Day 1: Fremantle to Lake Moore 424km

We pick you up from your hotel at 8am. (Please book your hotel in the Fremantle Area) After stowing all your gear in the Support Vehicle its time to get acquainted with your bike. After a rider and safety briefing the first part of the trip is to get your boots wet in the Indian Ocean. (The next time they see salt water will be the Pacific Ocean at Airlie Beach 16 days later). We leave Fremantle beach and wind our way out of the city and an hour later on the outskirts of the city we turn right through the last set of traffic lights for 5500km. Climbing over the Darling Scarp we head into country Western Australia. After another hour or so on bitumen road we are on to dirt roads. Lunch is spent in the shade of some Gum trees along the road. We leave the wheat farming areas mid afternoon and camp for the first night on a Sheep Station near Lake Moore, just south of Paynes Find.

Day 2: Lake Moore to Lake Mason 480km

After a full cooked breakfast and breaking camp it’s onto the wide open gravel roads of outback WA. We pass through Sheep and Cattle stations and see the countryside change once again as we get into sandy soils. After a refuel in Sandstone we continue North for a short run to Lake Mason Station. An abandoned sheep station where we spend the night. There’s even a chance for a hot shower.

Day 3: Lake Mason to Carnegie Station 565km

Today we head North East towards Wiluna. Here we fill all fuel and water tanks to the brim as it is another 4 days till we get to Ayers Rock and another chance for a reliable fuel and water supply. It’s in Wiluna where we turn East onto the Gunbarrel Highway, well at least the graded easy section. Make the most of the days smooth riding as the following 3 days are on some of the most corrugated roads in Australia. As we get further into the Heart of Australia we start to see wild Camels, a Dingo or two and all sorts of wildlife. Lunch is spent at the MCG. You’ll see when you get there. An hour after lunch it’s time for a swim at Mingol Camp and a lazy afternoon ride down the road to Carnegie Station. Hot showers are available and there is even a Telstra Phone Box.

Day 4: Carnegie Station to Camp Beadell 280km

Leaving Carnegie we get onto the true Gunbarrel Highway. The going gets tougher and the riding is a blast. With varied riding terrain all day you have to be on your toes and be ready for the unexpected. As we push on after lunch we leave the Sandy Desert and head into the Gibson Desert and camp at one of the most remote places on earth, we are more than 1200km from the nearest city.

Day 5: Camp Beadell to Lake Christopher 331km

After breakfast it’s only a short morning ride to a refreshing wash and morning tea at the Geraldton Bore. Continuing along the rough and corrugated Gunbarrel Highway and testing your riding skills and endurance to the max we enter the abandoned section of the highway. Here we get into some awesome sand riding mixed in with the never ending corrugations. The road keeps getting narrower and narrower as we enter the dunes and weave our way through stands of Desert Oaks to our overnight camp at Lake Christopher.

Day 6: Lake Christopher to Yulara 455km

Today is one of our longest days in the saddle. We turn South in the shadow of the Rawlinson Ranges and out of the sand dunes. Crossing Gibber country we meet up with the Great Central Road and ride into Giles for morning tea then after a splash and dash for the Support Vehicle at Warakurna Community we continue along the Great Central Road into the Northern Territory. Passing through Docker River we stop for a Lunch Break at Lasseter’s Cave. We continue heading due East then in the distance the magnificent Olgas start to take shape. The Great Central Road ends at the Olgas where we hit the bitumen road again for the short 40km trip into Yulara Resort. On our way to Yulara and after a few kilometres on the bitumen, Ayers Rock looms up behind the dunes. Ayers Rock stays in view all the way to our overnight camp at the resort where all the mod cons greet us. Showers, Swimming Pool, Shops etc. We head to the Pub for dinner and a cold beer or 3.

Day 7: Yulara 0km

Today is a day off. So you are free to visit Ayers Rock and the Olgas or spend the day as you like.

