The Journey – More Detail

The climate in the deserts we are crossing can vary dramatically. It is not uncommon for sub-zero temperatures at night (as low as minus 8 degrees) and up to 48 degrees during the day.

Our journey can be divided into 14 sections:

Section 1 – The Sunshine Coast Queensland to Birdsville. 1800kms

The section from the Sunshine Coast to Birdsville is basically a transportation section taking us from where we live to where the adventure begins!

Section 2 – The Simpson Desert to Finke via the French Line (Simpson Desert). 510kms

The Simpson Desert is the largest parallel sand dune desert in the world. It has a world-wide legendary reputation and was the last desert in Australia to be explored. The dunes are spaced from 200m to over 1 kms apart. The French Line is the shortest route through the Simpson Desert but the most difficult as it has considerably larger and more difficult sand dunes to negotiate. It has been described as a roller coaster ride traversing approximately 1100 dunes as high as 160 feet tall – boom!

Section 3 – Uluru, The Olgas, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs & more (referred to as the Central Desert). 1200kms

Around Alice Springs are some truly majestic natural wonders. The three main attractions are Uluru (Ayers Rock), which is about 450 km from Alice Springs which is one of the world largest monolith. The Olgas which are part of the same national park (the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park) and are about 50 km from Uluru. The Olgas a group of 36 island mountains, which are separated by magnificent gorge. And finally Kings Canyon. Other sites we plan to see include the West MacDonnell Ranges: Glen Helen, Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge.

Section 4 – The Finke Desert Race Track. 280kms each way

The Finke desert race track (Running from Alice Springs to Finke) is known for its hundreds of kilometers of sand woops and ruts and is one of Australia’s most famous off-road races. It is said by some to be the greatest desert race in the southern hemishpere. It attracts record entrants and thousands of spectators www.finkedesertrace.com.au’.Main attractions / sites to see include endless woops, woops and more woops; ruts, ruts and more ruts but the challenge is including this track into our ride.

Section 5 – The Tanami Track to Broome (Tanami Desert). 1895kms

The Tanami Track runs from Alice Springs to the Halls Creek (just below the Kimberley Region) It transverses the Tanami Desert and has been described as a trap for the unwary. It is basically never-ending flats of mostly undistinguished expanses of spinifex and saltbush. Main attractions / sites to see include spinifexes, spinifexes and more spinifexes plus the occasional ranges (Wailbri Ranges & Ngalurbindi Hills, the Granites Mine and the Rabbit Flat Roadhouse.

Section 6 – A tour around the Kimberleys. Approx 2900kms

The Kimberley Region has been often noted as one of the most spellbinding and spectacular regions in the world. From breathtaking gorges to sandstone ranges to cascading waterfalls to cool streams with crystal clear pools …… mother nature has excelled herself in the Kimberley.Main attractions / sites to see include

• Cape Leveque – Jaw-Droppingly beautiful with the best beaches in Australia
• Gibb River Road – 660-kms 4WD Road from Derby to Kununurra
• The Mitchell Falls – The Most Beautiful Kimberly Waterfalls
• Mitchell Plateau: gorges and great off-road adventure
• The Bungle Bungles/Purnululu National Park
• Kimberly National Parks
• Derby and the Buccaneer Archipelago
• Lake Argyle

Section 7 – The Canning Stock Route – (Great Sandy, Gibson & Little Sandy Deserts). 2269kms

The Canning Stock Route has been described as the most isolated and challenging trek in Australia. Traversing 3 deserts and touching another, is one of the most remote and challenging treks in the world, this trek has been describe in epic proportions. In short, to venture this route you need to be self-sufficient for about 3 weeks. The Canning Stock Route stretches from Halls Creek below the Kimberley to Wiluna by winding its way through 54 stock watering points comprising of handcrafted wells. The route consists of 1000s of wind sculptured sand dunes/hills.There is up to 1350kms between fuel stops which will test the ability of our resources to their full extent as we require over 100 litres of petrol per bike plus more than 400 litres of diesel for the support vehicle. Due to the extra weigh in fuel for the CSR, all bikes to be ridden the entire route. This being the case it will be necessary for us to carry a staggering 500 kilos of petrol, 450 litres of diesel and the 300 litres of water, weighing in at over 1.2 tons in liquid alone. This is why we have a Ford F250 truck!For the Canning Stock Route as it is necessary to carry additional petrol in drums, a mate (Todd) will be joining us to ride this section.

