Our Route
Australia - Mawson TrailAustralia - Mawson Trail Summary
After returning back to Australia in Feb 2020 due to COVID ‘gripping’ the world we had a window of opportunity to go on a cycle tour in Australia in October 2020. Peter selected to do the iconic Mawson Trail. Prue was slightly daunted by the task due to lack of riding and her research on the Mawson Trail; “difficulty hard”, “experienced cyclists only”.
We had two attempts due to a family emergency interrrupting the trip 3 days in.
We recommenced the trip in November 2020.
The ride was by far the hardest ride we have done and our attempt to do it fully laden not only impressed us but everyone else we met!!!
Australia Mawson Trail - Itinerary
| Day | From | To | Distance |
| 1 | Adelaide | Kangaroo Creek Reservoir | 32 km |
| 2 | Kangaroo Creek Reservoir | Mt Crawford Forest | 48 km |
| 3 | Mt Crawford Forest | Tanunda | 45 km |
| 4 | Tanunda | Rest Day | 0 km |
|
|
Trip Interrupted
Trip Resumed
|
12th October 2020 2nd November 2020 |
|
| 6 | Tanunda | Kapunda | 37 km |
| 7 | Kapunda | Riverton | 48 km |
| 8 | Riverton | Clare | 48 km |
| 9 | Clare | Rest Day | 0 km |
| 10 | Clare | Burra | 42 km |
| 11 | Burra | Hallet | 60 km |
| 12 | Hallet | Spalding | 48 km |
| 13 | Spalding | Jamestown | 33 km |
| 14 | Jamestown | Wirrabara | 67 km |
| 15 | Wirrabara | Wilmington | 59 km |
| 16 | Wilmington | Warren Gorge | 71 km |
| 17 | Warren Gorge | Hawker | 71 km |
| 18 | Hawker | Rawnsley Park | 37 km |
| 19 | Rawnsely Park | Rest Day | 0 km |
| 20 | Rawnsley Park | Acraman Camp | 40 km |
| 21 | Acraman Camp | Blinman | 47 km |
| 22 | Blinman | Parachilna | 32 km |
| TOTAL | 865 KM |
Australia- Mawson Trail Advice
- Bike packing or mountain bike only,
- Avoid wet weather, clay will make trail unrideable in sections.
- Be prepared for hot weather
- Take fly head nets
- Be prepared for “three corner jacks” (thorns) punctures in sections.
Australia - Mawson Trail Touring
The Mawson Trail is Iconic ride in Australia. The Trail is just short of 900 kilometers, from Adelaide to Blinman. The ride can be done in reverse.
The trail is more suitable for Mountain Bikes or Bike Packing, as the ride takes you through little use backroads, fire trails, farm access tracks and unused road reserves. The ride avoids bitumen and traffic. We were fully laden, and we found it difficult in places. The beauty of this trail is being out in Australian outback, experiencing the unique wildlife and flora. The ride is hard physical work.
Australian- Mawson Trail Weather
The trail is open all year however the months of January to March can be very hot and best to be avoided.
We road in November ansd experienced some very hot days.
Be warned if rain is forecasted, many sections consist of clay tracks that become unridable.
Australian Facts
Population: 25 million
Language: English
Capital: Canberra
Route: Adelaide to Blinman (Mawson Trail)
1) Distance Cycled: 865km
2) Days on Mawson Trail: 22
3) Days Cycled: 18
4) Average km/day: 40km
5) Camping days: 12
6) Rest Days: 4
7) Rainy days: 0
8) Punctures: 0
9) Dog Attacks: 0
10) Other: Bee Sting Bite – 1