By Bob Moore and Trevor Briggs (1942-1999).
The Stuart Highway, the only direct link between Adelaide and Darwin, is 3000 km of two-laned black asphalt stretching from the cool Southern Ocean, through the arid red centre of Australia, to the green tropical north coast.
The Highway, or "the track" as it is known, was named after John McDouall Stuart, an indomitable explorer who led three expeditions northward from Adelaide, being turned back twice by lack of water and hostile Aborigines in 1860 and 1861, but finally reaching the north coast of Australia near Darwin in July 1862, and returning after many privations to Adelaide in December 1862.
The highway was for many years little more than a dirt or sand track and was only sealed and upgraded in 1987 as a Commonwealth Government project. There is an exhibition in an underground hotel in Coober Pedy, should you reach that far, on the history of the road.
Jerome Murif was the first cyclist to ride from Adelaide to Darwin, in 1897, long before any roads were built. He followed the railway at first to its then head near Oodnadatta, then rough tracks along the Overland Telegraph line, which led on northward to Alice Springs and Darwin. He relied on isolated cattle stations for food and sometimes went thirsty for days through the dry centre. He described his epic journey in a book, "From Ocean to Ocean", a copy of which I found in the Northern Territory Library in Darwin. A ground sheet, some basic clothes and equipment, a little food and a pistol were all he carried - the epitome of the light-weight tourer. This ride, by me and Trevor Briggs, was in honour of his achievement a century ago.
Conditions are much better today for cyclists, with a mainly flat sealed road, and roadhouses spaced about 100 to 150 km apart providing food and accommodation (except for one 250 km section in South Australia). There are water tanks along some of the longer stretches between road houses. Even so, it is a great journey in the footsteps of Stuart and Murif.
We believe the Track can be cycled by anyone with a reasonable amount of experience, preparation and determination. We hope this guide, based on the trip we did in Late March to early May 1997 will give you an idea of what to expect and some useful information and hints on when and how to go.
Next page- page 2 of 9- why and when to go.
| 3 what to take| 4 water and road trains| 5 on the road| 6 places along the way| 7 distances and water| 8 web info| 9 Trevor Briggs|