Half Lap of Australia

Looking for things to do in Marble Bar? Australia's hottest town might not look like much at first glance, but the country surrounding it is some of the best we've seen all trip. We hiked into Glen Herring Gorge, tried our luck at prospecting on the Marble Bar Common, stumbled across a surprising WWII secret at the Comet Gold Mine Museum, camped beside the red walls of Doolena Gorge and the green water of Coongan Pool, then took a six hour 4WD detour back to Port Hedland that

When you think Pilbara, you think red dirt, spinifex, heat haze stretching to the horizon. You don't think paper barks, crystal clear water, rope swings. But that's exactly what we found, four times back to back. From a hidden waterway off Skull Springs Road to a gorge wall that has to be seen to be believed, these Pilbara free camps were some of the best free camping we've ever done.

A week deep in the Newman backcountry without seeing another vehicle. From the chaotic water crossings into Kalgan's Pool to the cliff top campsite at Eagle Rock Falls, two unforecast storms, ancient petroglyphs at Punda and the most recently discovered meteorite crater in Australia. This remote stretch of the Pilbara delivered some of the most stunning scenery and untouched country we've ever explored, and proved exactly why a properly equipped 4WD opens up a different side

The Pilbara has a way of pulling you back. This leg of our half lap of Australia took us through the west of the region, starting with campfire cooking at Pannawonica Hill before a sunset scramble to Nature's Window. Things didn't quite go to plan from there, but every wrong turn led us somewhere worth finding. We ended up at George Gorge with sheer red cliffs, clear water and a camp spot we didn't want to leave. The Pilbara always delivers.

After a crazy few weeks on the road, Francois Peron National Park was exactly the reset we needed. Two days of red dirt, soft sand, glassy water and wildlife everywhere we looked. From sharks and stingrays in the shallows to a sunset dinner at Cape Peron and a glassy final morning at Little Lagoon — here's how it unfolded, plus everything you need to know to plan your own trip.

Cyclone Narelle shut down Francois Peron National Park, so we activated Plan C and rolled out to Shelter Bay near Steep Point. The run in across the big sand dune, a running repair on the rooftop tent, two to three hours a day when the wind eased, and some of the clearest water in Western Australia. Not the plan we started with, but one of the best camps of the trip so far. Here is how the shoulder season, a cyclone and a locked gate led us somewhere better.

We'd been planning this trip for years. Vehicles prepped, systems tested, itinerary mapped out. And then, approximately five days in, Paul ended up in the emergency department of Geraldton Hospital at 10pm while a Category Two cyclone bore down on the coast. Week one of our six-month adventure north had other ideas - but not before delivering some absolutely cracking campsites.

Six months. Two vehicles. One massive overland journey across the top of Australia. In 2026, we're setting off from Perth to Sydney, exploring the remote tracks, hidden camps, and lesser-known corners that most people never see. Follow along for honest blogs, comprehensive videos, and downloadable GPX files. No Instagram hotspots - just the untamed Australia we love.