The Oxley Highway

Named after the explorer, John Oxley, The Oxley Highway links up the Pacific and New England Highways with some of the best biking road in Australia.

Almost every riding condition and corner can be found on the Oxley. Starting in Port Macquarie, the highway goes from the plains to the mountains, twisting through three National Parks on its way from Wauchope to Walcha. Considering something of a motorcyclist’s pilgrimage, the impressive thing about arriving on the Oxley is how well it lives up to the stories. You may find yourself wondering if the corners will ever end.

There are a few towns along the way, where you can straighten out the kinks. The pub at Long Flat is a popular starting point, just before the road rises into the hill country leaving the flat plains behind. Ginger ‘s Creek roadhouse about 70 ks west of Port Macquarie is well-placed to break up the ride, coming just before the Cottanbimbang National Park and the New England tablelands.

Like the Gold diggers, drovers and bushrangers who travelled the Oxley before you, stopping for at break Gingers Creek is a must. Gingers Creek provides a licensed a la carte restaurant as well as buffet meals for groups and take away food for travellers on the move. They are open most days from 8.00am to 5.00pm and the restaurant opens longer hours for groups and for those with bookings.

On reaching Walcha the Oxley does kick on to Bendermeer, or you might want to check out Thunderbolt’s Way, heading south to Gloucester, and north to Armidale. Then again, it’s hard to resist turning around and doing one of Australia’s iconic rides in reverse.