Day 1: Brisbane to Tamworth — Vic State HOG Rally or Bust

It starts the way all good rides do — early, cold, and with the smell of petrol and leather in the air.

The crew rolled into BP Stapylton before the sun had properly committed to the day. Bikes lined up, bags strapped, helmets on. The mission: make it to Tamworth by nightfall, first leg of the run down to the 2026 Victorian State HOG Rally in Shepparton. A few hundred kilometres of highway warm-up before things get properly interesting.

The Crew Assembles

There’s something about a group of Harleys lined up at a servo that just looks right. Black steel under grey skies, the low rumble of Milwaukee iron ticking over. We had a good mix of machines — Street Glides, a couple of Ultra Limiteds — all blacked out, all loaded for a multi-day haul. The HOG chapter vests were on display: patches earned the old-fashioned way, kilometres at a time.

First fuel stop done, we rolled south.

Coast Road to Ballina

Rather than punch straight down the M1 and be bored to tears, we took the coast road — always the right call. The Pacific Highway through northern New South Wales opens up beautifully once you’re past the Gold Coast sprawl. You get the occasional sweeping bend, green hills closing in on both sides, and that feeling of actually going somewhere.

We made Ballina mid-morning and swung into the Big Prawn for the obligatory ABC Challenge photo. If you don’t know the ABC Challenge — it’s a HOG chapter tradition of collecting photos at Australia’s Big Things. The Big Prawn at Ballina is a classic: an enormous crustacean perched on poles above the carpark, doing absolutely nothing to help local property values. Harley parked up front, rider giving the thumbs-up. Photo logged. Challenge point secured.

The selfie at the Ballina Travel Centre was also captured — Wildbean Cafe, Maccas, KFC, Zambrero, and Boost all competing for attention on the sign behind me. The glamour of motorcycle touring.

Grafton Fuel Stop

BP South Grafton was next. This is the kind of stop that becomes the photo — four riders grinning outside the servo, HOG vests front and centre. The patches on our vests tell the story better than any caption: 2025 Ride Captain, Head Road Captain, Photographer, HOG Chapter Australia. These aren’t cosplay — they’re earned.

Quick fuel, quick laugh, back on the bikes.

The Back Way: Up to Ebor

Here’s where the ride actually becomes a ride.

Instead of the straightforward inland route, we went the back way — through to Ebor via the Guy Fawkes River plateau. The Waterfall Way is one of those roads that makes you remember why you ride. Tight bends climbing through eucalypt forest, the air dropping ten degrees as you gain altitude, mist hanging over the gorges below. It’s proper riding — the kind that demands attention and rewards it with scenery you don’t get on the freeway.

We pulled into the Upper Ebor Falls picnic area for a break. The Harley parked up against the bollards next to the national park sign looked completely at home in that setting — all black metal and chrome against the rust-coloured timber posts and eucalypts. Then the short walk to the falls overlook: Ebor Falls is a genuine surprise if you’ve never seen it. The river drops over basalt columns in a broad curtain — moody, dark water over ancient rock, surrounded by sub-alpine bush. Worth every kilometre of altitude gain to get there.

A selfie at the info board, a few minutes taking it in, then back to the bikes. Armidale next.

Armidale Fuel Up

The bikes needed fuel again by Armidale — a sensible stop near the airport, Ampol station, overcast skies and that cold plateau air. Three Harleys lined up in a row next to the sign: Armidale Regional Airport, Ampol, Cafe & Bar, Secure Car Parking. The aesthetic is pure regional NSW — practical, unpretentious, completely honest.

One of the crew headed off to sort something, the rest of us stretched legs and downed a coffee before the final push.

Into Tamworth

The run from Armidale down to Tamworth is pleasant enough — you drop off the New England Plateau and the temperature comes back up, the country opens out into wider plains. By the time we rolled into Tamworth it was early evening and everyone was ready to park it.

South Tamworth Bowls Club for dinner. The bowlo: great Australian institution. Cold beers, hot meals, pokies you don’t touch, lawn bowls you walk past and nod at respectfully. Exactly what you want after a full day in the saddle. The conversation was loud, the food was better than expected, and the plan for Day 2 was hatched over the table.

Early night. Tomorrow we keep heading south.

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Day 1 Stats

• Start: BP Stapylton, Brisbane QLD
• Finish: Tamworth NSW
• Key stops: Ballina (Big Prawn), South Grafton BP, Ebor Falls, Armidale
• Highlights: Waterfall Way, Ebor Falls, South Tamworth Bowlo dinner
• Relive track: View the full route on Relive

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Day 2 coming soon — Tamworth to somewhere further south, more kilometres, more tarmac.