Wednesday 13 June
They’re home safe and we’re over the moon to announce that the 2018 Around Australia Ride raised an amazing $110,000 for childhood cancer research!
Our crew received a warm welcome at Tynan Motors Hyundai this afternoon, completing the 15,000km marathon motorcycle ride which kicked off last month in Tamworth.
Huge thanks to Tynan Motors for hosting the welcome, to our fantastic sponsor and supplier of our two support vehicles, Hyundai Help for Kids and Hyundai Australia as well as the family, friends and supporters who made it a special homecoming.
And last but definitely not least – a huge congratulations to the wonderful crew of riders, pillions and support crew on this amazing achievement!
Sunday 10 June – Tuesday 12 June
Some more spectacular scenery and roads for riding as the Around Australia Riders have traveled through Victoria, along the Great Ocean Road and across Port Phillip Bay onboard the Queenscliff Ferry. Onto Batemans Bay tonight for their last night of this incredible adventure and back to Sydney tomorrow, Wednesday 13 June!
Thursday 7 June – Sunday 10 June
AAR has visited Port Augusta, Hahndorf and Mount Gambier in the last few days with many more natural and man-made wonders to experience!
Many of the riders took the longer route to Port Augusta, enabling them to visit the incredible rock formations – Murphy’s Haystacks.
A rest day in Hahndorf to catch up on washing, some sightseeing and some even visited the National Motor Museum with spectacular vehicle & bike displays.
Beautiful stone buildings and architecture through S.A then onto the Blue Lake at Mount Gambier. Onto Victoria and only a few days to go!
Saturday 9 June
A very special night for the Around Australia Ride group as they received a Skype call from Professor Glenn Marshall. Professor Marshall has been Head of the Molecular Carcinogenesis Program at Children’s Cancer Institute since 1995. He is also Clinical Director of the Zero Childhood Cancer personalised medicine program, Paediatric Oncologist at Kids Cancer Centre, and Head of Translational Research at Children’s Cancer Institute. He thanked the group and all of their supporters for the funds raised and explained how government funding will always fall short of what is needed and that the money raised on this journey is hoped to fund a research position for a young scientist working on specific aspects of helping children’s bodies to fight cancer in new and incredible ways. Such a moving experience for this wonderful group to hear of the many avenues scientists are exploring.
Monday 4 June – Wednesday 6 June
Tuesday 29 May – Sunday 3 June
Over 9000km travelled so far on the AAR 2018!
Visiting some of the West’s major cities in the last few days plus two oceans, with scenery changes from the desert regions to windblown coastal and then lush pasture land.
Some of the highlights of the West have included a visit to the Pinnacles; a morning walk to the HMAS Sydney Memorial in Geraldton; Cape Leeuwin, the most South Western point of this beautiful land and the meeting place of two oceans; then the Gloucester tree near Pemberton. This 53m tall tree can be climbed, so three of the group did, with some amazing views from the top.
The journey is now heading towards the Nullarbor.
Tuesday 29 May – Thursday 31 May
The Around Australia Ride crew recently enjoyed a two night stop in beautiful Fremantle. Time for a rest and some maintenance. Thank you to Esplanade Hotel Fremantle – by Rydges for their hospitality & to DVG Melville Hyundai for servicing our support vehicles.
Saturday 26 May – Monday 28 May
On Sunday the Around Australia Ride crew conquered the longest riding day of the trip – 870kms from Port Hedland to Carnarvon. It was an early start for riders and support crew, but all arrived safe and well… although one ended up doing around 250km extra taking his total kilometres for the day to over 1000! All thanks to some dodgy sat nav directions.
More spectacular scenery and plenty of personal triumphs including Janet, our only female rider, who only got her licence two years ago and is stoked to have blitzed the 870km day.
Over 8000kms travelled in total now for the crew. If you’d like to support their fundraising challenge then please donate here.
Wednesday 23 May – Friday 25 May
Been wondering what the Around Australia Riders have been up to?
Today was a rest day in beautiful Broome with many taking advantage of the time to explore. Some enjoyed flights to the horizontal falls and others took camel rides on Cable Beach. Three of the riders even did an interview on ABC radio!
In the past few days they’ve traveled from Kununurra to Halls Creek and then the biggest leg of the trip from Halls Creek to Broome.
The Kimberley Ranges offered constantly changing and amazing vistas. The China Wall 6km from Halls Creek looks man made but is a limestone stream exposed amongst the red rocks surrounding it.
The longest riding day saw a warm morning at 6am and it got to 32C before long. The roads were rough and the ant hills were enormous. A long day perfectly finished with a glimpse of the Indian Ocean.
Next stop Port Hedland!
Sunday 20 May – Tuesday 22 May
Over 5500km travelled so far for the Around Australia Ride crew through an ever changing landscape. The ride has crossed from the NT into WA after passing through Tennant Creek, Daly Waters, Katherine and onto Kununurra today. They’ve enjoyed some of the best the Aussie outback has to offer with some exploring Katherine Gorge by boat, others relaxing around the pool waiting for their washing to dry and some even experiencing a spectacular birds eye view over the mighty Katherine Gorge.
Monday 21 May
Today Steven Walter would have celebrated his 37th birthday. It’s easy to see from the photos what he was passionate about – motorbikes! He loved his family and friends and was determined that one day no other kid would have to go through what he went through.
He would be so proud of what has been achieved in his name so far – more than $7.5 million raised for research into a cure for childhood cancer. But there is still more work to be done and a timely reminder of why we are doing this trip! If you’d like to support the life saving research being funded in Steve’s name you can donate at www.stevenwalterfoundation.org.au.
Thursday 17 May – Saturday 19 May
Townsville
to
the
Northern Territory
From Townsville to Richmond, Mt Isa and onto the Northern Territory. It’s been great weather and clear skies for the Around Australia Ride. Pit stops in Pentland and the FJ Holden cafe in Hughenden and a visit to the Kronosauras at Richmond where large dinosaur bones have been found. Termite mounds are starting to appear as are the mega road trains as the crew coasts across the top of Oz. What a trip!
Wednesday 16 May
The Around Australia Ride crew enjoyed a rest day in Townsville today and stopped in to see the lovely folk at Pickerings Auto Group at Townsville Hyundai.
On the way to Townsville, the ride has passed through Rockhampton to Mackay with great riding via Emu Park and Yeppoon, beautiful weather and lovely scenery.
There have been plenty of random acts of kindness from people donating what they can along the way including an absolute treasure in the carpark of the Flaggy Cow Café just south of Mackay. At 72 years old he has survived several cancers himself and is broken hearted that kids suffer cancer. This generous soul donated $50, what a legend.
Sunday 13 May
Here’s a glimpse into days 2 & 3 of the Around Australia Ride 2018. The tour passed by Tenterfield Railway Museum and paid a visit to Aussie motorcycling legend, Garry McCoy #24’s property and enjoyed lunch at McCoys at GMC Cooyar. Thanks Garry and Julie for having us!
Friday 11 May
The much anticipated 2018 Around Australia Ride is officially underway tonight after the crew of 12 riders, 2 pillions and 4 support crew made their way to Tamworth Hyundai today for our launch BBQ, hosted by SWCCF Ambassador Simon Bouda.
15,000kms
33 days
80 towns and cities
We’re on the road to a cure!
Big thanks to our platinum sponsor Hyundai Help for Kids and Hyundai Australia for providing the support vehicles, to Simon Bouda for making the trek to help us send off the crew and to Tamworth Hyundai for hosting us along with the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters volunteers for our delicious BBQ.
