19 – 25 March 2023
If you are looking for a good excuse to take your adventure bike out for a long ride then you need to check out where we’re headed in March. We’ve pulled together an incredible route starting in Dubbo, exploring the amazing Gammon and Flinders Ranges, seeing the harsh elements of the Strzelecki Desert, visiting the iconic Cameron Corner and finishing in Lightning Ridge. We’ll be following remote tracks, seeing lots spectacular scenery and chasing beautiful outback sunsets over the week.
The Variety Adventure Ride is not a race or a contest of speed of any kind, it is an adventure exploring remote parts of our beautiful country, all on your motorbike. The event will travel to a selection of rural communities via dirt roads, tracks and trails.
The Variety Adventure Ride 2023 Route
Have questions? Email Vic [email protected] or Janet [email protected]
Where Are We Going?
Over 7 days, we will cover over 3,000km of dusty outback roads and remote trails that your bike was designed to travel on. Here’s what we have planned:
Day 1: Sunday 19 March
Dubbo – Rankin Springs – Hay (516km)
Day 2: Monday 20 March
Hay – Pooncarrie – Broken Hill (591km)
Day 3: Tuesday 21 March
Broken Hill – Yunta – Rawnsley Park Station (545km)
Day 4: Wednesday 22 March
Rawnsley Park Station – Leigh Creek – Arkaroola (323km)
Day 5: Thursday 23 March
Arkaroola – Cameron Corner – Tibooburra (562km)
Day 6: Friday 24 March
Tibooburra – Wanaaring – Bourke (419km)
Day 7: Saturday 25 March
Bourke – Lightning Ridge (324km)
Who Can Join in the Fun?
Anyone over 18 years of age with a spirit of adventure, a tolerance to dust and a current motorcycle licence is going to have a great time on the Variety Adventure Ride.
“P” Plates are acceptable but Learners Permits are not acceptable.
Come on your own or bring your mates (on the inaugural event we even had a husband and wife team).
About the Bike
To enter this event you need a roadworthy, registered “Adventure Motorbike“. If you are unsure about whether your motorbike is appropriate, contact the Motoring team.
The event will be run on public roads and all bikes must have current registration and appropriate insurance for the entire event. We would advise that you cover your bike for third party property damage at a minimum. We will require a photocopy of your current registration and insurance papers to keep on file before you are eligible to commence the event.
Check out the Bike & Rider requirements
What it costs
Entry is a donation to Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT and is tax-deductible. This can be a cash payment or you can raise it through sponsorship, donations from family and friends and/or fundraising events.
The minimum entry fee is $3,000. But no need to stop there, the only winner of this event is the one who raises the most money for Variety. You will be provided with an online fundraising page full of resources to support your fundraising and an option to take online donations.
As well as the entry fee there will be a provisions fee. This will cover all mandatory meals for the event and other ancillary items.
Accommodation is at the individual’s expense. We cut down the work for you and provide all our riders a list of accommodation options. You can then book your own accommodation based on your comfort level and budget.
What to Wear
You need to wear good riding gear, because weather conditions can vary drastically and unfortunately things don’t always go to plan. As with everything, you get what you pay for. Good riding gear is an investment, it should last you many years and having it should give you peace of mind.
Jacket and pants need to be comfortable and weatherproof with abrasion-resistant CE Approved soft armour inserts fitted in key areas (knee, hip, elbow, shoulder and back). Multiple ventilation zips help for when conditions are warmer. A fluoro vest will be supplied to everyone and this must be worn while riding on this event.
Boots should be purpose-built providing good shin and ankle protection and support.
Gloves you should always travel with two sets of gloves. One pair for colder or wet conditions, waterproof and with a built-in squeegee on the left index finger to easily wipe your helmet visor in the rain. Another set of lighter gloves is very handy for when conditions are warmer. These should still be strong and abrasion-resistant, they just don’t need to be as insulated and bulky.
Helmets should fit well, snug but not so tight it causes discomfort when worn for longer periods. You should have a tinted and clear visor, or the new flip-down tinted visor is a good solution for varying light conditions. An anti-fog insert or treatment is a great idea also. Open face helmets are not acceptable on this event.
Support Crew
We care about your safety and comfort along the route so we travel with a full support crew. Here is what you need to know.
Baggage – A baggage vehicle will be provided for all entrants as no one is to carry baggage with them on the event. This keeps your weight down and helps you to manoeuvre your motorbike much more easily in the rough terrain sections. A tank bag is allowable for small personal items like wallets and phones. A small bag on the rear rack can be used to carry a spare tube and basic tools.
Support Teams – There will be medical and mechanical teams travelling with the event to support riders. It is advised that you have spare tyres stored with the tyre support vehicle as tyres are the main cause of stoppages on these types of events. If you are aware of the common parts that fail on your particular model you can also have these stored on the Baggage Vehicle.
Safety & Precautions – Motorcycle riding is a hazardous activity and we suggest you have the appropriate insurances in place before embarking on this event e.g. Domestic Travel Insurance, Motor Cycle Insurance and possibly Road Side Assistance. For the safety of others, we require participants to complete an Indemnity Form and provide details of a current Working With Children Check (details on how to obtain one are available on the event entry form).
Why we do it
Variety believes all kids deserve a fair go. So we support kids who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs to overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Together, we impacted 28,500 kids in NSW and the ACT but there is more work to do.
Variety is only able to do our important work thanks to the generosity of our incredible community, including those hitting the open road with us on the Variety Adventure Ride.
Donate to a mate
Donate to a Bike
There are several methods in which you can donate to a Bike, as below. A tax-deductible receipt will be generated for all donations and we can create an “Intention to Donate” letter for any sponsor as required. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding donations.
Their fundraising page
Many of our participants have set up online donation pages specifically for their bike. Please click here to donate directly to a bike (note: not all bikes have fundraising pages, if the bike you are wanting to donate to isn’t displaying please use one of the alternative methods).
Direct Deposit
Bank: Westpac Bank
Account Name: Variety the Children’s Charity NSW
BSB: 032 020 Account: 208569
Description: In order for us to correctly allocate your donation to a particular bike we ask if you could reference RIDE, the bike number and your name when doing a direct deposit e.g. RIDE 27 Mick Starkey
Please email with details of direct deposits with date, amount, bike and who the receipt should be made out to.
Cheque
Cheques should be made out to Variety – the Children’s Charity and posted to the address below. Please remember to write “Adventure Ride” and bike number on the back of the cheque.
Variety – the Children’s Charity
Attn: Janet Kilazoglou
PO Box 186
Broadmeadow NSW 2292
Credit Card
Credit Card donations can be made online, directly to a bike’s fundraising page, or over the phone by calling 02 4965 4911
A big thank you to Pickles Auctions, our Major Sponsor of the Variety Adventure Ride since the beginning. Long term supporters of Variety Motoring Events we look forward to celebrating Pickles’ continued support of our work!
Got questions?
If you have any questions about the event, “Adventure Bikes” or fundraising reach out to our Motoring Events team (based in our Newcastle office).
Vic Sheil
Senior Motoring Events Manager
[email protected]
Phone 02 4965 4911 or 0410 692 262
Janet Kilazoglou
Event & Experience Manager
[email protected]
Phone: 02 4965 4911 or 0403 255 767
Sponsorship and Media Enquiries
[email protected]
Phone: 02 4965 4911