Melbourne to Cairns via coastal route

[RichC]

Hi guys,

I'm planning a solo cycle from Melbourne to Cairns, leaving early next year 2013.
I'm not really interested in going direct and would way prefer to hug the east coastline as much as possible.

Although I enjoy cycling and did LEJOG a few years back, this is more about the journey for me and I don't want to rush it. I'd like to spread the journey over 3 months which would work out at roughly 40km a day (the whole way being about 3500km), also I will be camping and cooking for myself which has to factor when considering a route, my budget for everything is $40 a day.

I'd like to know if anyone has done the same and could offer any advice on the best route to take, books and guides which would be useful (I already have cycling Australia the Lonely Planet guide) and or any general advice on touring Australia as it will be my first time in the country and i'm a tad worried about spiders & snakes .

Cheers for reading

Rich

 

[Aushiker]

All the best with your ride.

I would suggest that you also check out CGOAB if you haven't already so and also read/post in the Australian Cycling Forums. They have an Australian Touring sub-forum and funnily enough they have locals with lots of local knowledge hanging out there

BTW dropbears are a bigger worry than snakes and spiders and oh road-trains and grey nomads rate up there as well.

What time of the year are you thinking of going?

Regards
Andrew

 

[Stephen Coulson]

Hi Rich this is a great ride. You will enjoy it. We only did a part of it and in reverse. We cycled from Sydney to Melbourne during Feb to April 2011. Like you we took our time. Its all about the journey..... We also did Tasmanai (amazing) and Melbourne to Adelaide.

Costs - Australia is expensive, not helped by the strong dollar. Difficult to set a general guidline as we stayed in a variety of different types of accommodation. We camped 80%, stayed in hostels, and couchsurfed. Over our total 90 days we spent on average $100 per day between two of us and an average $31 per day on accommodation. Camp sites are generally between $15 to $30 per night so as I say not cheap. Wild camping is possible in some areas and couch surfing is possible in the larger towns and cities. Food and alcohol is expensive. $40 per day is tight (I assume this doesn't include your cost of getting there and your visa), but if you maximize your use of wild camp, surfing and cheaper camp sites you should be OK.

Don't need to worry about the snakes and spiders. In all the time we were there we only saw dead snakes and never saw any spiders while camping. We did take the usual precautions. i.e. kept the tent door closed at all times and checked our bags and shoes before putting them on. They are generally more scared of you than you are of them. Being on the coast helps. More problems with Possums than anything.

Traffic is no worse than in the UK, which I happen to believe has some of the most inconsiderate drives in the World. the trucks can be intimidating Particulalry logging trucks. Simple rule if your on a narrow road you'ii hear 'em. Get off the road. Also develop what I call the defensive wobble. Motorosits seeing a wobbling cyclist tend to give them more space.

I had never heard of drop bears until I read this post, but having read about them my perception is that if you are sticking to the coast and mainy on roads, which you will be you would be very unlikely to come across them in the areas you will be travelling.

You might like to have a look at our web site entries covering our ride:

http://www.my-bicycling-adventure.com/sydney-to-genoa.html
http://www.my-bicycling-adventure.com/Genoa-to-Melbourne.html

Anyway good luck.

Steve

 

[RichC]

Hey,

Andrew CGOAB is a great site & really helpful so cheers for pointing me in the right direction, urmm as for Drop bears never even heard of them, still not entirely sure they exist, are they like Bigfoot? Also I'm planning on leaving beginning of next year which probably isn't ideal with it being peak season however I just cant wait any longer and I will of saved enough money by then.

Steve your website and log might prove invaluable so thank you very much I will be having a good read and taking notes. Did you have a predetermined route or did you decide everyday while you were out there? Your $100 per day spend for the two of you is reassuring as well, I'll be travelling on a working holiday visa so the option is there to recoup money if and when I need to.

Cheers guys

 

[Aushiker]

Andrew CGOAB is a great site & really helpful so cheers for pointing me in the right direction, urmm as for Drop bears never even heard of them, still not entirely sure they exist, are they like Bigfoot?

Also I'm planning on leaving beginning of next year which probably isn't ideal with it being peak season however I just cant wait any longer and I will of saved enough money by then.

Heading north that should be okay ... more an issue of temperatures, cyclones and floods in late summer/autumn. Well worth asking for advice in the Australian Cycling Forums. There are some experienced touring cyclists there who have ridden this route/live along it.

Andrew

 

[highadventure]

Hi RichC. Did you do the trip in the end? As I am going to cycle from cairns to melbourne in August 2014 and would be grateful of any feedback.

 

[ehaslund]

Hey highadventure. Could I keep in touch with you this year? I am planning a trip from melbourne to cairns in march and april 2014. I just want to get some advice after you do it. my email is sk8bordfreak5@yahoo.com. Thanks!

 

[Dayvo]

I used this site a few years ago in preparation for my jaunt in Oz. It is a very useful site.

http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/

 

[rich p]

Hey highadventure. Could I keep in touch with you this year? I am planning a trip from melbourne to cairns in march and april 2014. I just want to get some advice after you do it. my email is sk8bordfreak5@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Call me a fool but March/April 2014 comes before August 2014!