Australia - meeting up for a big ride. April 2023
 

I'm planning to ride to Darwin, taking off from either Brisbane or Melbourne in early April, which is the end of the northern wet season and when temperatures will be tolerable.
So going up through QLD to Cairns, then west to Normanton, then west again to Burketown. Down to Camoweal and then out to the Sturt Hwy and on to Darwin. (4200kms) Return via Sturt Hwy to Port Augusta and then back to Sydney or Melbourne. I can do it in reverse if necessary.
The pluses. You get someone who knows the country and what a big ride entails. If things go wrong then it's a lot easier to cope if there are two of you.
If you are travelling to OZ, then maybe i can help line up a bike for you.

Requirements. Ability to behave like an adult even when feeling stressed. Sense of humour and no whingeing. Liking early starts but ready to pack it in by 3pm and have a drink.
No, I do not want to do a "ride around Australia". The Darwin - Perth leg is too long and tedious. Crossing the Nullabor has no appeal either.

What bike are you taking on this ride?

I've bought an older CB500X so that i can ride either the tar or the dirt. A better bet than some of the other bikes i have such as MGV7 and Sv650

I plan to ride from the East to the West. Cross the Simpsons Desert and also Flinders, and some in Kemberly. I have a 732cc KTM custom Factory Rally Adventure so quite different from the CBX. I'm more of a technical rider.

No worries. We may meet on the trails.

Yes, you are a hotshot rider and way out of my class. I'm principally a road rider and just dabble in the easy off road stuff.
I'm too old and not skilled enough to handle a Simpson crossing.

No worries mate. I'm 52 and therefore want to get this type of riding done when I can.

Australia is a wonderful country with all the risks that come with it. Kenya is equally up there on risk due to variables and very different from Australia. Australia has a system and natural reserves are protected. It's very clear on public and private land which in Kenya is a problem with people claiming land you're riding through when they wish and a way to exploit and simply get money off you!

I'm looking to forward to my trip.

how long roughly are you are thinking to make the trip?

Im on the sth coast of nsw and would meet you up north to head north

I have a transalp 650 and did a similar trip 4 yrs ago - keen to revisit some places I saw on the way

best way of putting it is to say that I'm negotiable as to how far we travel each day, which really determines how long the trip takes. i've got months to do it if necessary.
i'm currently in NZ doing 2 months riding all over but have set myself 2 -300 kms a day and this limit has been great because I can dodge the afternoon showers and have time to soak up the places. By 3pm I'm ready for a drink.
Aus is bigger so for example you'd want to do the 450kms between Cammoweal and the Sturt Hwy in one hit.
i've done 1000kms a day but that's not what i have in mind this time.

There are big plusses in 2 riders in FNQ on roads such as Normanton to Burketown and down to Cammoweal.

Give me your thoughts on a plan