Section 8 – The Margaret River (from Wiluna & around MR). 2000kms

The Margaret River Wine Region is truly one of the great destinations of the world. Blessed with a perfect Mediterranean maritime climate, the four seasons are gently defined. It is said that there’s perhaps no better destination in Australia to kick back and unwind surrounded by nature, beautiful vineyards and glorious coastline.Some main attractions / sites to see include;

• Many, many wineries
• Blackpoint
• Blackwood river
• Boranup Karri Forest
• Boranup Drive
• Gnarabup Beach
• Jewel Cave, Augusta
• Mammoth and Lake Caves Margaret River
• Prevelly Park Margaret River

Section 9 – Margaret River to Israelite Bay to Cockelbiddy Roadhouse. 1672kms

This coastal trip includes a vast array of riding conditions from tar sections near Margaret River to winding coastal roads to dirt track to beach & dune riding. For example Nuytsland Nature Reserve is a very long and narrow reserve coast with a sea frontage of over 500km. Much of this section includes long distance beach driving, rough pavements, extensive scrubby stretches and some deep sand plus some dune riding.

Section 10 – Cockelbiddy via Connie Sue Hwy via The Anne Beadell Hwy to Coober Pedy (Nullarbo & Great Victoria Deserts). 1882kms

The Connie Sue Highway is one of Australia’s outback tracks constructed in the early 1960’s. Today the Connie Sue is only travelled by a few keen 4WD enthusiasts, but for adventurous types, it provides a shortcut to the Anne Beadell Highway where it intersects at Neale Junction. The Anne Beadell Highway extends over 1350kms. This highway features rarely used tracks that are often very narrow, twisty and sandy and there are times when the vegetation encroaches. Travelling is predominantly over red sand, the conditions vary from fairly hard and packed surfaces to very soft. There are some sections where the track is corrugates with some washouts.Main attractions / sites to see include endless dune, dunes and more dunes, plus ruts, ruts and more ruts, oh and some washouts!

Section 11 – Coober Pedy to the Simpson Desert (Painted, Moon & Pedirka Deserts). 450kms

This is an exciting leg as three unique deserts will be crossed. It has been stated that The Painted Desert has to be the highlight of any South Australian Desert experience.”The Painted Desert, just a few kilometres from Arckaringa features fantastic mountainous mesas and formations composed of colourful sands, pebbles and rocks that simply defy description. Photographers and painters will delight in the show of colour at sunset and dawn”. www.exploreoz.com.au

Section 12 – The Rig Road through the Simpson Desert to Birdsville. 790kms

The Simpson Desert is the largest parallel sand dune desert in the world. It has a world-wide legendary reputation and was the last desert in Australia to be explored.  The Rig Road is the most southern access across the Simpson Desert. It is a longer route because it winds along the edge of dunes and crosses at the lowest points. The Rig Road has never been maintained since it was created and with the 4WD traffic and some heavy rainfalls in recently, the track is beginning to show signs of significant disrepair from erosion.Main attractions / sites to see include dune, dunes and more dunes, Poolowanna Oil Well, Purnie Bore and DalhousieSprings.

Section 13 – The Strzelecki Track & Corners Country (Strzelecki Desert). 900kms

The Corners Country and Strzelecki Track are a good introduction to our jouney. Whlist not extensively challenging it mainly covers dunes stretching through South Australian. The track condition can be varied from bulldust holes to jagged edges rocks that are tough on tyres. These tracks are full of tragedy and triumph, Burke and Wills meet their deaths on the banks of the Cooper in 1861. Main attractions / sites to see include Blanchewater Homestead. Ochre Cliff and the Strzelecki desert itself. (Photo Credit: Mitch Reardon)

Section 14 – The Birdsville Track (Tirari & Sturt Stony Desert). 598kms

The Birdsville Track is one of the great icons of the Aussie outback and was once an almost impossible trip. The track is not considered to be a very hard trip these days and mainly travels through the vast, dry northern regions of South Australia. The Birdsville Track crosses the Tirari & Sturt Stony Desert. Track conditions are generally extremely dry on a sandy base covered with large pebbles.Main attractions / sites to see include Birdsville legendary Hotel and Tirari & Sturt Stony Deserts