2021

Big Ride

Post-ride de-brief

Big Ride Itinerary

Day by day recount of our adenture

Itinerary

Big Ride Itinerary

Saturday May 1st

430 km

The Melbourne riders leave Melbourne and head to Narrendera.

May 2nd

430 km

Melbourne riders continue Narrandera to Nyngan. Sydney riders leave Sydney and join the Melbourne riders in Dubbo.

Monday May 3rd

460 km

Nyngan to Cunnamulla. Today the Brisbane contingent leave Brisbane and ride to overnight in Roma.

Cunnamulla Primary Health Care Centre & the Central Queensland PHN will host Psychs on Bikes for a dinner with local service providers. It's an opportunity to exchange ideas, mental health practices and network after a hard day's riding.

May 4th

500 km

Cunnamulla to Blackall. But before they leave Cunnamulla Primary Health Care Centre with Psychs on Bikes are hosting a free community breakfast.

All the riders will meet with the Brisbane contingent in Augathella and ride on to Blackall together.

May 5th

240 km

Blackall to Longreach via Isis Downs. Near Isisford we’ll visit our first cattle station Isis Downs Station.

Our PoB Crew will have their first opportunity to share their talks, answer any questions, discuss concerns and offer staff head and body checks.

We don't stay here though. We ride on to Longreach as we have an early start tomorrow.

May 6th

340 km

Longreach to Kynuna via Winton.

An early start as the team meets with local health professionals for an idea exchange of mental health practices.

We ride on to Winton where the Shire of Winton is hosting a community BBQ.

From here it's a short trip to Kynuna.

The Blue Heeler Hotel in Kynuna where the local pastoralists are invited for a free BBQ dinner with the Psychs on Bikes and sponsored by the Sisters of the North. The conversations and good times will run freely here!

May 7th

305 km

Kyuna to Mt Isa via Cloncurry.

At each Big Ride, Psychs on Bikes organises a CPD session where we ask our riders and in this case local health professionals to share their mental health insights. It is a lively, interactive event that is usually a highlight of the ride.

PART 2: VISITS TO THE CATTLE STATIONS

Saturday May 8th

210 km

Today we congregate in Mt Isa for a briefing, then ride 200km on the Barkley Highway to Camoweel. Rocklands Station is about 10 km down the road.

Rocklands Station is our second cattle station stop and will see us present and offer PoB head and body checks to all interested station staff. After dinner we'll hitch a lift back to Camoweel.

May 9th

470 km

A big ride today as the PoB Crew head down the Tablelands Highway to the second biggest station in the country, Brunette Downs. We get our bearings and stay the night.

Monday May 10th

This will be a big day. Brunette Downs will host Psychs on Bikes, and staff from neighbouring cattle stations including Alexandria, Anthony Lagoon, Eva Downs, Mittiebah and others.

May 11th

400 km

Brunette Downs to Helen Springs.

One more cattle station stop today before we call it a night in Renner Springs.

May 12th

155 km

Helen Springs to Newcastle Waters Station.

After offering staff PoB presentations, discussions, head and body checks, we'll be staying overnight here.

May 13th

145 km

Newcastle Waters Station to the Historic Daly Waters Pub.

Before we leave we have the privilege of speaking with the local Newcastle Waters School. We know the kids are already excited about seeing all the motorbikes!

From here we head to Elliot for a community BBQ lunch hosted by the local Barkly Council and the Elliot Health Centre. We'll be offering free health checks to locals.

May 14th

Our second mammoth day as neighbouring cattle stations have been invited to visit us at the Daly Waters Pub. So far we have Kalala and Tanumbirini Stations, and Amungee Mungee Station.

May 15th

290 km

Daly Waters Pub to Katherine via Mataranka Springs.

Tonight we have the honour of being hosted by Dolly's Dream. Dolly's Dream is an organisation borne out of tragedy, but now with a mission to start and maintain a nationwide conversation about the devastating effects of bullying.

May 16th

320 km

Katherine to Darwin.

They'll be back-slapping and beer-drinking. Unfortunate Psychs who have to get back to work might have to fly out of Darwin that day. The Psychs who intend to continue with the circumnavigation will leave the next day and we’ll have a lay-day within the next few days to rest their sore bottoms.

PART 3: DARWIN TO SYDNEY VIA PERTH

May 17th/18th

Two full days in Darwin to have bikes serviced etc.

May 19th

320 km

Darwin to Katherine stopping on the way at Litchfield National Park to see the waterfalls.

May 20th

535 km

Katherine to Kununurra.

After Kununurra a few riders may choose to go down the Gibb River Road, which is all dirt and 660km long ...

May 21st

380 km

Kununurra to Halls Creek, stopping at the Bungle Bungles.

May 22nd

530 km

Halls Creek to Derby.

May 23rd

200 km

Derby to Broome and dinner on Cable Beach.

Monday May 24th

600 km

Broome to Port Hedland.

May 25th

500 km

Port Hedland to Nanutarra Roadhouse.

May 26th

280 km

Nanutarra to Exmouth.

May 27th

Exmouth.

Today some of our PoB Crew will swim with the whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef. They are arriving right in the middle of the whale shark season. Francisco has kindly offered to stay back and take care of the bikes.