HU Travellers Meeting Queensland 2026

Stuart Ball The Great Australian Ride Q & A about Australia's ultimate east-west adventure.

The Great Australian Ride is primarily a charity-based ride that raised over half a million dollars for good causes. Now retired, founder Stuart Ball recalls the highs and lows of his incredible 12-year journey, which includes 10 x transcontinental crossings of Australia, 26 x Simpson Desert Expeditions, and 2 x Cape York Adventure Courage Freedom.

Cindy and Duncan Bennett, Travelling Bennetts U.S.A. "Lower 48 Mate" / Talking Tours

1. U.S.A. "Lower 48 Mate"
Chatting about our 2025 trip covering all Lower 48 USA states over five months on two bikes.

2025 was a big year—turning 60 and a 30th wedding anniversary—what better way to celebrate than to ship our two Triumph Tigers from Brisbane to LA and scoot around the USA for five months! A wall-sized USA map was strung up and the planning started. Hang on, could we do the whole lower 48 states in five months??

2. Talking Tours
A guided tour or an independently planned trip? Well, it depends...

Sometimes a guided tour is the way to go travelling. Having done a mix of both guided motorcycle tours and expeditions as well as self-planned independent rides we discuss the pros and cons of each and our process in deciding which way to go. Tours across Africa, South America and Europe come under the spotlight in this presentation.

CINDY and DUNCAN BENNETT are self-described "enthusiastic amateur" adventure riders who got back into it about 15 years ago after a 20-year hiatus due to children and careers. They both currently ride Triumph Tiger 900s. They embraced adventure travel ever since their first riding trip overseas, a short guided tour to Chile and Argentina. In the last 11 years, they have travelled all rideable continents on two wheels with a combination of guided tours and independent travel. Highlights include Central Australia, South Island NZ, Portugal, Africa, South-East Asia, and the Americas. What they enjoy most about adventure riding is the opportunity to get off the beaten track discovering the hidden gems, always being amused, enjoying the local food and beverages, and meeting interesting and inspiring people.

Elizabeth Norman, Karakoram Bikers Riding Pakistan Running a motorcycle travel company in Pakistan: an unexpected twist in life's journey.

From dusty roads, rocky river beds, and sandy deserts to the mesmerising iconic bends of the Karakoram Highway, Pakistan has it all. This is a story of how a woman from Australia found herself riding one of the most spectacular scenic destinations on eart, which led to creating an important support network for travellers ready to ride through this most misunderstood country. Through her company Karakoram Bikers, which she cofounded and runs with Pakistani Hamza Mobeen, fondly known as Shah, Lizzy now helps people from all over the world to learn about the culture and experience the real Pakistan by motorbike. Listen to tales of overcoming and connection as Lizzy shares her experiences of all things Pakistan, Gilgit / Skardu Baltistan in the foothils of forever mountains.

Swing by the KARAKORAM BIKERS exhibitor booth on-site and chat with Lizzy further.

ELIZABETH NORMAN runs a motorcycle travel company, Karakoram Bikers, that offers tours and support for overlanders in Pakistan. She's back this year to share more details about travelling through Pakistan. Lizzy and Shah have travelled through Asia, Pakistan, and southeast Asia, exploring independently by motorbikes and scooters.

Ashim Ranadive Australia to India on a Sportbike Ten years after presenting 'Dreaming of RTW' at HU Snowy Mountains in 2015, I'm back with a dream realised of riding a sportbike to far-flung places.

Have you ever wondered how to work up to something as daunting as "riding around the world"? For me, it started with reading the HUBB and an overnight trip with a bag strapped to the back of my bike. At HU NSW 2015, I presented on how slowly increasing the distance and duration of my travels taught me something new each time, as I worked towards my ultimate goal of 'The Big Trip'.

