Bicycling the Outback
I had always wanted to do a long-distance bicycle trip and when I found myself in Australia, I thought to myself, “Why not across the Outback?” At least it would be flat?
On a whim, I went to a bicycle shop in Melbourne and told them to outfit me with everything I would need to ride across the country’s red center to Darwin in the north – bicycle included.
The trip began in Melbourne before heading west to Adelaide and then north up the Stuart Highway to Darwin with a detour to Uluru about halfway through the journey. Two months and 2,428.24 mi / 3,907.04 km later and it was mission accomplished.
Bike Tour Gear List
Australia Places
- Ararat
- South Australia
- The Adelaide Hills
- Adelaide
- Snowtown
- Port Augusta
- Coober Pedy
- The Northern Territory
- Yulara
- Alice Springs
- Mataranka
- Darwin
Bike Tour Issues
Australia Things
Australia Sights
The Outback
- The Outback
- Outback Water Sources
- Outback Wind
- Coober Pedy
- Outback Animals
- Road Trains
- The Northern Territory
- Uluru
- Alice Springs
- The Tropic Of Capricorn
The Rest
Day by Day
- Day 1: Getting Shit On
- Day 2: Why Google Maps?!
- Day 3: Anzac Day
- Day 4: This Knee
- Day 5: Ararat
- Day 6: Big Stupid Things
- Day 7: My First Flat
- Day 8: One Week Lessons
- Day 9: South Australia!
- Day 10: Puncture City
- Day 11: Nerve Damage
- Day 12: The Adelaide Hills
- Day 13-22: Adelaide Intermission
- Day 23: The Flies
- Day 24: Snowtown
- Day 25: Merino Tires
- Day 26: Destination Darwin
- Day 27: Port Augusta
- Day 28: The Outback!
- Day 29: The Grey Nomads
- Day 30: Last Call For Water
- Day 31: The Party People
- Day 32: Headwind
- Day 33: Coober Pedy
- Day 34: Fellow Cyclists
- Day 35: Where Are The Animals?
- Day 36: The Wave
- Day 37: Road Trains
- Day 38: The Northern Territory
- Day 39: Hitch To Yulara
- Day 40: Uluru
- Day 41: The Rain
- Day 42: 199 km
- Day 43: Alice Springs
- Day 44: Cycling Food
- Day 45: Australian Internet
- Day 46: The Tropic Of Capricorn
- Day 47: Outback Attractions
- Day 48: Tailwind!
- Day 49: The Devils Marbles
- Day 50: Broken Spoke
- Day 51: The Longest Ride
- Day 52: Mrs. Molly The Shopping Trolley
- Day 53: Hot Springs
- Day 54: It’s So Hot
- Day 55: Night Riding
- Day 56: My First Fall
- Day 57: Bush Camping
- Day 58: The Boredom
- Day 59: DARWIN!
I’ve tried to make this as accessible and straightforward as possible because I remember what a hassle it was to find information about riding a bicycle across the Outback before my ride.
If you have any suggestions on how this page can be improved, questions about the ride, or requests for future posts, then contact me and let me know!