Originally Posted by
cycotourer
Late spring/early summer you may experience some wild summer storms in the afternoons along the NSW coast. However what may be worse is that late summer through autumn is our wet season and you may get prolonged rain along the coast. Having said that you wouldn't get a better climate anywhere in the world than the north coast of NSW and through SE QLD during autumn. Beautiful warm days and mild overnight. In fact our winter days are perfect for cycling, average low to mid 20's C.
Generally the cycle tourists (and grey nomads) start coming through here around March in an effort to reach western QLD and the NT in winter. The grey nomads wait until the summer holiday traffic is off the roads. Cycle touring during late December to late January would be awful given the volume of summer school holiday traffic on Australia's highways which are not all that bicycle friendly at the best of times.
Some Aussies will recommend that you stay further south during summer, but we watch the weather charts daily and to be honest for the past two summers Victoria and South Australia have been 10 degrees hotter through summer than here on the North Coast. In fact we thought it was hilarious, because a friend of ours migrated from England to Grafton and after 2 summers she moved to South Australia 2 years ago for the better climate!!! It is SOOOO much hotter and dryer down there, especially for the past 2 summers that she has been down there.
You need to read the full story on that, however. Most climate figures in Australia are somewhat misleading as they only give the maximum temperatures, but ignore things like humidity and average temperatures. Yes, the maximums in Victoria will be hotter in summer, but it won't be that relentless, muggy, humid head that we get in Queensland, and the nights will be much cooler which is important if you like to ride on more than 5 hours of sleep per night. Also, the weather down south changes much more frequently, so you're less likely to get a run of consecutive hot days.
Originally Posted by
cycotourer
If you prefer to miss the far north coast you can take the back road from Coffs Harbour to Brisbane via the Summerland Way, though there are some big hills over the mountains on the border. Or cut across from Kyogle to Murwillumbah through Uki (Mt Warning National Park at Uki is a must if you go that way) ... absolutely beautiful! If you want to get to Byron Bay, you can still do that from the back road. There is a steep, gravel road, (very scenic) with very little traffic, from Uki to Mullumbimby, then its a short ride to Byron Bay.
That whole area around Mullumbimby is worth a few extra days. You can drop into True Wheel Cycles at Mullum for a guide to some stunning places to ride in the area, both on and off-road. The area around Minyon Falls (which has a lovely camping ground) is worth a visit, as is the Border Ranges National Park north of Kyogle. The above mentioned gravel road between Uki and Mullumbimby has some scenic detours to waterfalls itself. Another way to get to Byron Bay is to take a back road from Casino to Lismore, then another scenic back road through Clunes (I think) will take you to Mullumbimby and on to Byron Bay. There are a zillion scenic back roads in that area to explore. I've been at it 10 years and still haven't seen half of them.
Originally Posted by
cycotourer
Alternatively from Murwillumbah take the back road through the Gold Coast hinterland. Very lush and beautiful National Parks through there. By the time you tour I hope to have a web site available with maps and directions for these Pacific Highway alternatives and links to relevant touring blogs.
There are many back roads through the Gold Coast Hinterland worth exploring, but be prepared to climb! Also note that it's likely to be massively overcrowded in December/January, so it's worth waiting a couple of months. I'd vote for spending that time in Tasmania before heading north.
The Binna Burra and O'Reillys campgrounds at Lamington National Park are the gateway to some of the country's best hiking/bushwalking, and even if you don't fancy that, the rides to get to are worth doing regardless. Springbrook is another place I like to spend time, with some spectacular waterfalls not far from the road.
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Last edited by Chris L; 06-12-08 at 04:02 AM.
Reason: Wasn't red.