• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Halfway Anywhere

Halfway Anywhere

  • About
  • Blog
  • PCT
  • CDT
  • Hikes
    • Arizona
      • Arizona Trail
      • Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon
      • Royal Arch Loop
    • Australia
      • Outback Bicycle Tour
      • New South Wales
        • The Coast Track
      • Tasmania
        • Federation Peak
        • Frenchmans Cap
        • Mount Anne Circuit
        • Overland Track
        • Western Arthurs Traverse
    • California
      • Cactus to Clouds
      • Kings Canyon High Basin Route
      • Southern Sierra High Route
      • Trans-Catalina Trail
    • Brazil
    • Japan
      • Alps Traverse
      • Fuji Area
      • Hokkaido
      • Hokuriku
      • Kansai
      • Kita Alps
      • Kyushu
    • Nepal
      • Everest Base Camp
      • Three Passes Trek
    • New Zealand
      • Ball Pass Route
    • Oregon
      • Timberline Trail
    • Washington
      • Wonderland Trail
  • Gear
    • Current Gear List
    • Gear Reviews
    • Gear Lists
    • PCT Gear
    • Best Backpacking Quilts
    • Best Satellite Messengers
    • Best Sun Hoodies
    • Best Thru-Hiking Shoes
    • Best Thru-Hiking Socks
    • Deals & Discounts
  • Surveys
    • PCT Survey
      • PCT Survey Results
      • PCT Gear Guide
      • PCT Resupply Guide
      • Women’s Gear Guide
      • Couples’ Gear Guide
      • Demographic Breakdown
      • PCT Horror Stories
      • PCT Hiker Advice
      • PCT Social Issues
      • All PCT Survey Articles
      • PCT SURVEY SIGNUP!
    • CDT Survey
      • CDT Survey Results
      • CDT Gear Guide
      • CDT Resupply Guide
      • CDT Horror Stories
      • CDT Hiker Advice
      • All CDT Survey Articles
      • CDT SURVEY SIGNUP!
    • JMT Survey
      • JMT Survey Results
      • All JMT Survey Articles
      • JMT SURVEY SIGNUP!
  • Contact
    • Say Hello!
    • Support

Australia Bike Tour Day 26: Destination Darwin

By Mac Leave a Comment

A relatively short morning ride brings me to Port Augusta – the last true civilization I’ll be seeing for quite some time.

I ponder, as I often do, my journey through the Outback as I look at where I’ve come from and where I’ve still to go.

The highway I will be traveling on northwards from Port Augusta is the Stuart Highway. It runs north for 1,761 mi / 2,834 km to the city of Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory.

Until now I had been considering turning east at some point along the Stuart Highway and making for the city of Cairns (located on Australia’s eastern coast in the state of Queensland).

Until now I hadn’t really considered Darwin as a possible terminus for my journey.

Until now.

Map-Australia-Cairns
Original trajectory.
Map-Australia-Darwin
Proposed trajectory.
 

But why would I change my destination?

Well, a couple of reasons:

  • The Stuart Highway is a well-known route through Australia and quite literally cuts the country into east and west.
  • Darwin has crocodiles, and since I’ve yet to see any real Australian wildlife, I might as well try for some crocs.
  • If I don’t go to Darwin now, I cannot realistically see myself making it there anytime in the near future (the only future worth considering).
  • I am traveling without plans and one of the beauties of planless travel is that I can do whatever I want whenever I want.

Good enough reasons? If not, then how about I just say that it’s shorter (and it is – by 227 mi / 365 km)? Now, have I adequately justified my new position now?

And yes, I said new position. This has officially gone from something that I’m thinking about to something I’m planning on doing.

Corcodiles, here I come.

Croc-Doll
I hear they’re cuddly.
Stuart-Higway-Sign
The Stuart Highway
 

Should I make it up to the top of the northern territory quickly enough, I may be able to spend some days in Kakadu and Litchfield national parks (and possibly add the Big Jumping Crocodile to my list of big things).

Both are supposedly spectacular (and filled with crocodiles), and a visit would give me something to look forward to during the long haul north from my (planned) visit to that big rock in the middle of the country.

In terms of riding, today was short and easy. However, when checking myself into my Port Augusta motel, I had an altercation with the owner regarding whether or not my bicycle would be allowed to stay in the room with me.

Needless to say, I sought more hospitable accommodation down the road (where they had surprisingly quick wifi as well – quite rare in this country).

  • START: Rest Stop, South Australia
  • END: Port Augusta, South Australia
  • DAY’S DISTANCE: 30.64 mi / 49.3 km
  • TOTAL DISTANCE: 699.73 mi / 1,125.84 km

You'll Like These Too:

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on WhatsApp Share on Email

Australia,  Australia South Australia

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent Posts

  • Continental Divide Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2022 Survey
  • Continental Divide Trail Hiker Survey (2022)
  • Pacific Crest Trail Resupply Guide (2022 Survey)
  • The Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2022 Survey
  • Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Survey (2022)
Backpacking Gear Pacific Crest Trail Continental Divide Trail Mac's Backpack

Footer

STAY IN TOUCH

You've made it this far, you're either into this site or you're still looking for something. Either way, best to sign up for my newsletter, yeah?

NAVIGATION

  • Recent Posts
  • Backpacking Gear
  • Continental Divide Trail
  • Pacific Crest Trail
  • Brazil Trekking
  • Japan Trekking
  • Nepal Trekking
  • New Zealand Trekking
  • Tasmania Trekking

LEGALESE

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2023 · Halfway Anywhere