This presentation encompasses my journey leading up to and culminating in a ride from Australia to India on my ex-race bike GSXR600. Exploring the Siberian wilderness, crossing the Mongolian steppe, navigating border control in the Pamir Mountains and breakdowns in Pakistan. This is a tale of hardship, resilience, and achievement (that's the bike; I was just along for the ride to take pretty pictures).

ASHIM RANADIVE is a stubborn individual who didn't know much about overland travel or motorcycles and who decided to take his first bike (a Suzuki GSXR600 sportbike) on an overnight trip. A decade later, that has turned into riding the world on a GSXR, including quite possibly being the first person to cross Mongolia, and one of a few to tackle Central Asia, on a sportbike.

Alan Curtis Magical Mexico Three months travelling around Mexico on our XT 660s. What a magical experience!

It was an incredible three months and 8,000 kilometres of exploring a country that many warned us was too dangerous to ride. We rode to Creel, via the Devil's Backbone, known as one of the world's most dangerous roads - it's famous for its steep drops, tight hairpin turns, and even some drug-running activity, but on our way back from visiting the Copper Canyon, we decided to try a different route. Come with us on a trip through Magical Mexico, you won't be disappointed. Welcome to Mexico - what an adventure it was!

ALAN CURTIS and Lyn Williams Lyn left Australia in 2014 on 2two Yamaha XT660s, and rode around the world for three and a half years. We then travelled for 12 months in the U.S., Canada, and Alaska in a box truck.

Heather Ellis Africa to the Silk Road / Travel Writing Workshop

HEATHER ELLIS is an Australian motorcycle adventurer, author and speaker who rode solo across Africa and Central Asia along the Silk Roads to China on her Yamaha TT600. She is the author of two bestselling books, Ubuntu: One Woman's Motorcycle Odyssey Across Africa and Timeless On The Silk Road: An Odyssey From London to Hanoi.

1. Africa to the Silk Road
The power of the journey: from Africa to Central Asia by motorcycle

Australian motorcycle adventurer, writer, and author, Heather Ellis travelled across Africa, Europe, and central Asia on her Yamaha TT600 from 1994 to 1997. After Africa, Heather worked as a London motorcycle courier, then packed her TT600 to ride the ancient Silk Roads of Central Asia. Heather Ellis is the author of Ubuntu: One Woman's Motorcycle Odyssey Across Africa and Timeless On The Silk Road. Both books have received praise from Joanna Lumley, Cheryl Strayed, Tony Wheeler, Ted Simon and many others. In this presentation, illustrated with inspiring images from her travels, Heather will outline her own unique journey and discuss how to discover and hold on to the 'power of the journey' especially in this all consuming age of social media. Heather's next adventure on her Yamaha TT600 will be South to North America.

Linda Bootherstone-Bick Sixty Years of Motorcycling and Music Around the World

In her 60+ years of motorcycling around the world, Linda saw how adventure travel has changed since the 1960s. Back then, motorcycles were common for daily transport in many countries, bike mechanics were simpler, and motorcycle clubs were a fascinating mix of all kinds of riders.

While bikes are more reliable and sophisticated (and bigger, heavier!) today, they're also almost impossible to fix yourself without specialized equipment. In short, while there's more variety in bikes and gear now, there's so much specialization. Still, these changes have influenced how and where many women adventure riders have explored and influenced the experiences they gained.

Linda touches on motorcycling and making music around the world over sixty years. Singing and playing a musical instrument always leads to new friends. She's still very much into shorter trips where she can rent or buy a small bike for the time she's in a country.

LINDA BOOTHERSTONE-BICK is a British-Australian author and motorcyclist who rode solo across Africa in 1974. She's travelled through North America, Europe, northern Africa, and, in 2005-2007, from Germany to Indonesia.

Elizabeth Norman, Karakoram Bikers Pakistan - The Ins and Outs An immersive tale of the logistics of visiting this most misunderstood country.

