Australia, bigger than you think

Bones · October 23, 2014, 04:52:40 AM

Was searching online for an Australian map similar to the American States visited map some members have in their signatures when I came across this. For people that don't realise how big Australia actually is, this may surprise a few. America has I think 50 states compared to Australia which has 6 states and 2 territories, so when we say we're going for an interstate ride, depending on where in the state you live, and where your heading, could be a couple of day ride or more to even reach the border. Just thought I'd put that out there.

A map with our states and territories marked.

I don't think I'll worry about a visited states map, because there'd only be a couple I could mark off.

Tony.

ken65 · October 23, 2014, 05:43:47 AM

Hey Bones, I drove a truck from Brissy to the Nullarbor roadhouse and back. 12 hours from Brisbane to Nyngan, then 12 hours from Nyngan to Port Augusta, then most of the next day to the Nullarbor roadhouse and i still hadnt made it to Western Australia. On the way home i nearly crashed into a bunch of camels 5k out from the roadhouse. On the nullarbor i was getting overtaken by semi's doing at least 140+ kph. It sure is a big place..

ken

Arnie · October 23, 2014, 08:51:23 AM

Bones said, "I don't think I'll worry about a visited states map, because there'd only be a couple I could mark off."

Gee Tony, that's a real shame.
I'm a blow-in and have ridden my FJ in all the states and territories except for WA. Just the thought of crossing the Nulllllllllllllaborrrring, puts me to sleep. :-)

Arnie

Bminder · October 23, 2014, 09:15:36 AM

What gets really mind-boggling is the US has a population of 320 million or so, and Australia has 25 million, or less than 10% of the US.
It's hard to imagine the US with that few of people.
And since all the big cities except Perth are basically on the eastern side of Oz, it would be like leaving Atlanta and not hitting ANY towns bigger than 50,000 until you got to Los Angeles.

ribbert · October 23, 2014, 09:20:58 AM

Quote from: Bones on October 23, 2014, 04:52:40 AM
.... For people that don't realise how big Australia actually is, this may surprise a few. America has I think 50 states compared to Australia which has 6 states and 2 territories, so when we say we're going for an interstate ride, depending on where in the state you live, and where your heading, could be a couple of day ride or more to even reach the border. Just thought I'd put that out there.

Or, how about "just going to check the fences" when your biggest farm was 10,000,000 acres (nearly 16,000 sq miles) but now cut back to a mere 6,000,000.

Or, has a State best known as slang for part of the human body! Every Aussie knows what a Map of Tasmania is.

Noel

Bminder · October 23, 2014, 09:21:27 AM

Another crazy factoid: I was reading an Australian 4WD mag once, and it had a story about a trail these blokes took in their SUV.
The trail was 600 miles, yes, MILES long, and there were no towns or gas stations on the whole trail. Just a series of wells for water every 12-20 miles.

That would be like driving from Wash DC to Indianapolis and not having a single town or gas station along the way, just Outback.

ribbert · October 23, 2014, 09:51:33 AM

Quote from: Bminder on October 23, 2014, 09:21:27 AM
Another crazy factoid: I was reading an Australian 4WD mag once, and it had a story about a trail these blokes took in their SUV.
The trail was 600 miles, yes, MILES long, and there were no towns or gas stations on the whole trail. Just a series of wells for water every 12-20 miles.

That would be like driving from Wash DC to Indianapolis and not having a single town or gas station along the way, just Outback.

They were lying about the frequency of the water wells. Most people who die when lost in the Outback do so from lack of water.

You can wake up under the wing of a light plane in the middle of the nowhere, fly all day, see no man made object, and camp the next night under the wing and the stars, then repeat the following day.

It is hard to imagine if you have never been there. Europeans love it, especially bike riders. Just about every rider you are likely to bump into out there, will be European on a rented GS.

If you are doing a bike trip through those parts you can post onto a 4WD forum and if someone is heading that way in the same time frame they will drop and hide fuel for you in the scrub somewhere and then send you the co ordinates and details.
If you are stopped on the side of the road, every passing vehicle will stop to check on you, not that there are many. They don't do it to be social but people frequently die out there from vehicle breakdowns and a rider has nowhere to shelter and will have limited supplies.

Another recommended tip is not carry you water in a single container but to divide it up into a number of smaller bottles so if fall off or have an accident, some of the water will survive. It can be 120 F and no shade and you could literally be there for days, depending on the road you're on. It happens.

Noel

Bminder · October 23, 2014, 10:42:04 AM

That Aussie 4WD mag I was mentioning, in one of the trips they wrote about, on Day 2 on the trail they came across a newlywed couple in a Subaru that had broken down. They were just waiting for someone to come by. They would have died if the guy from the magazine hadn't happened along.
How stupid of them.

Dads_FJ · October 23, 2014, 11:45:23 AM

Not trying to intrude, but I found it interesting that Alaska (the 49th State) stretches almost coast to coast if you include all the islands and shit.

carry on...

The General · October 23, 2014, 12:12:49 PM

Quote from: Arnie on October 23, 2014, 08:51:23 AM
Bones said, "I don't think I'll worry about a visited states map, because there'd only be a couple I could mark off."

Gee Tony, that's a real shame.
I'm a blow-in and have ridden my FJ in all the states and territories except for WA. Just the thought of crossing the Nulllllllllllllaborrrring, puts me to sleep. :-)

Arnie

Hey Arnie, don`t you play golf? http://www.nullarborlinks.com/

TexasDave · October 23, 2014, 01:19:24 PM

From FJ's to golf--only on this forum. Australia does have the worlds longest golf course. I always wanted to go to Australia but not for the golf. For the nude beaches!

Dave

Bminder · October 23, 2014, 02:35:26 PM

Quote from: Dads_FJ on October 23, 2014, 11:45:23 AM
Not trying to intrude, but I found it interesting that Alaska (the 49th State) stretches almost coast to coast if you include all the islands and shit.

carry on...

And then there's Hawaii:

roverfj1200 · October 23, 2014, 03:44:34 PM

Quote from: Bminder on October 23, 2014, 09:21:27 AM
Another crazy factoid: I was reading an Australian 4WD mag once, and it had a story about a trail these blokes took in their SUV.
The trail was 600 miles, yes, MILES long, and there were no towns or gas stations on the whole trail. Just a series of wells for water every 12-20 miles.

That would be like driving from Wash DC to Indianapolis and not having a single town or gas station along the way, just Outback.

That would be the Canning Stock route.....

Arnie · October 23, 2014, 07:15:18 PM

Hey Arnie, don`t you play golf? http://www.nullarborlinks.com/

[/quote]

No. Gave it up when I was 21.
It got too expensive. It wasn't the lost balls or the green fees, but the cost of replacing the clubs I was wrapping around trees or throwing into water holes.
I decided I could go for a nice long walk and have my blood pressure remain steady without the frustration of golf.

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Australia, bigger than you think