Trip Advice, Eastern Creek to Griffin Qld

After the Festival of Speed I'm planning on heading to BrisVegas to stay with my brother and his family for a few days

I've driven the Pacific Hwy enough time to know I don't want to do it on a bike.

I've done the New England a few times by car and in 2012, Brisbane to Muswellbrook by bike, not keen to do it again.

I've got plenty of time, I can take 2 or 3 days (probably more if I need to)

I'm going to head out of Sydney via the Putty Rd to Muswellbrook, after that I need some local knowledge.

Would Bell Trees, Barrington Tops be a good option from there? (looks good on the map  )

I seem to recall mention of the Thunderbolts Way before, would that be a option up to Inverell, or am I better off  heading back closer to the coast  before it crosses the New England?

Where to from there?

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Day 1 Sydney to Taree

https://goo.gl/maps/4r7dsTRb44y

Day 2 Taree to Kiwisteve's

https://goo.gl/maps/CwJd3e81qPy

Day 3 Steve's to Griffin

https://goo.gl/maps/pZdw8VXrstw

Unfortunately, Chook, the road across the tops to Barrington is gravel for quite a way. 40 or so km from memory. And it can be harsh, depending on the size of gibbers they use as gravel. I got a double puncture in Falcon last time we did it. Wasn't that fun?
If you're doing the Putty, it will bring you out at Singleton. From there across to Dungog via East Gresford, on to Gloucester / Barrington. 
Thunderbolts way is a fantastic ride with some great scenery and will take you to Walcha. 
From Walcha you can traverse the world famous Oxley hwy to Wauchope. This is taking you south east again to the Pac  hwy, but well worth the time. Alternatively, you can go from Walch to Armidale and pick up the New England. 
Hope this helps.

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The last leg from Dorrigo, I have not ridden, but have heard that the Waterfall way is beautiful. 
Maybe Kiwi Steve would have better local knowledge.

Thanks Bosco, that's a great help, to be honest, you and Kiwi Steve were 2 I was thinking of when I made the post

I've had a better look since I got back home, I'm thinking this would be a good days ride, plus there are $35 rooms at the St Kilda hotel (or $50 twin) http://stkildahotel.wixsite.com/st-kilda-hotel/accomodation and the gym I'm a member of is 800 m down the street giving me somewhere to stretch stiff muscles

Yep, your last post would be a good pick if I was to be doing it. As Bosco said  if you get to Walcha & then head to Wauchope, that is a great bit of riding. You would want to stop at the Long Flat pub for lunch. Not a bad feed.
You could then either turn around & go back up the Oxley hwy, or spend 1 1/2 hrs on the Pacific boreway & stay with us for the night before you continue on up the Orara Way to Grafton. Then you would take the Summerland Way up through Kyogle, then go through the Lions rd to Rathdowney, Beaudesert & on to Brisvegas.

Kiwisteve wrote:
You could then either turn around & go back up the Oxley hwy, or spend 1 1/2 hrs on the Pacific boreway & stay with us for the night

I might take you up on that but might shorten Day 1, do a shorter day 2 and then the bigger day into Brissy the day after, it would give me time to take a few detours instead of just riding through

I have no idea what it's like now Chook but when I was posted to Singleton years ago, we lost a few guys on weekend leave to the Putty Road. Travel safely!

What about something like this Steve? 3 pretty low km days, plenty of time for sightseeing, detours etc

Sydney to Tamworth 526km



This place looks OK with secure parking and meals from $10

http://www.courthousehoteltamworth.com.au/carpark/

Tamworth to Coffs Harbour 588km



Coffs Harbour to Griffin 501km

BTW, if anyone wants to tag along for all or part of the ride, feel free to join me.

Some huge days there. 
I have learnt to take Google map times with a pinch of salt. If you were to drive straight through they're pretty close. But a stop here, a pic there and before your know it it's an eleven hour day. 
Regardless, it will be a fun ride if you take half of these roads.

Like Bosco said earlier, I  wouldn't be riding over Barrington Tops. I did it in my D-Max a few years ago over the xmas holidays, it was bloody rough, cold & foggy. I don't think it was far off snowing!
Other than that, I  could get you up the back way to Grafton from Coffs, so you don't have to endure any more of the Pacific boreway. If you are here on a weekend day, I would look at going up to Kyogle for a day trip with you.
Cheers, Steve

Just another thing, don't head west out of Kempsey, that road turns into a dirt goat track

I thought the road direct from Kempsey to Dorrigo was more for Adventure (dirt) bikes.

Windsor to Singleton showing fuel at Colo Heights and Bulga, refreshments at Grey Gum Cafe.

Singleton to Walcha Fuel at Singleton, East Gresford, Dungog, Stratford, Gloucester and Walcha. The Bakery is popular at Dungog and there are plenty of popular cafes in Gloucester. Walcha has a bike friendly cafe and accommodation.

