'THE ULTIMATE ICONS OF VICTORIA'
GUIDED MOTORCYCLE TOUR ITINERARY
Please refer to the tour calendars on the Ultimate Tours Summary & Prices page for scheduled tour dates for 2009 and 2010. Please note the booking closure dates (twelve weeks prior to the tour departure date to ensure availability of accommodation and motorcycles).
Bookings for tour groups of six or more can be accommodated outside of the scheduled tour dates shown as required. (A minimum of twelve weeks' notice prior to the tour departure date is required to ensure availability of accommodation and motorcycles).
Please refer to the pricing tables for this tour on the Ultimate Tours Summary & Prices page for your group configuration and accommodation requirements. Please refer to the table notes accompanying the pricing table regarding rental machine availability and price inclusions/exclusions.
If you would like to book a tour then please contact us via the Book Guided Tour page with your requirements.
End of Tour
Vicmoto Motorcycle Tours bid you farewell after dinner on the final night knowing that you have seen more of Victoria in ten days than many Victorians have.
Your tour DVD will be completed over the next few days and a copy will be posted to each of you, along with a CD containing all the digital still photographs taken whilst on tour.
Have a safe journey back home and congratulations on taking “A Different Way Around.”
Steven & Martin Craig
"A Different Way Around"
Day Ten – Chirnside Park to Melbourne, 246 kilometres
The final day’s riding dawns but this tour is not yet over as we depart the pampered surrounds of the previous night's stay. We take a short ride through the famous wine producing area of the Yarra Valley en route to the very unique Healesville Sanctuary: Home to over 200 species of purely Australian mammals, reptiles and birds the Sanctuary is a world famous attraction. You leave your motorcycles and equipment under the watchful eyes of your tour guides whilst you spend the remainder of the morning getting up close and personal with the Australian wildlife.
Having had morning tea and lunch in the Sanctuary, we leave the Yarra Valley riding through Kinglake National Park and then onwards to Macedon Regional Park. Stopping at the top of Mount Macedon, take the 5 minute walk to Memorial Cross where you can see panoramic views of the region plus the high rise buildings of Melbourne CBD in the distance. We then descend to the Calder Freeway for the final leg back into Melbourne where it all began ten days ago.
Once the brief final rental documentation is completed, you collect your luggage and are then transferred directly to your CBD hotel for your final night of the tour.
Day Nine – San Remo to Chirnside Park, 245 kilometres
After a fantastic night, views of the ocean and breakfast, you reluctantly depart but are happy to be back on your BMW motorcycle. We leave Phillip Island behind, following the coast to the west around Western Port heading towards the Mornington Peninsula where we stop, by prior arrangement, for morning tea at a beautiful winery in Red Hill.
It is then on to admire the panoramic views of the Peninsula, Port Phillip Bay and the distant Melbourne CBD from Arthurs Seat. Descending to sea level we follow the beachfront north before heading inland, stopping for lunch, and then north again up into the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Today we complete the ride slightly earlier than on previous days, allowing you to fully take in the beautiful golf course setting and enjoy the facilities on offer at yet another fabulous resort.
Day Eight – Waratah North to San Remo, 309 kilometres
A slight change of pace today as you will be riding slower in certain areas and occasionally getting off your motorcycle to get closer to some of the views. We leave the Prom region and begin the 58km journey to Tidal River at the southern end of Wilson’s Promontory.
The first stop is Mt Oberon just a few minutes from Tidal River, which is as far as you can travel by road into this national park area. Having descended from Mt Oberon into Tidal River and now parked close to the visitor centre and café you can leave your motorcycles and equipment with the tour guides and take a look around and walk down to the beach if you wish.
Having had morning tea at the café, we head out of the park to Venus Bay followed by lunch prior to heading to Phillip Island. Half way around a circumnavigation of the island we park at The Nobbies where you can stroll along the magnificent boardwalks to view the penguin burrows, Seal Rocks, the pounding Bass Strait coastline and a blowhole.
