“JUST GET ON THE TRUCK”
The club has arranged a bulk transport deal through Bikes Only, a professional company that specialises in transporting motorcycles. It's an excellent deal and the club has also subsidized the price because we want to encourage your attendance. A 40 x Vespa truck will travel to Nambour and then return to Melbourne. Each scooter will have its own tie down point. Your Vespa will travel in a fully enclosed vehicle and is covered by insurance.
Key Dates
- Deadline for Payment and to reserve your place. Friday 7th March
- Drop off / Load up in Melbourne Thomastown: Saturday 22 March 2025 between 9 AM and 2 PM. The company’s Melbourne depot in Thomastown. Bikes Only. 2/4 Inglewood Drive, Thomastown <Map> You then fly or drive or train or Car Pool to the Sunshine Coast.
- Delivery and pick Up in Nambour: Thursday 27 March in Nambour Midday. Be at the designated truck arrival point (TBA) when your Vespa is unloaded. There's no secure storage. This means you can then ride off and register for the Australian Vespa Days event on Thursday evening and participate in all of Friday’s, Saturday's, and Sunday morning's events and ride-outs.
- Load up in Nambour: Sunday 30 March 2025 in Nambour between 2 and 4 PM. Be at the truck departure point (TBA) to put your bike back on board.
- Delivery and pick up in Melbourne: From Wednesday 2nd April in Thomastown. From this day you can collect your Vespa from the Melbourne depot in Thomastown where it will be stored securely. Bikes Only. 2/4 Inglewood Drive, Thomastown <Map>
The round trip will cost you only $440. This is way cheaper than fuel costs if you were to transport your scooter there by van or trailer, and way under what you would normally pay for interstate motorcycle transport in both directions, or one direction for that matter.
The Vespa you register with your payment must be the one you present for transport.
Conditions
You have to fit within and work around these group arrangements. We can't re-negoatiate arrangements to suit individuals.
The truck will only take 40 Vespa so that's a cap. Once you commit and pay for your round trip, we can't refund.
One Member = One Vespa We've booked a 40 x Vespa truck to travel to Nambour and then return to Melbourne.
The trip and the price is strictly BOTH WAYS (or No Way). The deal is for a round trip to Nambour and back on the dates we have agreed. Bikes Only will not consider one-way travel in either direction at these prices, and it's not a door to door service. Based upon the number of Vespa in Thomastown on Saturday morning, Bikes Only may reconfigure to smaller truck(s). The club subsidizes this trip in both directions, so if you are a 'no show' in either direction the club loses money, and the company will have misallocated its largest truck.
Due to the number of bikes transported and limited space, Bikes Only advises that there's limited space for standalone bags/boxes alongside the bikes. Helmets and gear should be securely attached to the bike in the footwell, under the seat, or in top boxes. We'll provide further advice on preparing your bike for transport as the date gets nearer. For example, keys must travel with the bike. Pack a spare key when you fly up.
Now that your Vespa is taken care of, there are no excuses not to go to this amazing bi-annual rally. So start thinking about how you will get yourself to the Sunshine Coast.
Of course this amazing deal is only for our financial members of good standing. The benefit is not available to new 'just joined' members.
Thanks to David Atkinson for initiating and negotiating this deal.
ARE YOU READY?
Click the image to ticket
Bikes Only Advice Prep Checklist
- Ensure the bike is roll-able and tyres are inflated
- A key is preferred to travel with the bike, leave in the ignition or secured on the bike with zip tie
- Disable the alarm system or in travel mode for bikes with FOBS
- Make sure there is easy access to the bike for pickup/delivery
- Fuel, oil etc. do not need to be removed - but it must not leak fluid. Fuel taps are 'off'.
- The bike must be clean and tidy for an accurate assessment of its general condition
- We don't recommend sending personal belongings with your bike (Panniers, Top Boxes and Gear Sacks are ok but not covered by our insurance), so remove these if necessary.
TRAVEL ADVICE FLYING
Sunshine Coast Airport (Maroochydore) to Nambour.
If you're flying to the event then we recommend that flying in directly to the Sunshine Coast Airport is the better option.
Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin regularly service the airport.
Arriving at Sunshine Coast Airport
Airport Bus 622 to Maroochydore Station. (20 mins)
From Maroochydore Bus 610 Platform 2 (across the road) 35 mins to Nambour. Route 610
Taxi. Nambour is only 17 kms from the Sunshine Coast Airport, so a Taxi is a reasonable option straight from there. Sunshine Coast Cabs
AirTrain. Airport to Brisbane. Every 15 minutes. The station is right outside the terminal. Very fast to all stations in the city: Eagle Junction, Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Central, and Roma St. You can pre-book online: https://www.airtrain.com.au/
Train / Bus: Brisbane to Nambour (Sunshine Coast line). Regular trains leave from Roma Street, Central Station Fortitude Valley, Bowen Hills, Eagle Junction. There is sometimes a quick change to bus at Caboolture. Prepare your trip online: https://translink.com.au/
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To connect and travel straight through by Train from Eagle Junction (not staying overnight in Brisbane) and allowing 2 hours: AirTrain from Brisbane airport to Eagle Junction Station ( two stops, 11 mins). Catch the Nambour train (Sunshine Coast line) from Platform 4. The trains run regularly every 15 minutes and it's probably the quickest option. There may sometimes be a quick change to bus at Caboolture.
To connect and travel straight through by Bus from Bowen Hills (not staying overnight in Brisbane) and allowing 2 hours. Air Train from Brisbane Airport to Bowen Hills Station (five stops 16 mins). Bus from Abbotsford Rd terminal outside the station direct to Nambour.
To connect and travel straight through by Train from Fortitude Valley (not staying overnight in Brisbane) and allowing 2 hours: AirTrain from Brisbane airport to Fortitude Valley ( six stops, 20 mins). Catch the Nambour train (Sunshine Coast line) from Platform 4. The trains run regularly.
Click the image to ticket
Early Accommodation Advice
The AVD event 'hub' will be at the Nambour Showgrounds. The Gala Dinner event will take place in Maroochydore.
Camping. There will be powered camping available at the Nambour showground site. Booking as part of the ticketing process.
Accom within Nambour will fill quickly. The distance between Nambour and Maroochydore / Mooloolaba is very short. If you have your own transport (Vespa) then there are hundreds of options between Nambour and Maroochydore Mooloolaba.
If you don't have transport we recommend you arrange accommodation close to the 610 or 612 Bus routes
Go!