The Tropical North - 16 days, 17 nights

Explore the New South Wales and Queensland outback then follow the east coast south on this 5,200 kilometre (3,250 mile) 16 day Signature Escape.
ex Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Priced from AUD$10,450 per person twin share
Tour Dates: Flexible dates available - contact us to find out more
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Welcome to Sydney!
Sydney is the not only the oldest but is the largest city in Australia and is one of the world's most vibrant and famous cities. It's famed for the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.Check into your accommodation in the heart of the city and we will meet you at the Welcome Dinner. This will give you an opportunity to get to know your fellow riders on the tour. We will also go over the tour details including a review of the itinerary and safe group riding practices.
Day 1 – Sydney to Katoomba – 114 km (71 miles)
Today is our first ride day. We will meet you in the lobby of the hotel and load your luggage in the support vehicle. You will then board the shuttle to the bike hire office. Once everyone has completed their paperwork it's time to hit the road.Our first stop is at a wildlife park on the outskirts of Sydney where you will have a chance to meet some of Australia's native animals, including koalas, kangaroos, dingos, and the kookaburra.We will then start riding up into the UNESCO World-Heritage listed Blue Mountains National Park, stopping at Echo Point in Katoomba. Here you will ride the world's steepest passenger railway and get to take in the breath-taking sights of the Three Sisters rock formation, the spectacular sandstone cliffs that rise out from the Jamison Valley, and Mount Solitary, the only mountain that sits within the valley.
Day 2 – Katoomba to Parkes – 370 km (230 miles)
Our first stop today is at a lookout with views over the Capertee Valley, the second-largest canyon in the world. It is also the widest canyon in the world at 30 kilometres (19 miles) wide, 1 kilometre (0.6 mile) wider than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States.The motor sport fans among you will enjoy the next leg of our ride, we make our way into Bathurst and ride a lap of the Mount Panorama motor racing circuit, known as the spiritual home of Australian motor sport. The track is a public road so we need to stick to the speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour (37 miles per hour) but it still awesome to ride the 6.2 kilometre (3.8 miles) track. If there is not much traffic there we may be able to get a group photo lined up across the finish line!
Day 3 – Parkes to Nyngan – 301 km (187 miles)
We continue heading west through New South Wales with the next highlight being a visit to "The Dish", the Parkes Observatory, which was one of several radio telescopes used to receive the live television images of man landing on the moon in 1969. It is nick-named "The Dish" which is also the name of an Australian movie released in 2000 telling the story of the telescopes role in broadcasting the first moon landing.Some more highlights of our ride through country New South Wales include Old Dubbo Gaol, a fascinating look at what began as a courthouse lock up in 1847 and grew to a fully functioning gaol which operated until 1966, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience which is an exploration of Australia's most famous aeromedical service for those that live in rural and remote Australia.
Day 4 – Nyngan to Cunnamulla – 461 km (287 miles)
We are now starting to ride north with the first leg this morning taking us on one of the straightest sections of road in New south Wales, passing through a few small country towns before arriving in Bourke. Located on the Darling River this was an important trading port on the river, with wool being transported to the town then shipped down-river into South Australia. Today it marks the edge of the desert and is well known as being the gateway to the “Back O Bourke” – a term that describes outback Australia, the remoteness, wide open plains, the landscapes & the solitude. This is where we are heading today and we stop for lunch on the border of New South Wales and Queensland at one of the outback’s best roadhouses.Arriving in Cunnamulla we will visit the Cunnamulla Fella Visitor Centre which features a statue as a tribute to the Australian larrikin stockman.
Day 5 – Cunnamulla to Tambo – 402 km (250 miles)
Our first few days we will be riding through the Queensland outback where we will experience a US Army Air Force secret base from WWII which is now an interactive exhibition centre with numerous military exhibits from 1943. The base was home to 3,500 US airmen between 1942 & 1946 and even hid a classified military device, the Norden Bombsight, which was used in the bombing of Hiroshima.
Day 6 – Tambo to Longreach – 317 km (197 miles)
As we continue further north we will arrive in Longreach where we will stay for 2 nights. On the night we arrive you will enjoy an outback dinner and show featuring a camp oven themed dinner complete with damper and billy tea.