By the end of the afternoon, we complete the journey around Phillip Island and yet another breathtaking overnight venue awaits you in this beautiful coastal region.
Day Seven – Marysville to Waratah North (Winter - May to Jul), 390 kilometres
Today begins with riding through some majestic forested areas, particularly as you travel through the Black Spur, a scenic ride 30 kilometres long with a corner ratio of 80%. Take care, enjoy the scenery and arrive safely at Healesville for your first brief visit (we’ll be back at Healesville on Day 10 but for a different reason). We are now en-route for the green pastures and rolling hills of Gippsland via the Strzelecki Ranges stopping for morning tea at Neerim South. Punctuated by lunch and two fuel stops, we spend the rest of the day riding along great roads that showcase the best that Gippsland has to offer.
Having completed an extremely varied and challenging day you arrive at a peaceful and pastured setting which is the home of your overnight stop in the heart of Prom Country.
Day Seven – Dinner Plain to Waratah North (Spring-Autumn - Aug to Apr), 376 kilometres
Today commences with a long winding descent into the town of Omeo. This is immediately followed by rolling alpine countryside with a combination of undulating straight roads, long sweeping bends and tight corners. With your tyres fully warmed up we stop for morning tea at Swifts Creek before heading for Bairnsdale, fuel and lunch….welcome to Gippsland.
The afternoon is spent travelling through the Gippsland countryside down into the coastal fringe area. Views of Wilsons Promontory creep in as we head into late afternoon. After taking on more fuel, we eventually approach Waratah North and your secluded overnight accommodation in the heart of Prom Country.
Day Six – Milawa to Marysville (Winter - May to Jul), 422 kilometres
You may be sorry to leave Milawa, but you will not be sorry that you experienced the fantastic ride from Milawa to Marysville. We head for the Hume Highway, taking a short fast run on the highway before exiting onto quiet rural roads through farming country peppered with trees. After a stop for the now routine and much anticipated morning tea we set off again for Bendigo, an historical city in the heart of Victoria.
Having had lunch in Bendigo we wend our way through even more rural Victorian communities towards the Goulburn Valley area, and along the Goulburn Valley Highway to the town of Yea. The final leg of today’s adventure sees the countryside become thicker with trees as we enter the outer reaches of the Yarra Ranges National Park. The park district is covered with forests of Mountain Ash and an abundance of fern gullies which are a natural habitat of the Superb Lyrebird. The small town of Marysville is the final destination for today and once again you’re presented with high quality accommodation in this quiet country village.
Day Six – Milawa to Mount Hotham & Dinner Plain (Spring-Autumn - Aug to Apr), 286 kilometres
Well rested, we depart Milawa for a complete change of scenery today as we head for the Alpine Region. Before we do that, however, we take morning tea at the Beechworth Bakery followed by a spectacular tour of the foothills which then brings us to the town of Bright for lunch. Having witnessed fantastic views of the various peaks in this area during the morning and ridden over excellent winding roads it is now time to start climbing.
The Great Alpine Road takes us through Harrietville and gradually ascends through the forested slopes that still show scars of large scale bushfires that occurred in 2004. As the tree line starts to thin, the views become much more expansive and the orange roadside snow poles become commonplace. Stop on the large car park at Mount Hotham Village and take in the breathtaking views, cool mountain air and view the facilities used during the snow season.
You climb back on your motorcycle for the short ride to Dinner Plain where you spend a wonderful and cosy night in alpine seclusion.
Day Five – Rest Day in Milawa
Your options today are all about enjoyment! Just a few of them include:
- Relaxing in the luxurious surroundings of your accommodation all day
- Walk into the town of Milawa, sit in a café and read the papers
- Stroll to the Milawa Cheese Factory
- Visit the Brown Brothers Winery
- Take a tour of the local area on your BMW motorcycle utilising routes already planned by Vicmoto Motorcycle Tours that will be downloaded to your GPS navigator for you.
