Some expected road conditions

 

Melbourne to Cairns

We have a dual lane bitumen road for the entire length of this stage. There is a large shoulder to Chiltern on Day 1 & 2. Care must be taken from Dubbo to Gilgandra as truck traffic increases on the Newell Hwy.

Always be aware of emus and kangaroos in particular north of St George. Wildlife is particularly prevalent between Hebel and Thallon.

Care must also be taken north of Townsville (Bruce Hwy)

Summing up good quality roads, throughout the ride. We will be on the road during the Easter break so extra care will need to be taken.

Perfect road although not much of a shoulder

Cairns to Darwin

19k climb near Gordonvale to just south of Yungaburra (Day 1)

Dual lane bitumen road till the Savannah Way turn off south of Mt Garnet. Road reverts to single lane road at 3kms west of turn off. Savannah Way intermittently alternates from single lane road to double lane till Normanton. South of Normanton road is a double lane bitumen road till Darwin.

Road is being upgraded between Normanton and Savannah Way turn off

Road trains are prevalent between Mt Garnet and Savannah Way. Always be vigilant of road trains around mining towns. Increased road train activity between Cloncurry and Darwin.

Rider’s must give way to all traffic on single lane roads.

Mining roads have to have a pretty tough surface.

Darwin to Broome

Good quality road all the way to Broome. Heavily used tourist route-BEWARE OF CARAVANS!!!! Many single lane bridge crossings make sure the road is clear in both directions before attempting crossing. Use bicycle lane at Fitzroy Crossing and Willare Bridge.

This only occurs on trips onto properties or bush camps.

Broome to Perth.

Good quality dual lane bitumen road all the way to Perth. Can be a little rough between Roebuck and Pt Hedland. Care must be taken 35k north of South Hedland and till the Great Northern Hwy turn off just south of South Hedland. Care should also be taken near Karratha (mining activity).

There is a fantastic new road just south of Cervantes to Lancelin.

Increased vehicle activity as we near Perth and Geraldton.

Dual lane, no shoulder & water hazard on the road.

Perth to Melbourne

Short sharp climb over Greenmount.

Beware of Road Trains beyond Northam. Good quality road across the Nullarbor. Wide shoulder intermittently. Smooth surface on SA side.  Busy around Pt Augusta and as we near Adelaide & Melbourne. Great Ocean Road can be particularly busy and care must be taken.

Stage 3 filling fast!!

Email sent out to past riders & new interested overseas riders:

Dear All,

Just wanting to alert you all that 'Stage 3 Darwin to Broome' is filling fast & there is only 7 places left. We will be taking 20 riders.
I know it is still another 16 months ahead but if you think you may be interested in this stage it would be a good idea just to put in an expression of interest now
and then confirm it closer to the time. We would hate for any of our regulars & our newly interested parties to miss out.
The dates for this leg are June 1st to June 20th 2013.

The other stages still have at least 10 places left but will warn everyone if they start to fill.

Cheers for now

Kathy & Collis
Cycle across oz



Within 2 hours of the email being sent we were down to 5 spots left.

Famous Hotels on our trip

Nindigully Hotel (The Gully)
With a town population of six, you’d wonder where the other drinkers come from. But they do! Especially for New Year’s Eve. Queensland’s oldest hotel, on the banks of the Moonie River (fishing allowed), has been dealing with thirst since 1864. Check out the collection of donated Akubras and try to spot the police hat. George Rd, Nindigully, 07 4625 9367, www.nindigullypub.com  

The Daly Waters Pub
This tiny iconic pub, the oldest in the Territory, has been welcoming travellers since 1893. It also has one of the first airports in Australia, which once serviced planes on the London-Singapore leg. During WWII it was used by the Australian and American air forces. Famous as a break
for drovers moving cattle between Alice Springs and Darwin, it’s now also a bank, post office and police station. An absolute classic. Stuart Hwy, Daly Waters, 08 8975 9927, www.dalywaterspub.com

Adelaide River Inn
With the best beer garden outside of Darwin, you’ll be absolutely dying for a drink by the time you reach this oasis on the banks of the Adelaide River. Not just a shrine to Charlie the Buffalo from Crocodile Dundee, you can also order up tasty buffalo steaks at the counter – and the Barra ‘n’ chips is also worth the drive. Stuart Hwy, Adelaide River, 08 8976 7047.

