The Tweed and Gold Coasts, and their respective hinterlands, really are some of Australia’s premier motorcycle playgrounds, with some fantastic rides and other adventures on offer, pretty much everywhere you roam. From the twisty run up to the majestic views over the coastline at Cape Byron, to the natural forest wonderland of Mt Tambourine, west of the Gold Coast, there is so much choice for visiting riders and tourists in general.
And the countryside can change so quickly sometimes that, almost without noticing, you’ll go from flat cane fields, to the spectacular mountain ranges straddling the NSW/Qld border, taking in majestic Mt Warning to the south, up to Mt Tambourine in the north. And along the way your eyes will be in wonder at your surroundings, while your taste buds will be in meltdown at all the treats that await in the many small towns, villages, restaurants, cafes and pubs along the way. And for trail and adventure bike riders, there are plenty of non-sealed diversions to keep you occupied.
But if you tire of saddle time, or just want to give the bike a break, why not grab a towel and head down to any one of countless beautiful beaches along the coast. Or you might want to grab a rod and try your luck on the tailor, salmon or even kingfish that lurk so close to shore that you can almost reach out and touch them! If old man river is more your style, you can take any number of river cruises, book time on a houseboat or see if you can catch an 80cm flathead or muscular bream for dinner.
Before any of this though, you need to know about the many exciting Bike Fest Oz! 2023-only Special Events that organisers are working hard on for our spectacular inaugural Festival. Rest assured, there will be plenty of riding and other events and activities, some only open to official pre-registered BFO! 2023 visitors. Such as our Rolling Thunder Parade to start BFO! 2023 off (the deposit for which also includes an exclusive early bird premier value accommodation deposit, plus T-shirt and BFO! Info Pack), and for which we are working closely on with local councils and police to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible. The Parade will run from near Tweed Heads to a beautiful coastal location no more than 50km away. As with other selected events, BFO! will advise all pre-registered and other interested parties of more details for the events that require pre-registration and payment. The events involve organisers paying in advance for various services, including police, security and first aid attendees, so we must require that those participating contribute to the cost of the entry. You should also know that the paid events will benefit local charities, including some of the many flood victim relief groups that are still working hard to help all the victims of the disastrous floods of early 2022.
But, of course, there will also be a considerable schedule of other events and activities that organisers are planning as free entry and thus will not require pre-payment, such as our Classic and Custom Ride-in Show, Tattoo Competition and Exhibition, motorcycle-themed Art Exhibition, V-Twin Hooligans Stunt Spectacular, IHRA Night of Nitro and Thunder, various Karaoke and Trivia nights, amateur fishing contests, motorcycle industry and local craft exhibits, food and produce markets and even a barefoot bowls competition.
Organisers are also hoping to offer special events and activities for visiting Harley Owners Group members, given the theme for the inaugural Bike Fest Oz! is: “Celebrating 120 Years of the World’s Best Damn Motorcycle!”.
We are also working hard with councils and others towards offering two-wheeled visitors the chance to actually experience beach riding on a suitable part of the spectacular local coastline, just like at Daytona Beach Bike Week, which famously invites visitors to not only ride along the beach, but even park, spread out a towel and marvel at the passing bike parade. As with some of the other events, numbers for our Bike The Beach rides will be limited and various special compulsory permits, and other arrangements to ensure the pristine beach and coastal environment remain untouched after our visit, will mean that BFO! organisers will have to ask that pre-registered participants pay for the opportunity to ride along the beach with the beautiful coastal greenery on one side and the majestic Tasman breakers on the other. And we’ll even have an Official BFO! Photo Point and Bike Wash so as riders exit the beach they don’t take any of the sand – or salt – with them.
With pre-registrations and payments for our Rolling Thunder Parade already filling fast, details of other selected official pre-registered BFO! 2023 events will be released soon, but they will include an Official Bike Fest Oz! Gala Opening Ball, including announcement of the BFO! Grand Marshall for 2023, Bike Fest Oz! Poker Run (after-run prize-giving and entertainment included), and a final spectacular concert and party, which will be themed to celebrate Harley-Davidson’s 120th birthday, plus the official completion and closing of the inaugural Bike Fest Oz!. Organisers are working hard behind the scenes, but hope to have a very special (and secret) bike-riding celebrity close our Bike Fest Oz! 2023 with an appropriate rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack, including a final fireworks spectacular. We’ll also be announcing our theme for Bike Fest Oz! 2024 at the concert.
Beyond all of the above events and activities, if you’re keen to make the most of your time at BFO! 2023, we urge you to pre-register and fill in your details so we can keep you up to date with other exciting developments and plans as they emerge over coming months in the lead-up to Bike Fest Oz! 2023.
The clock is ticking … can’t wait!