- Explore the local area by motorcycle entirely on your own and devising your own timetable then head back home for dinner at the end of the day.
Your tour guides are available all day long and can either travel with you on local routes as guides or even take you out as pillion passengers to allow you to take in the views of the countryside more fully. Whatever you choose to do here, you will not be disappointed by your surroundings.
Day Four – Mildura to Milawa, 552 kilometres
Work your BMW motorcycle even harder today as we head through the produce growing districts around Mildura and take a brief foray into New South Wales. We cruise back into Victoria at Robinvale and then follow the line of the Murray River to Swan Hill where we refuel and take lunch.
The ride south-east sees the countryside slowly transition back into greener pastures with a greater density of trees. Eventually passing through larger regional population centres such as Echuca and Shepparton we get ever closer to the picturesque town of Milawa. Feeling pleasantly weary after the last two days, check into your home for the next two nights in this beautiful gourmet food and wine region.
Day Three – Dunkeld to Mildura, 448 kilometres
On the first of two longer and exciting days of dramatic contrasts, we depart Dunkeld and ride past the craggy peaks of the Grampians and into Halls Gap.
We then climb the forested winding road to Reids Lookout, which offers open elevated views across the Grampians before descending through the tree lined corners into Wartook. We arrive at Horsham for morning tea before topping up the fuel tanks for the first time today in preparation for the long run north to Mildura.
The countryside changes dramatically as it becomes drier and transforms into vistas that resemble the Northern Territory. Today you take lunch en-route at a time and place that suits you as you ride north through the wide open countryside. After a pleasantly tiring day head to a great welcome at your overnight accommodation.
Day One – Melbourne to Port Campbell, 283 kilometres
We depart Melbourne via the Westgate Bridge with spectacular views of Melbourne and ride to Geelong beachfront for morning tea prior to joining the Great Ocean Road .The winding ocean road is a Victorian icon with stunning ocean views. Lunch is taken at Apollo Bay along with refueling before continuing along the ocean road through the Otways National Park forested areas.
The Great Ocean Road is very winding and challenging in places and as such the relatively modest distance takes approximately eight hours to complete with stops and refreshments. Late in the afternoon we stop at the viewing area for the ‘Twelve Apostles’ shortly before arriving at your overnight accommodation at Port Campbell.
At 0745 tour members are transferred a short distance to the motorcycle collection point to collect their BMW rental motorcycles. A valid unrestricted motorcycle licence and an additional form of personal identification is required to complete the rental documentation - such as a passport.
Please be aware that a valid major credit card is required for pre-authorisation of a $2,000 security deposit. As with any rental agreement, this is fully refundable on the return of the motorcycle undamaged.
Once tour members have stowed their luggage in the panniers and top-box, any remaining baggage will be secured for the duration of the tour and departure will be approximately 0900.
Please refer to the Motorcycle Fleet and the Terms & Conditions pages for full details of the rental terms and conditions.
Day Two – Port Campbell to Dunkeld, 357 kilometres
After departing at 0830, we continue on the Great Ocean Road to Port Fairy for morning tea. After the break we follow the coast for another 70 kilometres before heading north into the Victorian countryside and through historic towns and villages.
We stop for lunch in the sleepy town of Coleraine before continuing north towards The Grampians. Great views of this national park are to be had as we ride towards Dunkeld and your overnight accommodation.
For any riders who wish to add a little more to the day then the Victoria Valley Loop provides an additional hour of riding through terrific scenery at the southern end of the Grampians Ranges. If you choose not to complete the loop then refuel, park up, and relax in the excellent surroundings on offer at your overnight accommodation.
'The Ultimate in BMW Touring'
This is not just a motorcycle tour; it is a total holiday experience!
It is all about indulgence; high quality riding, high quality accommodation, great food, terrific countryside and a variety of roads that are both challenging and satisfying.