Crossing Pakistan falls into most overlanders' world rides. Whether it be arriving from China, India, Iran, and even now Afghanistan, Shah and Lizzy know the ins and outs of every corner of this most underated and misunderstood part of the world and have been supporting overlanders with all the nitty-gritty of visitng and crossing Pakistan since 2016.

From border entries, security alerts and protocols to the mind-blowing scenery and out of the way routes, hospitable people, and love of riding. Based out of their mountain home and traveller guesthouse in Gilgit, Northern Pakistan, they bring a presentation filled with fun stories and a beautiful journey to fulfill a dream. We welcome all motorbike adventure travellers and look forward to sharing our stories with you.

ELIZABETH and SHAH run a motorcycle travel company, Karakoram Bikers, that offers tours and support for overlanders in Pakistan. Liz shared details about travelling through Pakistan at the last HU Snowy Travellers Meeting, which was lots of fun. Liz and Shah have travelled through Asia, Pakistan, and southeast Asia, exploring independently by motorbikes and scooters.

Martin Williams Is That Elephant Really Going to Eat My Motorcycle? (Or why you should be careful with mangoes)

There is no right or wrong way to organise a trip. For many, planning and researching are almost as much fun as doing. For me, it never seems to work out that way - despite best intentions (and regular self-admonitions that THIS time it will be different) - I always end up at the start unresearched and under-planned. This is the story of my last such trip and of how a supposedly four-month quick ride up the east side of Africa somehow stretched to eight months, and eventually took me from Cape Agulus in South Africa to Nord Kapp in Norway: a trip which involved many little adventures - losing my motorbike before I even started, watching it being molested by a hungry elephant in Zambia, getting detained by the army in Egypt, and even managing to lose one girlfriend at the start of the trip and finding another at the end. It reminded me that, if nothing else, lack of planning means you are never bored. What's around the next corner is always a complete surprise!

Georgia Melville From Scotland to Africa and back - 22 year old girl experiencing the world through solo motorcycle travel

"You can't go by yourself its too dangerous". A statement I found to continually come from people's mouths the minute I indulged them with my plan...

Its not until you travel that you realize how wrong other people are about other countries. I found this statement to be incredibly true after returning from my three month adventure from Scotland to Africa and back on a BMW F650 GS. Looking forward to sharing my experiences, laughing a lot and inspiring others to get on the bike and head for the horizons.

"Originally born in Scotland and migrated to Australia in 2001, I am 22 years old and work for NSW as a Paramedic. I have travelled solo the last 2 years on and off riding a BMW F650GS from Scotland to Africa and back. I ride an F800GS when I am at home and have been all over Australia and NZ exploring. I love inspiring people to ride, especially women and showing that anything is possible if you set your mind to it."

Scott McMurtrie, Transcendant Travel Panamerica Facts and figures of the Panamerican Highway

From the Arctic Circle to Ushuaia, having ridden over 50,000km in 16 countries through the Americas, Scott will present the great (and some not-so-great) moments, review the facts and figures from the trip (including budget vs. costs), and take your questions in an informal session.

Scott says: "Last Christmas, I was talking with my sister and discussing where in the world we would like to travel to. We both agreed that South America would be a great place to ride through and I immediately thought that the Pan American Highway would be an awesome ride. She pointed out that there may not be another opportunity for me to do such a trip and most people never get the opportunity to complete an adventure like this. So with that conversation the seed for the Panamericana trip was planted."

John Harpour Quick Spin Through the Himalayas Nepal: the adventure rider's budget, short-break paradise

Riding in Nepal was something of a happy accident. A cheap air fare and a moment of madness sent John and a couple of friends on a full-on, three-week trip into one of the most accessible, fascinating, and challenging countries that could have been tailor-made for adventure riders who are time (and money) poor. The distances covered are small, but the experiences are huge on this trip into the Annapurna range of the Himalayas. John shows you how to pack a whopping amount of adventure into a short period of time and do it on a ridiculously small budget.

