Overlanders prove you don't need a 4x4 to conquer Australia
American YouTubers Tia and Cheveyo of One Pack Wanderers have just travelled over 17,000 miles around Australia in a humble hatchback.
The duo eschewed the space and all-terrain ability of an off-road vehicle in favour of a 2005 Mazda3 notchback.
Starting in Perth they first headed to Melbourne on a 1,200-mile trek that took them across the vast and desolate Nullarbor Plain, but having fallen for The Land Down Under they then decided to try to circumnavigate the entire continent. Locals call it “The Big Lap” – and while some daredevils have completed the journey in a week, it would take Tia and Cheveyo months.
From Melbourne they headed past Mount Kosciuszko to Sydney then to Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin. Unfortunately heavy rain closed the route between the Northern Territory and Western Australia so they had to cut through the Red Centre instead.
“The Australians call it the world’s longest shortcut and it would add more than a thousand miles to our trip,” explains Cheveyo.
Eventually they made back to Perth, and despite the arduous adventure their little Mazda never missed a beat as you can see in the video below. Who needs all-wheel drive anwyay?
The Araluen Road was once the busiest road in New South Wales, now you can have it to yourself, says Mel Nichols.