The largest ring road in the world…

Australia’s M1, or Highway 1 is this network of highways that link all mainland capital cities, except Canberra (full of politicians, so we won’t say much more). And continues a little in Tasmania, found across Bass Straight, a wily stretch of water, and home to a recorded UFO encounter (you can look that one up).

Depending on the season, you can drive the whole 14,500 km (about 9,000 imperial miles).

It holds the record for being the longest highway in the world, way over the length of the Trans-Siberian Highway (11,000 km or 6,800 miles) and dwarfs the Trans-Canada (8030 km, or 4,990).

It traverses the wet tropics (up north), sub-tropics (Brisvagas a.k.a. Brisbane) to the temperate zones. We cling to our coastline, because that is one mighty desert.

Personally I love the desert: the stars are so stunning, remember it gets cold at night, storms can rise and dry creek beds fill with flash flooding. And just about everything else on land or in the water will try to kill you.

The colours of the desert are reflected in the gums (gumtrees).

And of course we have the barrier reefs, left and right: Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef. Shout out to my favourite fishing spot: Sweers Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

If you choose to ride the world’s longest highway include the necessities in your kit: sat phone, sunscreen, drinks for sundowners, and a manual map! Remote in Australia, is remote: go old school, go analogue!