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amcnride
NSW Southern HighlandsW
hile part of this route is
signposted as Tourist Road,
the ride is actually an
awesome way to avoid the
swarms of tourist traffic
clogging the main towns of the Southern
Highlands on most weekends. We regularly use
it to skirt around the busy centres of Mittagong
and Bowral when we are riding from Sydney to
the excellent stretches of tarmac that run up
and down the escarpments on the east coast
between Kiama and Nowra.
We often ride out of Sydney on the Old
Hume Highway route though Yanderra and
Yerrinbool before starting this detour on Old
South Road just past the orchards at Alpine.
This road winds past rural properties before
intersecting Range Road at a large roundabout.
Turn left here to continue this ride, but note
that a right turn leads straight into Mittagong,
a good alternate starting point for this ride if
you’re coming from a different direction.
Range Road takes you west, past more
farming properties and along a ridge that
offers some great views across the surrounding
highlands. The road is a bit narrow in sections
so take care and watch for oncoming traffic on
the blind crests.At the T-intersection, turn left onto Tourist
Road for the run into the town of Robertson.
The road surface is generally good, with just
a few bumpy patches. There are some great
stands of trees along this scenic route and
one particularly cool set of pale bark gums at
the halfway mark. While the trees look great,
their proximity to the shoulder of the road
can cause a build-up of wet leaves and mulch
on the edge of the tarmac, so tread carefully
through this section.
From here you can either continue on to the
end of Tourist Road, which joins the Illawarra
Highway right at the top of Macquarie Pass, or
turn right at Kirkland Road and ride through
East Kangaloon to intersect the main highway
right in the centre of Robertson. We often
take the latter option so we can drop into the
famous Robertson Pie Shop before heading
down the Pass.
There are not a lot of corners or fast sections
of road along this detour, but it’s far more fun
than lining up behind weekend traffic along
the more populated major roadways.
It is a pleasant way to work gently into a day’s
riding before upping the pace when you get to
the more interesting sections of road that lead
down the mountain to the coast, and back.ESSENTIALS
STORY & PHOTOGRAPHYTIM MUNROThere is plenty of fuel available
at Mittagong, Moss Vale and
Albion Park, but nothing in
between. The distances are
short, though, so will present no
problem for most riders. There
are plenty of good spots to take
a break for food and drinks, and
accommodation is plentiful both
in the Highlands and along the
coastal strip.Fix it
South Coast Motorcycles
is on the Princes Highway at
Albion Park and there are sever
motorcycle shops in Mittagong
although opening hours acros
the weekend are limited.Sleep
The Jamberoo Pub offers
two types of accommodation,
pub-style rooms and 3½-star
motel rooms. It is well situated
at the bottom of Jamberoo
Pass and has a good bistro
menu for lunch or dinner.
12 Allowrie St, Jamberoo.
(02) 4236 0270Fuel Up
Mittagong Truck Stop 192
Old Hume Highway, Mittagong.
(02) 4872 1113
Ampol 31 Princes Hw y, Albion
Park. (02) 4257 1135Eat
The Robertson Pie Shop
atop Macquarie Pass is
motorcycle-friendly and many
riders use it on weekends as a
venue to catch up with mates
and ride the excellent roads in
the area. The coffee and food
is good, with plenty of seating
inside and out – 4400 Illawarra
Highway, Robertson.
(02) 4885 1330
The Station Coffee House in
Mittagong does great coffee and
food, as well as an interesting
range of fresh juices – 12 Station
St, Mittagong. (02) 4871 1171hal
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Just two hours from Sydney’s CBD you will fi nd
these super-fun and picturesque mountain passesRiding the Range