2002 and 2003 Brisbane to Darwin

A serious adventure. As riders move north through the tropics they could feel the humidity building. Roads change from highway to single lane to wide red dirt. Be sure to get out of the way of the road trains as we pass through small communities to our destination. Corrugations, crystal clear artesian water holes, river crossings and bulldust make this a great adventure.

Brisbane - Gaynadah - Barcaldine - Muttaburra - Proa Station - Gregory Downs Pub - Hell's Gate - Borrololla - Daly Waters Pub - Katherine - Darwin

2004 and 2005 Brisbane to Adelaide

Some scoffed when they saw the destination but after a great stay at Hungerford and a detour to Cameron corner through the wide expanses of the Simpson and Stony deserts they were hooked. Old mining towns, national parks, isolated outposts and the famous dog fence crossings - this is what the outback is all about.

Brisbane - Goondiwindi - Bokhara Huts Farm - Hungerford - Noccundra - Cameron's Corner - Whitecliffs - Kinchega National Park - Wentworth - Loxton - Adelaide

2006 Brisbane to Alice Springs

By popular demand we developed the Red Centre trip. As we head west to the centre of the country there is no denying we are going off the beaten track. Birdsville was a popular stop but the reward was in heading to the start of the Simpson desert. The beauty of the changing landscapes and vastness of the countryside were matched by the harness of the dirt and bulldust we encountered heading into the Northern Territory. No-one would argure ... this was adventurous.

Brisbane - Jandowae - Nindigully Pub - Charleville - Windorah - Birdsville - Bedourie - Boulia - Tobermorey Station - Gemtree - Alice Springs

2007 & 2008 Brisbane to the Gulf of Carpentaria

Day 1 Brisbane to Gayndah (365km)
A long day to get some distance between us and the big city we will finish in the region's citrus capital of Gayndah. An indirect route to give you a taste of the local area. Through Marburg, Esk, past Somerset dam and onto Kilcoy (Home of the Yeti, before your first taste of dirt on our way past Jimna. Once we hit the bitumen it is not much further to our stay.

Day 2 Gayndah to Rolleston (438km)
Heading northwest toward Eidsvold and then onto Cracow, once a booming mining town. Once we hit Theodore we are back onto the bitumen for the long slog through Banana then west taking in Moura, Bauhinia and arriving at our destination of Rolleston to set up a tent city in the rodeo grounds.

Day 3 Rolleston to Barcaldine (440km)
Heading further north we take in Emerald before heading further west to Barcaldine.

Day 4 Barcaldine to Winton (286km)
A shorter day due to good distances covered in the previous three days. A great opportunity to spend some time in Longreach at your leisure, perhaps taking in the famous Stockman's Hall of Fame or the Qantas museum across the road. Our final destination is Winton.

Day 5 Winton to Proa station (273km)
Today our destination is a working cattle station. Duncan may even take us on a guided tour of his redclaw farm and processing. Whether you set up a tent or stay in the shearer's quarters, this will be a stop to remember.

Day 6 Proa Station to Gregory Downs Pub (457km)
Pass through Julia Creek before diverting toward the Burke and Wills Roadhouse and our final destination of the Gregory Downs Pub. This will be a long day but we will be rewarded with the opportunity for a swim in the crystal clear Gregory River.

Day 7 Gregory Downs to Normanton (338km)
We have a fair amount of dirt today as we take in the two towns that are nestled in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Passing through Burketown we head east to Normanton for our overnight stay. This is gulf country savannah. Meet Krys, or a life-size replica of her in Normanton. At 8.65 metres in length she is the largest saltwater croc caught in Australia.

Day 8 Normanton to Croydon (300km)
A visit to the Gulf is not complete without seeing the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria from Karumba, the only town in the savannah with direct access. After heading to Karumba we return to Normanton and further onto Croydon, a small heritage town where the boom in gold mining ended before the 1900's. We may even be lucky enough to have the local historian take us on a walking tour of the sights.

Day 9 Croydon to Innot Springs (379km)
Continuing along the savannah way we pass through Georgetown, mount Surprise and Mount Garnett before an overnight stay in Innot Springs. Don't blink or you will miss Innot Springs which is currently a caravan park and local pub, which takes advantage of the local hot springs. Take a dip or get a massage at the end of the day before relaxing with a cold drink.

Day 10 Innot Springs to Cooktown (377km)
The country scape has changed as we weave our way up to Queensland's highest town, Ravenshoe. From hear we take the back route to Mareeba, through Herberton and after Mt Molloy we continue through to Cooktown. The route will consist of flat expanses of savannah, but will be more than compensated with winding roads through some spectacular lookouts on our way to the tropical destination of Cooktown.

Day 11 Cooktown to Cairns (250km)
What better way to finish the challenge with a run down the coast to Cairns via world heritage rainforest and national parks. Heading south to Ayton, along the Bloomfield track to Cape Tribulation will be slow going but spectacular. After Cape Tribulation we are back on the coastal road too Cairns with plenty of rainforest and ocean views, it will be hard to keep your eyes on the road ahead.