With a normal busy life, John isn't an overlander by any stretch of the imagination. By focusing on achievable budget-conscious travel, however, he has crossed Australia, wobbled about California, done New Zealand, been terrified in India and awestruck in Nepal...so far...with much more to come.

David Hicks Choose Your Own Adventure I Would Ride 5000 Miles, I Would Ride 5000 More

1. Choose Your Own Adventure

Do adventures have to be long overseas trips? Do adventure bikes have all the farkles? Do adventurers have to give up their jobs? Deciding to go on an adventure can be challenging enough, but what about when you start hearing that you *must* do this or *have to* buy this, have this experience, have these skills? David considers himself an adventurer, but not because of any single trip. Riding in the front paddock on a borrowed bike with second-hand safety gear, on overnight trips less than 100 km from home, whether on the Mongolia steppes on a hire bike or sleeping in 5 star hotels, adventure is what you make it! Find out how to choose an adventure that suits you and how to make it happen.

2. I Would Ride 5,000 Miles, I Would Ride 5,000 More

A wild story about a casual ride through the nordic countries, Russia, the "Stans" and Mongolia to the ends of the earth. After embracing the idea of taking a year off from work to "follow his bliss", David started working on a plan for one of the all-time legendary status trips: London to Magadan. Inspired in equal parts by Walter Colebatch and adventuring souls in his past, David set off on his first solo overseas trip, with a little bit of language, a few online contacts, his HU password, a handful of throttle, and a heart full of hope. Hear the story of an epic trip that has shaped his life.

After working all over rural Australia, David opted for a desk job in civil engineering. Encouraged by his wife, he rekindled his boyhood love of long trips on two wheels. Flying 'rockstar' trips, riding local roads, across the arctic circle, through the "Stans", crossing the Simpson, riding the TAT and working to ride, David is the definition of making up your mind and doing it.

Brian and Shirley Hardy-Rix, Aussies Overland RTW two-up! and Roads Less Travelled London to Melbourne

Two up around the world

We rode from the bottom of South America to the top of Alaska. A lap of Western Europe and southern Africa before heading home to Australia. 16 months on the road, more than 82,000 ks through 32 countries. We crossed the Andes, deserts, visited Antarctica and Galapagos. It was the ride of our lives!

London to Melbourne on roads less travelled

We left London with a year to get home to Melbourne. We were on the Isle of Man for the TT and rode the circuit on Mad Sunday. We travelled through the European heatwave and down the Dalmatian coast, through Greece and Turkey. Into Iran and then Pakistan where we had to ride under armed guard on some dangerous roads. We rode high into the Karakoram mountains, then through Nepal, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore and home into Darwin.

Shirley and Brian have written a book about their travels: Circle to Circle - a journey through the Americas and beyond. The book will be available at the event - get your copy signed by the authors!

Peter and Kay Forwood, 193 Countries on a Harley! How this motorcycle became the World's Most Traveled Motorcycle!

The other half in Gabon!

Shane Kuhl Pocket Adventures - How to have an affordable adventure before the boss even knows you're gone!

Adventures in our our backyard, starting with a motorcycle tour of East Timor and then looking at various Internet and other resources to make travelling within Australia both exciting and affordable. Shane describes himself as the clumsy traveller. "If one learns from their mistakes, I must be the smartest traveller in Australia. I've managed to leave parts of motorcycles in many locations in Australia."

Grant and Susan Johnson, Horizons Unlimited How it all began. The story of Grant and Susan's 11-year trip around the world, without a plan or a clue!

Way back in 1987, before the Internet, two young and naive Canadians set out from Vancouver to ride around the world on a motorcycle. The plan (and budget) was for 3 years, but it didn't quite work out that way!

Grant crossing a river on a pipe bridge in Peru

11+ years later, they finally made it, through 50 countries - Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, North and South America, with a side trip to Antarctica! Hundreds of great pics and some amazing stories!