Day 8: Yulara to Lambert Centre 420km

Leaving Ayers Rock behind we continue on the bitumen road for another 100km before turning South and heading back onto the dirt towards the South Australian Border. At Mulga Downs we turn East again and continue along the NT – SA border along easy relaxing roads before arriving at Kulgera where we once again fill all tanks to the brim as our next chance will be at Birdsville 4 ½ days later. Our overnight camp is at Lambert Centre. This is the absolute Geographic centre of Australia. Our campsite also marks the middle of our tour in both time and distance.

Day 9: Lambert Centre to Purnie Bore 363km

As we continue east we pass the Finke Aboriginal Community and continue along the Road of Stones after lunch to Mt. Dare where the Support Truck gets a slash and dash ready for the Simpson Crossing. Leaving Mt. Dare and a little more of the Road of Stones we see our first sand dunes as we cross the mud flats to Dalhousie Springs. The thermal hot water springs soon sooth away the aches and pains from the days riding. After lunch and a long swim we hit the sand and the beginning of the Simpson Desert. Our overnight camp has the most amazing hot water shower in Australia.

Day 10: Purnie Bore to Erabena Track 110km

After a big breakfast we continue crossing the 1200 sand dunes of the Simpson and they continue to get bigger and bigger as the morning goes on. Continuing over the dunes to the Rig Road intersection where we stop for morning tea. After morning tea the we continue east on the French Line. The going gets tougher and we all look forward to a long lunch at the Colson Track. After lunch the dunes continue to grow in size and 40 km further on we get to the Erabena Track where we make camp.

Day 11: Erabena Track to Peoppel Corner 80km

The Support Truck struggles to keep up today as the dunes reach 20+ meters in height so there are lots of chances for a rest. We continue along the French Line and over another few hundred sand dunes to our Lunch stop at the Approdinna Attora Knolls. After lunch we ride along the French line to Peoppel Corner where the Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland borders meet. This is our last camp in the desert and a last chance to soak up the remoteness and solitude of the experience.

Day 12: Peoppel Corner to Birdsville 167km

Heading north from the corner we once again enter the Northern Territory for a brief moment before joining the QAA line and turning east for the final 500 odd dunes into Birdsville. The last of the dunes is named ‘Big Red’ and a challenge to get to the top on your 1^st go. After playing on Big Red for a while and making sure the Support truck gets over Little Red. We are back on formed dirt roads for the short 40km trip into Birdsville and a welcome hot shower and a cold beer and dinner at the Birdsville Hotel.

Day 13: Birdsville to Cooper Crossing 386km

Back onto formed dirt roads we continue East to a Lunch stop at the Betoota Hotel. The hotel was closed in 1997 but the veranda is a welcome spot to have lunch out of the sun. After lunch we continue along easy roads and join the  bitumen road again into Windorah then it’s a easy 20km to our overnight stop on the banks of Cooper Creek.

Day 14: Cooper Crossing to Longreach 320km

Today we head North with the sun on our left shoulder we join the Jundah Stock Route to Jundah. Stopping on the banks of the Thompson river for Lunch as we wait for the Support Truck to catch up. After Lunch we continue along the Thompson River to our overnight camp in Longreach. Tonight we head to the Longreach Club for a cold beer and dinner.

Day 15: Longreach to Charlies Hut 406km

Continuing along the Thompson River we enter deep into west Queensland cattle country and leaving the outback we ride up and over the Great Divide where the countryside starts to get greener and the Kangaroos and Emus are everywhere. Day 15 calls for careful alert riding. We then join the Suttor River for our last overnight camp at Charlies Hut.

Day 16: Charlies Hut to Airlie Beach 448km

After breaking camp for the last time we spend the day on winding dirt roads. The dirt road finally ends just to the east of Collinsville where we are on bitumen road for the short last stretch of the adventure. As we head back to the ‘Big Smoke’ we pass through the 1^st traffic lights for 16 days. They are always RED… The road then passes through Cannonvale and into Airlie Beach where the adventure ends as we dip our boots into the Pacific Ocean. Hopefully the tide is in. After transfers to hotels we meet up again in the evening for a final meal and drinks in Airlie Beach.

reviews for this tour soon.