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John-DownUnder

Member Since:	March 1, 2007
Membership Level:	Member - score: 30
Region:	Queensland, Australia
Motorcycle:	Honda ST1300
Best Route Ever Ridden:	Swiss alpine passes
Users Website Address:	http://www.bestbikingroads.com
Latest Entries by this user:	Walcha - Gloucester ( Thunderbolt's Way ) (Australia) November 24, 2007 This is an excellent 150 km ride through some nice hills and rural countryside. Be sure to stop briefly at the lookout 55 km north of Gloucester. 85 : Esk - Hampton ( Esk Hampton Rd ) (Australia) November 24, 2007 Police cameras occasionally at Esk end - so beware in the 60 & 80 kph zones. Ravensbourne National Park at the top end worth a quick stop for the view too. Lions Road : Rathdowney - Wiangaree (Australia) April 3, 2007 This is a sealed 45 km shortcut across the border ranges that is substantially maintained by funds generated by the local Kyogle and Beaudesert Lions Clubs. As such, it has some very bumpy sections and potholes may remain unfilled for some time. This road is thin with quite a few unsurveyed corners, dips, rises, wooden bridges, cattle wandering between the cattle grids (leaving their deposits on the road) and creek crossings. Regardless of all this, the Lions Road is popular for its tight endless corners and as an interesting and scenic shortcut between Rathdowney and Kyogle. To start at the northern end, either turn left off the Mount Lindsay Hwy about 6.5 km before Rathdowney onto Innisplain Road (and travel south for 6.1 km); or head east out of Rathdowney on Running Creek Road for 3.0 km then turn right at 'T' to head south. It is then about 20.7 km to the state border crossing where there are donation tins located to each side of the road (to help with maintenance costs). The road travels through the rain forest, over the hills, along various creeks, and also is aligned closely to the interstate railway. A turnoff 2.2 km south of the border crossing takes you a hundred metres or so to a lookout that makes a good rest stop with a view of the border railway loop below. The marked end of this route is 18 km north of Kyogle (3.7 km north of Wiangaree) along the Summerland Way. 58 / 6 : Dayboro - Maleny (Australia) March 30, 2007 This popular 78 km ride is actually two separate sections: at the start its the Mount Mee Road (31 km of lovely twisties) and the Stanley River Road at the other end (22 km of more superb twisties). Connecting these two sections is about 20 km of main road from D'Aguilar through the small town of Woodford (good for a snack stop) and fast straights up the Kilkoy-Beerwah Road. The route runs at times along the ridges and so provides nice views of the surrounding areas, including the Sunshine Coast from a lookout at Mount Mee. This run has unfortunately been hammered by the police due to the number of motorcycle accidents, particularly fatalities - so take care. 74 / Waterfall Way : Grafton - Armidale (Australia) March 30, 2007 This 194 km ride starts in the Clarence River valley and travels south-west up the Great Dividing Range to the New England Tableland. It is sealed all the way, except for the odd short sections being resealed from time to time. There are some bumpy sections, mainly at the Grafton end, and a variety of straights, bends and some twisty sections. The route heads out through Coutes Crossing before crossing the Nymboida River (a popular location for kayaking and canoeing). About 45 km into the run, the road rises through the twisties into the state forest. Look out for the odd logging truck. After passing two turn-offs to Dorrigo, this route becomes the Waterfall Way as it sweeps through the hilltops and usually lush forest and green paddocks. At about 118 km you reach the small town of Ebor where there is standard fuel (open only during business hours). The turnoff to Ebor Falls is just through town and the falls themselves only a few hundred metres from the main road. Another 39 km to the Wollomombi Falls turnoff - worth a look (about 1 km along a partially sealed, partially good dirt surface to the carpark area, then a very short walk). A final 38 km run through some nice sweepers with elevation changes gets you into Armidale.
GPS Roadbooks:	Lions Road and Running Creek Road (Australia) December 14, 2007 Many very tight unsurveyed corners with a few short straights. Beautiful rural, rain forest, running creeks, hills. Road Surface ok but with some potholed stretches repaired and occasionally rough. Not good on some corners and over crests, police presence rare. A challenging road but okay if taken very easy. Some difficult corners under rail bridges, over creek crossings and around mountain curves. Cattle grids and steep (roller-coaster) sections. Wet leaf litter and cow dung in places. cattle on road and some wildlife(wallabies especially) Overall: Worth checking out if you like a challenge. Grafton to Glenn Innes (Australia) December 14, 2007 Lots of excellent corners - from sweepers to tight, with changes in grade also, A few straights but only a small few of any length. Beautiful rural, open grassland, thick forest and national park with very good road surface and mostly good visibility except in tight mountain climbing, not seen any Police. Slippery surface if wet so use caution and always be aware of possible wildlife. Overall: Exceptional