View the 'Ultimate Icons of Victoria Tour Video' for a preview of this fantastic guided motorcycle tour.
The tour comprises of:
- 11 hotel nights
- 9 riding days
- 1 rest day halfway through the tour
- 3,900 kilometres on sealed roads
Each day’s riding is of at least 8 hours duration - actual daily distances covered vary according to the nature of the roads and terrain.
Additional rest days can easily be included in addition to the scheduled rest day, please contact us if you require any advice.
The tour begins and ends in Melbourne, the cosmopolitan capital of Victoria, and riders will experience many facets of rural Australia: Farming and coastal communities, forests, beaches, mountains and national parks as well as the immediate surrounds of Melbourne.
This tour operates at selected times from March to November inclusive. The Icons of Victoria Tours are not conducted during the summer months due to the extreme high temperatures encountered on the route which can peak at over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Please refer to Ultimate Tours Summary & Prices for our tours itinerary.
This tour circumnavigates the state of Victoria taking in all of the iconic regions. It is important to note that the exact route through some regions varies according to seasonal conditions.
The tour follows an alternate route on days six and seven during the winter months due to local conditions. Both variants of the tour take in the absolute best roads and countryside that Victoria has to offer.
The all inclusive tour price covers:
- Airport transfers
- Secure baggage storage whilst on tour
- Your BMW motorcycle
- Luggage panniers and top-box
- Complete rider equipment from helmet to boots (if required and subject to availability)
- BMW motorcycle insurance
- 24 hour BMW Roadside Assistance
- Emergency mobile telephone
- GPS navigators fitted to selected motorcycles (with pre-loaded detailed routes)
- Communications systems for music and GPS audio commands (if utilising Vicmoto Motorcycle Tours helmets)
- All meals
- All hotel accommodation
- All fuel
- Daily issue of backup maps, emergency telephone numbers by region and Standard Operating Procedures
- Embroidered mens or ladies polo shirt
- Embroidered cap
- Tour DVD and tour photographs CD for all tour members
Note: All motorcycle riders are required to be a minimum of 25 years of age.
Tour Exclusions
The tour price does not include:
- Domestic or international air fares
- Personal medical & evacuation insurance
- Personal effects insurance
- Personal spending money
- Alcoholic beverages
- Entry to tourism venues not organised by Vicmoto Motorcycle Tours
- Accommodation and other expenses incurred prior to or after completion of the tour
Your two tour guides, Steven and Martin Craig, travel at the front and rear of the tour group leaving tour members to travel at their own pace.
The tour guides are in regular contact with each other throughout the day by radio and mobile phone.
Tour members can either travel as a single group or in small groups with a GPS navigator in each group as they prefer.
Tour guides and tour members meet up during each day at scheduled stops for morning tea, lunch and during refuelling. These scheduled stops assist in allowing the whole tour group to remain within a reasonable distance of each other so that your tour guides can assist in the unlikely event that any problems occur.
Ideally, the tour group will depart at 0830 each day to allow plenty of time to complete the day’s riding at a comfortable pace. Most days take 8-9 hours of riding and rest stops to complete and the aim is for tour members to arrive at their overnight accommodation at around 1600 to 1700 each day. This allows time to relax, shower, enjoy a pre-dinner drink and take full advantage of each exciting venue prior to dinner.
Pre-Tour Activities
If travelling to Melbourne by air from an overseas or an interstate destination all tour participants will be personally met at the airport by a chauffeur who will transport you directly to your CBD hotel. If arriving more than one day prior to the commencement of the tour, accommodation is at the individual’s expense: The tour officially commences with the pre-tour welcome dinner, presentation and lodging the night prior to departure from Melbourne by motorcycle.
It is important to note that airport transfers are included in the tour price irrespective of when they occur. For example, participants may arrive several days before the tour departure date and leave Melbourne several days after completion of the tour.
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'THE ULTIMATE ICONS OF VICTORIA' GUIDED MOTORCYCLE TOUR |