Day 7 – Longreach – Sightseeing Day
There is plenty to see and do here including a visit to the QANTAS Founders Museum. Also, Longreach is located right on the Tropic of Capricorn so we will go and get a couple of photos at the marker point as well.
Day 8 – Longreach to Hughenden – 419 km (260 miles)
Before we start riding east towards the coast we have one more stop in the outback at the home of Australia's largest dinosaur fossils. This area is also the location of the only known dinosaur stampede in the world which took place around 95 million years ago.
Day 9 – Hughenden to Townsville – 404 km (251 miles)
The ride east through North Queensland takes us through both dinosaur and gold rush country. Gold was first discovered in the area in 1871 and we will stop at a gold discovery monument along the way.Before long we arrive in Townsville, the unofficial capital of North Queensland and the gateway to the World-Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the natural world. It is larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing on earth visible from space. The marine park is over 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles) long and runs almost parallel to the Queensland coast. We are staying here for 2 nights so please ask us about adding on a Great Barrier Reef tour (not included in base price) while we are in town.
Day 10 – Townsville – Sightseeing Day
This will be your Great Barrier Reef tour day (if you have added it on), otherwise there is plenty to do on your rest day. From arts and entertainment, history and culture, nature and wildlife to shopping and markets you will be sure to find something to interest you.
Day 11 – Townsville to Sarina Beach – 457 km (284 miles)
Back on the road again and we start heading south along the east coast. The Queensland coastline has 1,711 beaches along its 13,347 kilometre (8,293 mile) length. Unfortunately, we will not have time to stop at all of them but over the next few days we will be staying in a few coastal towns. This will give you an idea of the laid-back lifestyle that Australia is famous for. So kick it back a gear (figuratively speaking) and enjoy a few days just cruising and enjoying the sunshine.
Day 12 – Sarina Beach to Tannum Sands – 449 km (279 miles)
We continue riding south along the gorgeous Serenity Coast of Queensland. The main attraction for today is a stop at a Heritage Village portraying life in the region from the 1850’s to the 1950’s. Set on 11.4 hectares the village includes numerous original and recreated buildings, businesses and homesteads as well as a collection of restored vintage vehicles, some of which are kept in operating condition and are used for rides within the village.
Day 13 – Tannum Sands to Tin Can Bay – 362 km (225 miles)
Who would have thought that a waste product from refining sugar cane could become a multi-million dollar industry? We will stop at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery to find out how & much more. No tasting today but you can pick up some souvenirs for later.
Day 14 – Tin Can Bay to Byron Bay – 388 km (241 miles)
Australia is home to many dolphin species and just north of the Sunshine Coast and this morning we get the chance to stand in the ocean with them when they come to shore looking for their breakfast.Today we will pass through the Gold Coast where, if it's not too busy, we'll stop for photos at the Surfers Paradise sign. Continuing south we ride back into New South Wales to Byron Bay where we will go out to Cape Byron, the easternmost point of the mainland of Australia.
Day 15 – Byron Bay to Taree – 453 km (282 miles)
The final few days of our ride will be spent travelling Australia's Highway 1, the Pacific Highway. Our national highway follows the New South Wales coastline through spectacular National Parks and offers glimpses of the ocean as it passes by. We will stop tonight just inland from the Barrington Coast in amongst beautiful forests and rivers of the Manning Valley.
Day 16 – Taree to Sydney – 327 km (203 miles)
Passing National Parks, State Forests and golden sandy beaches we continue riding south until we reach Lake Macquarie, the largest saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere. We will enjoy lunch on our last day dining on the shores of the lake with elevated views across the stunning Lake Macquarie.Our final run down the coast brings us back in to Sydney where we will drop the bikes off and we will shuttle you back to the hotel in Sydney. The last activity of the tour is the Farewell Dinner where we can re-live our trip and exchange details with the new friends we have just shared the road with for the last 16 days.
For more information about New South Wales and Queensland please see the Australian Tourism website:Tourism Australia - New South Wales Tourism Australia - Queensland