around australia

Hi Franco from Levin (NZ) I have been riding a 1999 bandit 1200s for the last 10 years, had lots of good trips but after reading a couple of books by intrepid motorcyclists I have decided to ship my bike to australia and do the big circumnavigation...any suggestions on stretches of roads I should not miss ... scenic rather than speedy ... I'm past my knee scratching days.
cheers

Welcome.

Pick a road, any road, in the Snowy Mtns and you can't go to far wrong. The Great Ocean Road (GOR) is a good ride, albeit somewhat slower now that the speed limit has been reduced to 80.

80 k - sounds like it is nice and twisty ... or is a case of being overly protective of the environment.
My whole plan revolves around getting to and from Tasmania starting in Sydney...I am trying to plan it so that I can get the SBK race at Phillip Island ... from there westward.
From all I have read so far the round trip totals 17,000 ks ...

Welcome to the forum mate.
Sounds like a good trip.
I always say not to miss out on the Putty Rd. But it may not be along your route. As said above, any roads through the snowy mountains is not to be missed.

Howdy and welcome. Might need to do a bit of expectation management depending on what you've read or seen of Australia. There's nothing like Mt Cook over here and even the tallest mountains in NSW and Vic (Mt Kosciusko, NSW & Mt Bogong, Vic) are not peaks as such. That's not to say there's not good scenery and culture to be had but don't expect to see the Alps! In Victoria the spreading metropolis of the capital continues to expand and now the Princes Highway from Melbourne east to Traralgon is just freeway, ie pretty boring from a snery perspective and more and more towns that used to line the route are now bypassed. The South Gippsland Highway from Melbourne to Sale is a better bet and its worth stopping at many of the regional towns for a chat - there will be a wealth of guides on the i/net. Much of the Princes Highway from Sale through to NSW offers good roads but not much scenery, and diverting through Omeo, Bright and along the Murray River east to Corryong and then through the Snowy Mountains is recommended (don't plan to ride from Omeo directly to Corryong as it is a low grade dirt corrugated road. A lot of Australia's south-east history was dominated by the Gold Rush (1860 -1890 period) and there is still quite a bit to be found, some spectacular if you look hard (not commercialised but relics remaining in the bush, with the Tiger snakes!). Some of the commercialised attractions are also good reminders of the Vic/NSW high country heritage. And as stated above, the GOR west of Melbourne is worth the trip on your way to or from Adelaide. I can't speak for the rest of the country but I'm sure other forum members will have some recommendations.

Welcome.
There are plenty of good roads all over this country. They will be different to what you ride but unique in their own way.
My only word of advise is if you speed in Victoria you will be shot. No if's buts or maybe's. Apparently its for our own good

That's one of the nice things about todays society...someone , somewhere is always doing something that is for our own good ...and I don't ever have to ask them to do it.
But getting back to the trip I have been getting some really great feedback and now have a larger map of Australia on the garage wall looking at the suggestions so far thanks for the feed back keep it coming ... I am allowing myself three months to do the trip ...

