautiful parts of the mainland. This timeline includes Cairns, Darwin, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. Of course, there are many small towns you’ll see along the way. ![]()
Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin, Australia [Image Source]
A well-planned trip and a real adventure have the power to set you free. Not only will you get to see the world with different eyes and find out many new things about it, but you’ll also get an insight into yourself. When you’ve got nothing but your bike and yourself in the world, you tend to have a lot of time for self-reflection. As well as that, you’ll encounter a lot of situations you’ve never been in before. This will all give you the chance to get to know yourself better and see what kind of person you actually are.
Pulling of a biking tour is a challenge in itself, but it’s also filled with innumerable opportunities and small challenges along the way. The promise of the rewarding feeling at the end of the journey will be enough to keep you going regardless of what you face. Author Bio
Mianna Korben is a travel writer whose specialty is Australia and all about our beautiful Land Down Under. She has also contributed to many lifestyle, travel and business online publications. When she's not wordsmithing, Mianna enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
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