Feature: great motorcycle riding routes

BELLS LINE OF ROAD
If you're heading west from Sydney over the Blue Mountains, the most direct route is the Great Western Highway. But if you've got a little more time up your sleeve, then take the Bells Line of Road - you'll certainly be glad you did.

The Bells is a Sydney biker favourite, and with its good surface, generally fast and sweeping corners and scenic backdrop, it's easy to see why.
Heading out from Sydney, pass through the historic towns of Windsor and Richmond on your way to Kurrajong, before making the steep ascent into the Blue Mountains at Bluebird Hill.

Once you've gained a bit of altitude you'll find yourself among the many fruit orchards of the Bilpin district, where a good café never seems to be far away. But soon enough the civilization fades away - and you're confronted with a roller coaster-like ride as you dissect the Blue Mountains at their majestic best.

Fast sweepers are the order of the day here, but cops are commonplace - take it easy. After passing the Zig Zag Railway you'll drop down a steep series of switchbacks into the old mining town of Lithgow, where tracking down a beer is never hard.

Note: dress warmly. The road hits 1000m at its highest point, and can be cold even in summer.

THE OXLEY HIGHWAY
Ah, the Oxley - all bikers should ride this road at least once before they hang up their helmets.

It runs for some 500km from Port Macquarie, on NSW's north coast, all the way to Nevertire on the edge of the Outback, but the bit we're interested in runs from Wauchope to Walcha (about 170km).

Heading west from the bustling town of Port Macquarie you'll soon hit the timber town of Wauchope. From here you'll enjoy a very pleasant run through the bush and farmland, before you start to climb into the Great Dividing Range - now the fun really begins.

There are some top views around here, and the road tightens right up too, with one or two tightening-radius hairpins thrown in to really keep you on your toes.
From here on it's nothing but corner after corner - in general the quality of the road is good and traffic is sparse.

Just at the right time the welcome sight of Gingers Creek swings into view, offering the chance to fuel up, have a bite to eat and bring your heart rate down to something like normal.

After this the madness continues, until things open out when you reach the New England plateau, and then the farming community of Walcha a bit further down the road.

There's only so much words and a couple of photos can convey about The Oxley - ride it for yourself, and understand why this is a true Aussie motorcycling Mecca.

Note: take particular care in damp conditions, when leaf litter through the bushy sections can pose an added danger.

BLACK SPUR
The Black Spur is no secret, and for good reason. With a top surface, tight corners and truly stunning trees and ferns lining its length, it's a great way to blow out the cobwebs - and it's only just over an hour away from Melbourne.
The section known as Black Spur is basically the Maroondah Highway from Healesville to the Black Spur Inn - some 22km of tight and twisty road that cuts through the beautiful Yarra Ranges National Park.

You can essentially divide this ride into two halves. The first half, as you head west from Healesville (and its myriad cafés and pubs), covers undulating terrain. The road weaves its way through the forest until you reach the base of the Spur itself.

From there you head up the ridge, where long straights end in one or more switchbacks, where you can really test your skills. The setting for all this is sublime - towering Mountain Ash trees, with a rich, green shawl of gigantic ferns spread at their feet.

Once you've reached the top of the hill the fun's nearly over, and once you've passed the Black Spur Inn the road and the countryside opens out. And to top it all off, the most direct way back to Melbourne is - you guessed it - back the way you came…

Note: the Black Spur is best tackled on a weekday  but keep an eye out for timber trucks. It's best avoided in winter too, when the road becomes slick and mossy.

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD
So who hasn't heard of the Great Ocean Road (GOR)? Stretching for 160km from Torquay, itself just over an hour's drive southeast from Melbourne, to the coastal centre of Warrnambool, the GOR does live up to the hype - provided your timing's right.

For a start, forget it if the weather's bad - the views disappear and the road becomes treacherous. Similarly, forget weekends too, when the GOR becomes clogged with tourist traffic. But tackle the Great Ocean Road on a sunny weekday, and biking nirvana is yours for the taking.

So, do you enjoy the road or the view? Fortunately there's ample of both, so why not enjoy the road on the run out, and the view on the run back?
From Torquay to Anglesea the GOR heads inland, but from Anglesea you'll encounter the odd tighter section as you roll by Aireys Inlet, and head on to Lorne. Breakfast devoured, the run from Lorne to Apollo Bay is the classic GOR run - sheer cliffs, glittering bays and a smooth surface.

Apollo Bay (also blessed with a massive selection of cafes, bars and restaurants) is the traditional U-turn point for biking day trippers, but why turn back? The road through the Great Otway National Park to Lavers Hill is also a blast, and then you've got the Apostles just a bit further up the road.

Note: for variety, return to Melbourne by turning inland at Skenes Creek. The road back to Geelong crosses the rugged Otways ranges, and is a great ride in itself.