With seemingly endless stretches of open road, from coast to coast, Australia is the perfect continent to explore by land, either with four wheels or two. Motorcycle touring is really popular in Australia, so wanted to provide some tips for those considering exploring by bike, since a few readers have asked me about this recently. If you’re into café racer bikes, a sporty BMW, or the classic purr of a Harley, you’ll find plenty of options in Australia.
Obtaining a License
If you’ve moved to Australia and plan on purchasing a bike, or even just renting, you’ll need a full motorcycle license. This can be a bit tricky, as laws vary by state and territory. Looking at the state of NSW, for an example, if you have had a full motorcycle license for over three years from the US, you are exempt from the motorcycle skills test and learner’s license period. However, this may not be the case if you’ve had your license under three years. Double check with your state of residence for all the details.
If you are a tourist, rather than a resident, you should be able to rent on your full American license. Or, you might need an international driver’s license.
Classic Bike Routes
From the dreamy ocean views along the Great Ocean Road or the iconic red dirt of the Outback, the varied Australian landscape means nearly endless opportunities for riding.
Rather than re-create the wheel (pardon the pun), please check out these sites for some travel planning inspiration:
Once you’re up to date with the rules of the road and have purchased or hired a bike, as well as ordered any crucial motorcycle parts online, you’re ready to cruise around town.
Extra Precautions in the Outback
If you are headed into a really remote area of the country, be aware of some extra safety tips. The Australian countryside can present unique challenges to those not from here. The Outback, which encompasses most of inland Australia, is remote and can be desolate. It’s one of the most epic areas of Australia. I’d recommend Uluru and Kings Canyon in NT as a must-see spot, as well as the Kimberley, in northern WA.
The sun is extremely strong, so always ride covered up and liberally apply sunscreen, even on overcast days. Drink plenty of water- while Australian tap water is completely safe to drink, in remote areas, you may encounter bore water, which is pumped from underground. It’s not usually the best to drink, so try to avoid. (I learned this lesson the hard way…)
Safety Tips
Further north, in the Top End, the weather can be more tropical. In the rainy season, which makes up most of the Australian summer months, roads can sometimes flood and become impossible to pass. Do your research before setting out, and talk to locals about what you’re planning on. When riding in remote areas, plan in advance where you’ll stay, or where you’ll camp. This is especially important in areas that are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander townships, as sometimes permission will be needed to enter these areas (although visitors are usually welcomed.) One example of this would be Beagle Bay, in the Kimberley region of WA, just north of the popular tourist town Broome.
Keep your riding to daylight hours, as many animals (kangaroos, emu, wallabies, etc.), are most active in dawn and dusk, and most outback roads will not be lit. I nearly had two emus run right into my car once, driving through South Australia’s Stuart Highway- literally anything is possible out there. As with driving, also take care to take frequent breaks and only ride when you’re well-rested.
Definitely carry a tool kit with you. Ideally, make sure your or someone you’re with has some sort of a rudimentary knowledge of bike mechanics, in case of emergency. Some of the best bike tires online can be found via BikeBandit , if you want to make sure you have everything you need before setting off.
Additional Tips:
• If you’re visiting down under with a lot of luggage, consider a luggage storing service, or travelling with a tour company. They can transport your luggage with you, or hire a transport vehicle to accompany your party.
• Drinking and driving is heavily patrolled across the country, and the NSW limit is .05 -lower than parts of America. Part of the fun of road trips is a cold beer, I know, but save this for the end of the day, once the bike is parked. Police often set up roadside tests for both drugs and alcohol.
• The weather can change quickly in Australia. Despite its sunny, happy-go-lucky reputation, it can get bitterly cold here- check the forecast before setting out.
Have fun! Australia is so great to explore, and visiting tiny towns and off the beaten path places by bike would be an amazing thing to do.
What’s your favorite place to explore via your bike?