Palace Hotel, Kalgoorlie
Before he was US President, Herbert Hoover was a regular guest of this grand gold rush hotel. His mirror and a poem he wrote to the barmaid he loved remains. Meanwhile, the vibe of this mining town lives on. 137 Hannan St, Kalgoorlie, 08 9021 2788, www.palacehotel.com.au   

Whim Creek Pub
In the Pilbara region of far northwest of WA, this century-old shocking pink corrugated iron pub has survived cyclones, white ants and much more. Once it even had a camel that loved drinking beer, and a python that lived in the rafters and nicked food. Excellent Barra Burgers too. North West Coastal Hwy, Whim Creek, 08 9176 8700.

At The Mataranka Pub at Mataranka Springs just south of Katherine you can lean against the bar with its brightly coloured paintings then toddle off to see the nearby replica of the hut in which Jeannie Gunn lived at Elsey Station. Her story was captured in the book We of the Never Never.

Over on our west coast, The Roey, Broome's oldest pub, lives by the saying "if it's going to happen in Broome, it's going to happen at the Roey". If you stumble across a local character by the name of Swindle, pull up a chair and order a coldie because he has enough tales about pearling and gangsters to last a week.

The Purple Pub: Although known as the Purple Pub, the National Hotel is a typical Outback Pub and a popular spot for travellers to stop in for a drink while exploring the Gulf Country. Just look for the purple painted pub, you won't miss it. 

Normanton, QLD
Gulf Country

Established in 1897 as a shanty inn and trade store, The Crossing Inn is The Kimberley's oldest established hotel and is a welcome site to travellers passing through the region. The Inn sits on the banks overlooking the Fitzroy River in Fitzroy Crossing, and also offers accommodation in motel rooms and has an extensive caravan park and camping ground.

Big things we should see next year.

Big Barra in Normanton

Big Gumboot in Tully

The big cassowary at Mission Beach

The big lobster at Kingston

The big Marlin in Cairns

The big Galah in Kimba

The big Whale in Eucla

The big Wheelbarrow in Port Hedland

Big crocodile in Normanton

Big Captain Cook in Cairns

Big Easel at Emerald

Big Roo at Border Village

Looking at Darwin to Broome

Darwin to Broome
1st June to 20th June 2013
20 nights camping
5 meals provided
1 free cycling jersey
$1,870.00
including GST

This leg (Stage) may end up being our most popular one as we have had alot of interest in it already. I suppose as a cyclist it is not a route many people would ride unsupported due it's remote areas. We will be leaving Darwin on a Saturday morning so the traffic should be OK although I don't think there are too many peak hour traffic jams in Darwin too often.
We travel down the Stuart Hwy to Adelaide River.

This is a must see at Adelaide River- can't miss him as he is holding up the bar

The Big Croc- what a happy chappy he looks.

This guy just looks hungry

We will need to watch the crocs around this area or probably for most of this leg although Collis says I over exaggerate the dangers of the crocodiles.

Pine Creek Railway- worth a quick look.

We stay going south on the Stuart Hwy until Katherine when we start to head west.

Katherine Gorge- rest day.

Katherine Gorge is a must see & there are many tours going down the gorge or you can canoe down by yourself or as a group.

My favorite tree- they are just so huggable. This one is just outside Victoria River

Once we leave the Stuart Hwy the terrane changes & becomes quite barren at times. The colours keep changing & the fauna changes frequently as well.

Timber Creek Caravan park- shaded!!

Lake Argyle is a huge expanse of water- lucky we have a rest day.

Lake Argyle is like a mirage & very enjoyable break to take.

Great swimming hole & quite an energetic walk to get here- lucky we have another rest day. Kununurra

Things start becoming a little sparse as we leave Kununurra.. We will be having to make our own fun & entertainment for a few days I think. A couple of bush camps will do the trick.

The Bungle Bungles can be accessed out of Warmun but they are difficult to get to unless you have a 4WD or take a tour. We don't have a rest day here so time is tight but the riders could get together & take one of the flights that fly over them.

Then we hit Fitzroy Crossing and things start looking up again for a little while.

Fitzroy Crossing- another rest day here.

Fitzroy River at the Willare Bridge