I did most of this trip in a car once. Always wanted to do it again on a bike.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Sydney&daddr=-37.13199,149.86572+to:-37.87933,147.9619+to:-37.99848,147.39833+to:-38.66372,146.3652+to:-38.49264,145.46338+to:-38.14671,145.13572+to:-37.9387,145.03861+to:Geelong,+Victoria+to:-38.46418,144.10184+to:-38.76813,143.60662+to:-38.06455,141.13174+to:-37.3708259,140.0016642+to:-35.2777,139.01917+to:-35.29199,138.94822+to:-35.24406,138.49434+to:-35.12519,138.50649+to:-35.1051,138.5105+to:-34.91074,138.49191+to:Port+River+Exp+to:-34.656302,138.5433662+to:Gawler,+South+Australia&hl=en&geocode=FX06-_0dyjwDCSlLWOFQOa4SazGiG_ayzb8_pw%3BFSppyf0d-MTuCCmtC_R5i6k-azFcm9INdWr2KA%3BFd4Bvv0dLLjRCCnrxXb2LWAlazFtEkNlTCzwTg%3BFXAwvP0duh7JCCljkDL97GwvazFdU3q28hBcCw%3BFdgJsv0dEFu5CCnhJzDRTtcrazFaRfXu_2e3HA%3BFSCmtP0dVJirCClxJAk4RPbVajHa3tyOXya-cA%3BFWrtuf0daJimCClH5A7x1HTWajEmUsMJOKmuhg%3BFfQZvf0dEh2lCCmN4fnDr27WajFK74Qh8WGvKw%3BFSbruf0dH8WaCCnN0WMpHBTUajHlJ7VQSeKcfw%3BFUwVtf0d0NGWCCk9vuO5y4HUajHAVc61XBqzdA%3BFf5xsP0dXEOPCCkfy10zzTPTajFxjka7We-gNQ%3BFVouu_0d3H9pCCn7vYqGjQieqjGY_3UZTUc6MQ%3BFTfExf0dgEFYCCnZ7w_5Gla1ajEmgXzqp5d_Zw%3BFXy05f0dokNJCCl9UIZyOiC3ajGMCYi4g8_3AQ%3BFap85f0dfC5ICCnbLp6Iuti2ajHOqXKHOPnzDw%3BFeQ35v0dhEFBCCkJsm8ZRjuxajGTKGHzokY_LQ%3BFToI6P0d-nBBCCl_WgmHGyexajGEGw3H88nrhQ%3BFbRW6P0dpIBBCCmh_WEWeyexajG6qRBxcDqWcg%3BFexN6_0dBjhBCCmNQHwNicSwajH6Sgmu3DNdVQ%3BFcZj7P0dFKJBCA%3BFdIv7_0dBgFCCCm7e9qPQaWwajFN5aAtgW8LsA%3BFVoP8P0d_yRFCCkTECBlw_-5ajEU6sA8g6Ckdg&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=8&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,20&sll=-38.182069,147.735901&sspn=3.06998,4.927368&ie=UTF8&ll=-36.075742,149.139404&spn=6.312238,9.854736&z=7

Played with the old Google Maps thing a bit myself. But it really depends on what you want to see, eg if you weren't interested in visiting the highest town in Australia (Cabramurra, NSW) then you could go from Cooma via Jindabyne and Thredbo to Corryong. See possible route. Also, there are probably other ways to get out of Sydney.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Sydney,+New+South+Wales&daddr=Batemans+Bay,+New+South+Wales+to:Canberra,+Australian+Capital+Territory+to:Cooma,+New+South+Wales+to:Cabramurra,+New+South+Wales+to:Corryong,+Victoria+to:Bright,+Victoria+to:Lakes+Entrance,+Victoria+to:Bairnsdale,+Victoria+to:Traralgon,+Victoria+to:Yarram,+Victoria+to:Wilsons+Promontory,+Victoria+to:Korumburra,+Victoria+to:Melbourne,+Victoria&hl=en&geocode=FX06-_0dyjwDCSlLWOFQOa4SazGiG_ayzb8_pw%3BFQgj3_0d8HvzCCnxhc2008EVazFi7D9popZrVA%3BFYij5f0dhIXjCClRRa6d30wWazHZG6rFduFOBg%3BFd0S1_0dUHnjCCkvNOVKLKg9azGylm9523SrrQ%3BFUmb2_0d0i_YCCkVBM0gDjQ9azHCUPuYV_-MTg%3BFTKu1_0db9rQCCmJ-ZL2uxAjazEwgx5Tqsc0EQ%3BFTuWz_0da3DCCCmR5pfEPyIkazFLeex27uhiLw%3BFWX5vf0dwwnSCCm1ZXqIg2AlazHT7MNPvki61A%3BFabVvv0doqPMCCmHQtYBNHkvazEroPH4CcPrDA%3BFVY3uf0dhf-7CCkx0-1OeBcpazE0jW62NgSKoA%3BFZ6Vs_0dQxm-CClheowxS0UpazG8pVWPKt7TnQ%3BFeuzrf0d7Ea5CCkJNhrP-7YrazFCvSimMKAtJQ%3BFUeTtf0dTxexCCm75NzIvx8qazGSMlugNd3w4Q%3BFRUAv_0dYfajCCkr3gUlyELWajEnlxuczK1Yiw&mra=ls&sll=-36.27085,148.095703&sspn=6.853814,14.249268&ie=UTF8&ll=-36.412442,148.095703&spn=6.841395,14.249268&z=7

