Riding Into the Unknown: A Bikepacking Adventure Across Australia
“You don’t need to have it all figured out. The road teaches you what you need to know.” — Laura Bastioli
From Melbourne to Adelaide and Beyond…
What does it take to leave behind certainty, load up your bike, and pedal into the vast unknown? In this episode Laura Bastioli shares how her idea to cycle from Melbourne to Adelaide has suddenly expanded to Darwin and now beyond…But like many great adventures, her journey didn’t stick to the plan.
Laura talks about trading comfort for curiosity, swapping her hiking boots for a loaded bike and setting off across Australia. She had always wanted to cycle to Darwin but wasn’t prepared to say it out loud and commit to it. Instead she set off from Melbourne and slowly learnt that with each day her adventure could lengthen. By the time she reached Adelaide she knew that she wouldturn north and head for Alice Springs. She’d take in the Mawson Trail and then the infamous Oodnadatta Track – along with it’s endless horizons and bone jarring corrugated washboard road surface! So far her journey has taken her through some of the most remote and beautiful landscapes in Australia.
From Hiking Boots to Bikepacking Bags
Before this ride, Laura wasn’t new to adventure. An avid thru-hiker, she had already completed trails like New Zealand’s Te Araroa, the Larapinta Trail in Australia, and Italy’s Alta Via in the Dolomites. But cycling and bikepacking? That was new territory.
Her introduction to bikepacking came unexpectedly, during a backpacking trip in Vietnam:
“I didn’t plan it at all. I borrowed a bike, strapped on my backpack, and just went. That first trip was tough . I had lots of hike-a-bike moments but I absolutely loved it!”
That spark grew into plans for an adventurous ride, traversing thousands of kilometres through Australia’s shifting landscapes. She’d ride through rainforests, see the iconic Great Ocean Road, and of course that beautiful red earth of the Australian Outback.
The Highs, the Lows, and the Mud…
Australia is a land of extremes, and Laura has experienced it all. Freezing desert nights, remote dirt tracks, and long stretches without supplies tested her resilience. But so did unexpected challenges, like her now-infamous battle with the Mawson Trail mud:
“We thought, let’s just start — and if it gets too bad, we’ll turn back.”
What followed was 13 kilometers of sticky clay that clung to wheels, racks, and chains, grinding her ride to a literal halt.
“It took us seven hours to get through. The wheels stopped spinning, the bikes got heavier, and we were covered in mud. It wasn’t funny after three hours… but we got through it.”
An Overwhelming Sense of Freedom in the Outback
For Laura, the most powerful part of this journey has been Australia’s vastness and variety. Many people imagine the country as endless desert, but she’s discovered a tapestry of ecosystems, from lush rainforests to arid red plains.
“Everyone thinks Australia is just desert, but you go from rainforest to red dirt to endless skies — it’s so much more diverse than people imagine.”
Camping under the stars in remote Central Australia has been another unforgettable highlight:
“There were more stars than dark spots… I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Milky Way as good as I saw it that night.”
It’s in these wide-open spaces that Laura has found a deeper connection to the land, the journey, and herself:
“You have this whole world for you — you can see everywhere, and it just makes you feel free.”
Reflections on the Journey so Far…
Laura didn’t start out knowing everything about bikepacking, in fact, much of her knowledge has come from trial and error. From repairing a broken rack to fixing mechanical failures in tiny outback towns, she’s learned to adapt, problem-solve, and keep moving forward:
“I wasn’t sure I had the strength to do it, but with each section I rode, my confidence grew.”
Her advice for anyone dreaming about their first bikepacking trip? Start small, stay open, and trust the journey.
“No risk, no fun.”
Listen to the Full Episode
If you’ve ever dreamed about cycling across Australia, tackling your first bikepacking trip, or exploring remote landscapes, this episode will inspire you to take the leap.
And if you love the episode, share it with a friend who’s planning their next adventure!
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