As the daylight hours grow longer and the icicles melt from the mountaintops, the trails snaking across the ranges of Bright & Surrounds beckon to our adventurous spirits. Now is the season for High Country adventure riding, and for those who dare to live the dream, it may possibly be one of the best motorcycle rides of your life.
“It’s just like Disneyland,” says Bright & Surrounds local Miles Davis, who besides being a legendary adventure bike rider, motorcycle coach and ride guide, was also a former pro downhill mountain biker.
“We’ve got some of the best on-road riding in the country and we’ve got some of the best off-road riding in the country. Wherever you come from, this place will blow people’s minds.”
And Miles should know, having ridden through the far flung reaches of the earth, like Albania, Mongolia, Namibia and beyond.
From on-road twisties like the Great Alpine Road over Mount Hotham to the dirt tracks that traverse the peaks to Dargo or Mitta Mitta, the route options in Bright & Surrounds are endless. So where do you start in a region as wild and wonderful as ours?
The answer comes down to you and your bike, says Miles, with some people set-up with smaller bikes for rougher stretches of dirt and others with larger bikes to maximise the smooth flow of the bitumen.
“It’s what it wants to be to each person. There’s the ability to put together so many different loops and variations of rides in this area. There is just so much to choose from in every direction. We’re very spoiled,” he says.
ROUTE YOUR ADVENTURE
Almost any destination can be turned into an adventure ride. For instance, rather than come up the highway from Melbourne to Bright, Miles says you can ride as the crow flies: head off-road along the back of Lake Eildon toward Whitfield and take Rose River Road towards Mount Buffalo, where you can get onto the bitumen at Lake Buffalo or head over Goldie Spur into the Buckland Valley.
Once here, a popular ride carves its way through the Alpine National Park to Dargo. To get there, you may like to experience the velvet curves of the stunning Great Alpine Road, or you may prefer to scout your way along the dirt trails from the Buckland Valley, Wandiligong or Harrietville, then join the Dargo High Plains Road 4WD track.
“If you’re a good rider or a good rider on a small bike, you could pop out to Blue Rag Range because that’s an iconic High Country location. Or you could skip it because it’s just as incredible to arrive in Dargo on the High Plains Road,” says Miles.
Speaking of Blue Rag Range…
THE SECRET TO THE PERFECT ADVENTURE
This bit may not sound as exciting as you hope, but it is absolutely true: the secret to a great adventure is to be prepared. Make sure your bike is suited to the types of roads and trails you plan to ride, ride within your ability, plan ahead, carry the right gear, (especially in alpine areas where snow, bushfires, windstorms and blizzards can turn on a dime and where phone reception is often non-existent), and have a Plan B, particularly in hot weather or if the track conditions aren’t what you expect.
“For instance, people get online and they read about Blue Rag Range, and unfortunately for some people, it ends up being a disaster because it’s too technical,” says Miles. “So really, it’s about the rider choosing the appropriate trail for themselves.”
For novice riders, or riders who are new to alpine terrain, Miles says to err on the side of caution so you don’t end up stuck or injured. Start with smoother gravel roads, mix in some bitumen and don’t be afraid to turn back if the track gets too steep, too rough, or if the weather takes a turn. And never reply on GPS auto-routing to plan your route!
THE MORE THE MERRIER
If all this adventure talk has you revving to head to the High Country, but you’re worried you don’t know enough about the tracks, that you may not have the right experience, or perhaps you don’t have a capable riding partner, then don’t stress. A number of reputable companies run adventure riding tours through the High Country, tailoring the rides to the group to ensure you have an awesome time.
About Miles
Miles Davis has been riding motorcycles—whether adventure, on road, motocross or enduro—for 45 years and coaching for 25, and is a qualified Level 2 Motorcycling Australia Coach and BMW Motorrad International (IIA) Certified Instructor. You’ll sometimes catch him running the occasional adventure tour through Bright & Surrounds for BMW Safari.
Adventure rider Miles Davis has ridden all over the world, including Namibia, but calls Bright & Surrounds home.