Cheers ... I think I am going to be spoiled with choices ... I am only going to plan 80% of the trip and leave the rest to chance and good fortune I tend to call it flexability.
This allows me to wonder some what off the beaten track.
I am hoping to get some high country riding, dusty desert and what ever else that comes my way.
The majority of the trip I intend to camp ...

I'll bet you get tired of the suggestions but..... in my post above I mentioned old gold mining areas. If you're down Traralgon (Vic) way be sure to take a trip up to Walhalla - it's only a short hop and all bitumen. The old Long Tunnel Extended mine does tours and they're great unless you're claustrophobic.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Traralgon,+Victoria&daddr=Walhalla,+Victoria&hl=en&geocode=FVY3uf0dhf-7CCkx0-1OeBcpazE0jW62NgSKoA%3BFW0Wvf0dWKu6CCkrc9a4oeYoazGUqlTU4l9uXw&mra=ls&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=45.660664,67.587891&ie=UTF8&z=11

Another good ride is Traralgon to Licola, really great bike roads. At Licola you can turn right which takes you back up into the high country on some very long dirt roads, or left, which actually lets you get right through to Melbourne on bitumen - it's a great ride. Side trips to Woods Point and Lake Eildon are also worthwhile.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Traralgon,+Victoria&daddr=Licola,+Victoria+to:Mansfield,+Victoria+to:-37.50615,145.67614+to:Melbourne,+Victoria&hl=en&geocode=FVY3uf0dhf-7CCkx0-1OeBcpazE0jW62NgSKoA%3BFcHbwf0d7ky9CCnRTWv53pcoazH-6odDZYWdHw%3BFV6gyv0dzx-1CCk9FivWbcknazFe8V6rAQOZCw%3BFZqzw_0dbNeuCCknK2iiKT0oazEm_dMR40xDAQ%3BFRUAv_0dYfajCCkr3gUlyELWajEnlxuczK1Yiw&mra=dpe&mrcr=2&mrsp=3&sz=9&via=3&sll=-37.586025,145.80933&sspn=1.277613,2.112122&ie=UTF8&z=9

Also. if you wanted a really different route south from Jindabyne you could take the Barry Way, all the way through to southern Victoria. It follows the Murray River downstream (the Murray is dammed at Jindabyne), brings out of NSW through Hamilton's Gap into Victoria and through places with fascinating names like Suggan Buggan, Wulgulmerang, and Gelantipy. You'll notice that it nicely sets you up to go to Lakes Entrance or over the range via Omeo and Bright. And there are commercial caves at Buchan if you're into that sort of thing.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Jindabyne,+New+South+Wales&daddr=Bruthen,+Victoria&hl=en&geocode=FZ5Z1P0dd77bCClNblpwQcQ8azFX3veqIVB4pA%3BFWafwP0dGrrPCCkVTCoCfWUlazH03Z2Nbh_xQA&mra=ls&sll=-37.159222,148.233032&sspn=0.64245,1.056061&ie=UTF8&z=8

I'd better stop - I'm feeling like I need to do a few of these myself!

Snowy River, not Murray River is what I meant when talking about the Barry Way route - and a lot of it is dirt but you'd be going slow 'cause the scenery is good.

franco wrote:80 k - sounds like it is nice and twisty ... or is a case of being overly protective of the environment.
My whole plan revolves around getting to and from Tasmania starting in Sydney...I am trying to plan it so that I can get the SBK race at Phillip Island ... from there westward.
From all I have read so far the round trip totals 17,000 ks ...

I'd say it's a little from column A and a little from column B. It is a wonderful piece of road both in terms of corners and the scenery. But, to me to see the scenery of GOR at its best, the weather has to be at it's worst.