AFTER 20 years, a legendary track has global fans, as KATE ADAMSON reports
It's been done with llamas, mountain bikes, packhorses and on foot.
The Bicentennial National Trail has challenged hundreds of adventurers since it was opened 20 years ago by legendary bootmaker R.M. Williams.
The 5330km trail, which takes 16 months on horseback and claims to be the world's longest, fully marked, continuous track, celebrates its 20th birthday next month.
Starting at Healesville in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, the trail winds its way through 18 national parks, towns, farmland and bush, to Cooktown in northern Queensland.
"It was designed to link all the stock trails, wagon trails and mail runs like the pony express runs," Victorian trail co-ordinator Jo-Anne Kasch says.
"In some sections there is no trail at all, through to rock trail, mountain tracks, and the road right through the centre of Canberra.
"It's really wonderful."
Jo-Anne and her husband, John, have cared for their section of the trail, a 10-day ride from Healesville to Knockwood, near Jamieson, for 15 years.
As well as maintaining signs on the track the couple, who live along the route, in Narbethong, provide trail riders a paddock for their horse.
"We just offer them a friendly face and somewhere to camp and just give them a hand," Jo-Anne says.
To celebrate the trail's birthday, Jo-Anne is organising a three-day ride along part of the track, leaving from Healesville on November 1.
It is also an attempt to spread the word about the trail, which is still a well-kept secret, even after 20 years.
"It's actually more well known overseas than in Australia, which is really bizarre," Jo-Anne says.
"There are more people from overseas who complete the whole trail than Australians."
A Canadian called Bob did just that on a mountain bike in five months.
"It doesn't sound much, but to see the terrain this man has gone over on his bike, I'd cry at the thought of it," Jo-Anne says.
Others have walked with animals including donkeys, llamas and camels. Any non-motorised form of transport is allowed.
"One lady did the six-week ride from Omeo to Narbethong, and she was 82," Jo-Anne says.
Accompanied by a group of friends, with a packhorse each, the youngest was 65, she says.
"Gosh they were scallywags, they were just having a ball."
Travellers can go for weeks without passing anyone. Campsites and water are clearly mapped.
"Not many people can dedicate 12 months to do it but they can afford to do four weeks," Jo-Anne says.
For details about the three-day ride, phone Jo-Anne on
(03) 5963 7264 or 0429 133 416, or email Jkasch1@bigpond.com
Applications close on October 21.