Walcha to Grafton Uralla has 2 pubs we've stayed at before the "Top Pub" is the cleanest. Not much fuel between Armidale and Grafton. Haven't ventured past Grafton much except for the Drake trip.

This is an option if you want to include Coffs, Must have Oxley Highway

Then nothing wrong with the back road from  Coffs to Grafton

Re-Cycled wrote:This is an option if you want to include Coffs, Must have Oxley Highway

Then nothing wrong with the back road from  Coffs to Grafton

I like the first one you have there Re-C, Chook would be able to make a stop at the Nabiac m/c museum. That would probably add quite a few hours to the trip tho! 

Coffs to Grafton, you've actually got the Pac hwy highlighted. At this stage the Pac hwy is crap going to Grafton, due to the hwy upgrade

Kiwisteve wrote:

Re-Cycled wrote:This is an option if you want to include Coffs, Must have Oxley Highway

Then nothing wrong with the back road from  Coffs to Grafton

I like the first one you have there Re-C, Chook would be able to make a stop at the Nabiac m/c museum. That would probably add quite a few hours to the trip tho! 

Coffs to Grafton, you've actually got the Pac hwy highlighted. At this stage the Pac hwy is crap going to Grafton, due to the hwy upgrade

When I click the link it shows the road through Nana Glen etc.

Once they finish the upgrades I'll be able to get to my Brother's place a lot more quickly.

Kiwisteve wrote:

Re-Cycled wrote:This is an option if you want to include Coffs, Must have Oxley Highway

Then nothing wrong with the back road from  Coffs to Grafton

I like the first one you have there Re-C, Chook would be able to make a stop at the Nabiac m/c museum. That would probably add quite a few hours to the trip tho! 

I could include the museum and stop at Taree for the night perhaps?

The MC museum is awesome. One of the best for outright number and variety of bikes. 
Plan on at least a few hours, six if you get interested.

Bosco15 wrote:The MC museum is awesome. One of the best for outright number and variety of bikes. 
Plan on at least a few hours, six if you get interested.

Would this work for a day, I've included about 3-4 hrs for the museum

https://goo.gl/maps/4r7dsTRb44y

The day after I want to end up at Kiwisteve's, would this be the best way?

https://goo.gl/maps/xVN7Lgi5y8R2

Chook wrote:

Bosco15 wrote:The MC museum is awesome. One of the best for outright number and variety of bikes. 
Plan on at least a few hours, six if you get interested.

Would this work for a day, I've included about 3-4 hrs for the museum

https://goo.gl/maps/4r7dsTRb44y

The day after I want to end up at Kiwisteve's, would this be the best way?

https://goo.gl/maps/xVN7Lgi5y8R2

Looks good except... when did you get an adventure bike?
You keep plotting these goat tracks. Avoid Comboyne Road and take the Highway to Wauchope, the fun starts there.



Click this Map

Chook wrote:

Bosco15 wrote:The MC museum is awesome. One of the best for outright number and variety of bikes. 
Plan on at least a few hours, six if you get interested.

Would this work for a day, I've included about 3-4 hrs for the museum

https://goo.gl/maps/4r7dsTRb44y

The day after I want to end up at Kiwisteve's, would this be the best way?

https://goo.gl/maps/xVN7Lgi5y8R2

Definitely a great ride. 
Plan on a little longer than Google maps prediction. 
Halfway house on the Putty is worth pulling over. Check out the sculptures, grab a snag sanga (if he's cooking) & stretch your legs. 
Another quick break at Singo, Gloucester. 
Nabiac for the museum.
If you are looking for great roads. The Wootton Way is 17min south from Nabiac. Down and back will add an hour to your day and a bucket load of grins. It's the old Buladelah bends pacific highway. 


https://goo.gl/maps/W18E8AS8GJr


As Pete said, highway to Walcha onto the Oxley.

Re-Cycled wrote:

Looks good except... when did you get an adventure bike?
You keep plotting these goat tracks. Avoid Comboyne Road and take the Highway to Wauchope, the fun starts there.

That's why I'm asking you guys

More like this?

https://goo.gl/maps/UNQVZrSLiSC2

Kiwisteve wrote:
You could then either turn around & go back up the Oxley hwy, or spend 1 1/2 hrs on the Pacific boreway & stay with us for the night before you continue on up the Orara Way to Grafton. Then you would take the Summerland Way up through Kyogle, then go through the Lions rd to Rathdowney, Beaudesert & on to Brisvegas.

Something like this Steve?, I've tried to skirt Brisbane and make the end a bit more interesting as well

https://goo.gl/maps/iiQWjsAh3PA2

Anyone from QLD or Northern NSW got any suggestions?

I reckon you've probably got the bit up around Brisvegas pretty well bang on Chook. I'd want to go around it too

I just want to double check the 1st couple of days after I leave Sydney

Oxley Park to Taree via Putty and the Nabiac Motorcycle Museum https://goo.gl/maps/4r7dsTRb44y

Taree to Urunga via Armidale https://goo.gl/maps/CwJd3e81qPy