Brisbane to Melbourne

Planning a cycle route in Australia is a bit like eating an elephant. Where do you start? On closer inspection many choices are dictated by the daunting size and physical obstacles, and an obvious ‘must do’ route soon emerges. The 1400 miles from Brisbane to Melbourne offer sufficient challenges to qualify as a real adventure, but with manageable terrain, sensational scenery and some remarkably cycle friendly roads.

As with all Bike Adventures routes, this one has been thoroughly researched by our own staff from the saddle of a bike. Tough work!

After a day in Brisbane to acclimatise and see a little of the city we head south, along the fabulous Gold Coast. You will be amazed by the quality and number of cycle paths and, when we must take to a highway, cyclists are well catered for with their own private cycle lane in many places. We soon pass from Queensland to New South Wales and remain, more or less, on the coast all the way to Manly, from where we take a ferry into downtown Sydney, affording excellent views of the bridge and opera house.

We have a rest day in Sydney but this also creates the opportunity for those looking for a shorter trip to arrive or depart.

From Sydney we return to the coast on a second ferry, to pass the famous Bondi Beach. Between Sydney and Melbourne the terrain is more rugged with more hills and some long stretches between services. For our last few days we turn West into Victoria before finishing in Melbourne, surely the most cycle-friendly city in the Southern Hemisphere?

Daily mileage for this route is 65, though the location of towns with suitable accommodation means that individual days range from 50 to 80. Option to join or depart in Sydney.