The Big Lap

[seth]

I'm sure there's a map somewhere here that shows Australia over Europe and it covers most of it .
Like my longest trip to date was from northeast Scotland to Florence in Italy and that was only equivalent to the shortest north to south of Australia.

[black14]

It is big!
But some of those map comparisons are inaccurate - the "standard" world map (Mercator projection) distorts size - nearer poles = more distortion.
Check out this site for a truer comparison - https://thetruesize.com/#?borders=1~!MTY4OTA0Mjg.NTU5MjcwMA
Type in Australia (or anywhere else for that matter!) and drag it over Europe.
Planning on a ride around next year - but will be taking some excursions from highway 1!

[VladTepes]

Wow we could get into an epic - pros/cons of which projection discussion.. but let's not eh.

That site is pretty good @black14

[Tony Nitrous]

Hard for us Europeans to imagine how big Australia actually is!  Especially given huge areas of it are unpopulated ....

Named deserts of Australia cover 1,371,000 square kilometres (529,000 sq mi), or 18% of the Australian mainland. However, approximately 35% of the Australian continent receives so little rain it is effectively desert.

There's also an awful lot that may not be desert, but there's just nothing there!

With the exception of Canberra and Alice Springs, most places folk can name in Australia, or want to visit, are on or near the coast line.  Even on a days ride out and back I often visit areas with little or no phone reception and houses get fewer and fewer.

[Tony Nitrous]

I was talking about this with the wife today, it was actually her idea not mine.
She's a bit unsure about "The Big Lap" thing but still wants to drive certain parts.

She wants to trade one of our cars in when we retire and buy a Prado / SR5 / Ranger 4x4, and try a few separate drives. Less daily miles and more time relaxing and seeing stuff. Smaller holidays than a Big Lap and time at home between.

# Up the coast past Cairns to The Daintree, Mossman.

# Down and around through Sydney, Melbourne, Adalaide.

# Head inland / West doing a big lap of Qld / NSW country towns.

Wasn't what I had in mind but might be more practical in some ways with a house and working part time.  Not going to happen overnight so it's just nice to have ideas and dreams.

[Tony Nitrous]

I've already been up past Daintree, and down past The Great Ocean Road, but there's so much I missed and I'd love to do these trips at a slower pace.

[VladTepes]

After Dad retired my mum and Dad bought a caravan with a plan to do a years trip around Australia.

They asked me to look after all the "stuff" while they were away - bills, finances, etc etc.

It didn't work out though.



Caravan wasn't back in their driveway for more than three years !

They loved it.