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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 26 Jul 2009
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lap of australia.
I am planning on doing lap of Australia, leaving in August sometime.I will leaving from Melbourne and heading to Adelaide then up to Darwin.I will then either go right to Queensland or left to WA.I will be doing either a figure of eight or a B around Oz.If anyone is interested in joining me for some of the trip let me know.I will be mostly camping, a lot of it free camping whilst out in the sticks.I rode my Triumph Bonneville from the UK to malaysia overland last year, so am experienced in overland travel.
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  #2  
Old 29 Jul 2009
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Smile Did the Lap of Australia also!
I did the "lap" starting from Melbourne in August but went round the other direction. Had a great trip. Too many places to see and stop. Look in on my trip here. www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/rickmcd Good Luck and keep us all updated on how it is going.
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  #3  
Old 31 Jul 2009
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had a look at your site.some lovely photos and places that I will add to my list.Seeing snow in November looks a bit of a worry, as I will be heading off in winter.I don't think I will be heading up to the Snowy Mts any time soon, and I can't imagine it will be cold in the far north.If you are interested I have a website of my trip from the UK to Australia last year, its A Triumph to Nelson. Andy
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  #4  
Old 1 Aug 2009
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Hi,
I'm currently on a lap around Aus. I'm in Adelaide now, having left Sydney and done the Great Ocean Road. I'll be in Perth until the 23rd Aug, then heading north to Broom and Darwin. To be in Townsville by the 18th September.
If there's any way your route links up with mine, would be cool to have some company!
P.s. NSW, VIC, SA are all really cold on a bike in winter. I had underestimated how cold. Bring extra thermals! hehehe
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  #5  
Old 2 Aug 2009
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hi Bonnie, I will probably pass you somewhere in WA.I will be on the other side of the road so keep an eye out for a black Triumph Bonneville with UK number plates, albeit black not yellow.I'll keep in touch on the way round so we can rondezvous and here a somewhere.I have packed longjohns and loads of thermals for the cold nights.I have been toying with packing a hot water bottle, but will have to see how my space is going.
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Old 4 Aug 2009
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Hot water bottle is a great idea! Stick it down the front of your jacket! hahaha.
Keep in touch. See you for a in WA
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  #7  
Old 5 Aug 2009
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I'll be finding room for my hottie I think!Leaving next Monday after hopefully
renewing my carnet.Should I carry spare fuel when I get away from the main towns do you think?I have had a 25 litre tank fitted to the Bonny and can get around 300ks + from a tank.Cheers Andy (aka bonnyboy)
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  #8  
Old 5 Aug 2009
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Originally Posted by andypettitt62 View Post
I'll be finding room for my hottie I think!Leaving next Monday after hopefully
renewing my carnet.Should I carry spare fuel when I get away from the main towns do you think?I have had a 25 litre tank fitted to the Bonny and can get around 300ks + from a tank.Cheers Andy (aka bonnyboy)
You will need a better range on the west coast and sometimes up the middle the servos are empty. Take a 5lt can just in case. In the NT, Cape Crawford to the Homestead is 380km, I just managed with my Vstrom without topping up, but I took extra anyway because of headwinds.

Cheers and have fun

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  #9  
Old 6 Aug 2009
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cheers TS, I'll carry a spare can with 5 litres for when I get out in the sticks.I'll ask as I go along what the state of petrol is up the road.
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Old 9 Aug 2009
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I havn't yet done my research on fuel availability up north. It was totally fine across the Nullarbor. Less than 200kms between fuel at the most.
Will have to figure out a way to strap a small jerry can to my bike :/
Not sure of the exact route Im taking from Darwin to Townsville yet, but sounds like I'm in for some long fuel-less stretches.
Whats the North west coast of WA like for fuel? Do you know TS?
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Old 16 Aug 2009
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I've done it too on an old Ducati. Finding fuel wasn't a problem but for that 380k stretch, I brought extra fuel. I had more of a problem with the drop bears.
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  #12  
Old 17 Aug 2009
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Originally Posted by Bonnie View Post
I havn't yet done my research on fuel availability up north. It was totally fine across the Nullarbor. Less than 200kms between fuel at the most.
Will have to figure out a way to strap a small jerry can to my bike :/
Not sure of the exact route Im taking from Darwin to Townsville yet, but sounds like I'm in for some long fuel-less stretches.
Whats the North west coast of WA like for fuel? Do you know TS?
You should have no serious issues if you have a range of 300km or better. Most definately, fuel up at every opportunity, do not believe the maps, there may be a servo there, whetehr they have fuel is a different story.

If you can strap a 4lt container to your bike somehow, it makes the mind a lot easier to live with, just remember not to rely on th efact it is there, fuel up anyway.

North west coast is fine, every 200km for sure, sometimes less, just a splash and dash stop most of them between the big mining towns. If you take any side roads though, take extra, I ran out by not following my own advice and took a side road and never made it to the next servo, lucky I had a MSI bottle wit the extra litre needed to get the last 5 kms

Have fun

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Old 17 Aug 2009
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We're in Melbourne at the moment, waiting for our bike to arrive from Chile. Should be ready to go by the end of September, and then plan to ride over to Perth, so we might be seeing you on the road too.

Enjoy. . . .
jc
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  #14  
Old 19 Aug 2009
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I am now in Darwin, having ridden up through the middle.Great ride but long days in the saddle.Rode the Lassiter Highway to Uluru into a strong headwind.It was around 260ks, which is well within my fuel range.I went fro a morning ride around the rock the next day and ran out of fuel.Luckily I was near the park entrance and tipped the bike over to get the last bit of fuel over to the tap side.Made to within 300 metres of the Mobil station at the resort.No problems getting fuel all the way up the Stuart, although I did fill up at every roadhouse and township.It can be expensive, up to $1.70 a litre but you have no choice.I am heading down to katherine tomorrow and then to WA.Yet to see a vertical roo, plenty that are part of the scenery though.Never got up to the 130kph speed limit in the NT, especially with road trains thundering past in the opposite direction.
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Old 8 Sep 2009
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Hey Andy, when you do see a vertical roo be careful. They are very unpredictable and so are the vertical emus!

When I rode the Stuart Highway there was no speed limit but, except when overtaking road trains, I rode at a fairly modest pace because of the wildlife hazard.
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