Tasmania

Sydney was still dark and the roads were empty, the perfect time to head south on the Hume. I stopped in a small town to take it easy on the first day, sleeping somewhere between Sydney and Melbourne. I reached Geelong the next day around midday and had lunch there. The Spirit of Tasmania was already docked. The ferry set off just before midnight, ready to cross Bass Strait. It was a great experience meeting other bikers making the same crossing.

The ferry arrived in Devonport in the morning. From there, I headed to the east of the island. I couldn't believe how beautiful the views were. The roads here are quiet and winding, running through farmland and patches of forest.

This trip was focused on off-road riding, and the route did not disappoint. Most of the day I rode on dirt roads and crossed a national park in the north-east of the island that I enjoyed a lot. By evening, I had made it to St Helens.

This was a long riding day. I left St Helens early and headed south along the coast. One of the highlights of the trip was Jacob's Ladder, a landscape that is difficult to describe in words. The ride to the top was a lot of fun. I spent about an hour there, taking pictures and resting a bit before continuing.

The road to Gordon Dam ends at the dam, literally. Beyond it there is nothing but wilderness. That night I struggled to find a place to put up the tent, but surprisingly found a campsite in the middle of a forest that I really liked.

The rainforest was even more atmospheric in the morning, with a bit of rain, but still very enjoyable. I headed towards Hobart, but first I met a workmate for a coffee. It was a nice moment to slow down, and great to meet a friend along the way.

From Hobart I continued up the east coast towards Little Swanport, where the Spoke Festival was already underway. Rolling into the campsite felt like arriving at a family reunion for people who ride motorcycles. Tents and bikes were everywhere, with a fire pit and stories shared over beers. I spent one night there, meeting a group of bikers I had already been in touch with before visiting Tasmania. For anyone riding in Tasmania, I highly recommend their project: Ride the Byroads.

I said goodbye in the morning and headed north-west, cutting through the Tasmanian Midlands on quiet back roads. The interior is sparse and beautiful. As I crossed the Central Highlands, the temperature dropped noticeably. By the afternoon, the landscape had changed again, flattening out as I approached the north coast.

Stanley announced itself with The Nut, a massive volcanic plug rising straight out of the sea like something from another planet. I rode into town as the sun was going down, which gave me just enough time to put up the tent before dinner.

The west coast is Tasmania's wild side. From Stanley I headed west along roads that twisted through thick forest and past abandoned mining towns. I spent a day exploring the west coast. It was a wild and windy day, and I had a lot of fun. I stopped several times along the coast in very remote places. From there, I looped back to Stanley.

The next day I rode to Devonport to catch the ferry in the afternoon. As the ferry pulled away from the dock, I stood on the upper deck and watched Tasmania shrink into the distance.

The ferry docked in Geelong at 6am sharp. I watched the sunrise over Bass Strait from the upper deck, then unloaded the bike and rode the short distance to the Hume Highway. The ride home was a straight run from Geelong to Sydney, a full day of motorway riding with the occasional stop for fuel and coffee.