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Motorcycle/Northern Territory

Best Motorcycle Roads in Northern Territory

Northern Territory has good motorcycle roads beyond the obvious ones. Contour's Road Quality Score (RQS) measures every sealed road in Northern Territory across 40+ signals at 500m resolution - curviness, surface condition, elevation change, traffic density, speed limit profile, and road class - so the roads that score highest are actually the best to ride, not just the twistiest.

Highest-scoring motorcycle roads

RoadRQS (Moto)
Shadforth Road8.4
Edith Falls RoadRoute8.3
Soloman Road8.3
Trephina Gorge Road8.2
Carson Drive8.1
Miles Road8.1
Litchfield Park RoadRoute7.9
Chinner Road8.0
Yellow Water Street8.0
Wooliana Road7.9
Ormiston Gorge Access7.9
Darwin River Road7.9
Middle Arm Road7.9
Airstrip Access Road7.9
Bullen Road7.9
Dorat Road7.8
Zimin Drive7.8
Sunter Road7.8
Nourlangie Road7.7
Temple Terrace7.7

When to ride in Northern Territory

Dry season (May to October) is the best time for all roads. Wet season (November to April) closes many outback roads and tracks. Stuart Highway is accessible year-round. Avoid driving at dawn, dusk, and night due to livestock and wildlife on roads.

How we score motorcycle roads

The motorcycle profile applies higher weights to curviness and surface quality within the Road Quality Score (RQS). A road that scores 9.0 for motorcycles has excellent curviness, a smooth sealed surface, low truck traffic, and consistent lane width. Surface quality carries extra weight because tyre contact patch matters more at lean angle. The score runs 0 to 10 and is calculated at 500m resolution across every named road in the state.

Common questions

Common questions from riders planning a run in Northern Territory.

What are the best motorcycle roads in Northern Territory?

Contour scores every named road in Northern Territory using 40+ signals per 500m. The roads in the table above are the current highest-scoring for the motorcycle profile.

How does Contour score roads for motorcycles?

The motorcycle profile applies higher weights to curviness and surface quality within the Road Quality Score (RQS). A road that scores 9.0 for motorcycles has excellent curviness, a smooth sealed surface, low truck traffic, and consistent lane width. Surface quality carries extra weight because tyre contact patch matters more at lean angle. The score runs 0 to 10 and is calculated at 500m resolution across every named road in the state.

When is the best time to drive in Northern Territory?

Dry season (May to October) is the best time for all roads. Wet season (November to April) closes many outback roads and tracks. Stuart Highway is accessible year-round. Avoid driving at dawn, dusk, and night due to livestock and wildlife on roads.

Plan your next ride in Northern Territory

Pick any road from the table. Tap Navigate and Google Maps opens with the full route ready to ride. No route planning, no detours to set up yourself.

Plan a ride