The route

 Map of Trip

From Elanora Heights, Sydney to Yulara, Northern Territory. 

A. Elanora Heights, New South Wales.

B. Narrandera, New South Wales.

C. Mildura, Victoria.

D. Rawnsley Park Station, Wilpena Road, Hawker, South Australia.

E. Blinman, South Australia.

F. Marree, South Australia.

G. Woomera, South Australia.

H. Coober Pedy, South Australia.

I. Erldunda, Northern Territory.

J. Yulara, Northern Territory.

From Yulara Northern Territory to Derby, Western Australia.

A. Yulara, Northern Territory.

B. Kings Canyon Resort, Petermann, Northern Territory.

C. Alice Springs, Northern Territory.

D. Yuendumu, Northern Territory.

E. Balgo Hill Airport, Tanami, Western Australia.

F. Halls Creek, Western Australia.

G. El Questro Homestead, Coolibah Drive, Kununurra, Western Australia.

H. Ellenbrae Homestead, Durack, Western Australia.

I. Mount Barnett Roadhouse, King Leopold Ranges, Western Australia.

J. Derby, Western Australia.

From Derby, Western Australia to Charleville, Queensland.

A. Derby, Western Australia.

B. Halls Creek, Western Australia.

C. Kununurra, Western Australia.

D. Katherine, Northern Territory.

E. Dunmarra, Northern Territory.

F. Threeways Roadhouse, National Highway 87, Tennant Creek, Northern Territory.

G. Mount Isa, Queensland.

H. Winton, Queensland.

I. Longreach, Queensland.

J. Charleville, Queensland.

From Charleville, Queensland to Elanora Heights, Sydney.

A. Charleville, Queensland.

B. Chinchilla, Queensland.

C. Brisbane, Queensland.

D. Port Macquarie, New South Wales.

E. Elanora Heights, New South Wales.

This map shows our route.  Most stops are identified by markers which can be clicked on to identify where it is.  The places we camped along the Tanami Track aren't shown as they were truly in the middle of nowhere.

It also leaves out the leg from Melbourne to Mildura, which Colin took and adds in the trip from Brisbane to Sydney, which Alan took while Colin was flying back to Melbourne.  That would have added 1,500 kms to Alan's trip making it 12,000 kms.  Plus Alan did 1,050 kms to get to Mildura whereas Colin did 550kms so there's another 500kms for him.  So the loop was 12,500 kms.  When we rode around Australia in 2010 it was 18,000 kms: roughly a 4,500 kms square.  The diagonal of that square is 6,400 kms which when taken there and back makes 12,800 kms.

All big numbers as Australia is a big place.  The Tanami Track is 1,000 kms with only a few small settlements and a couple of mines along the way.  The Gibb River Road is 600 kms and had cattle stations that were 4,000 sq kms in area with just one family living there.  They were on average 120 kms apart.  Coming down the Stuart Hwy from Katherine the settlements were 100's kms apart and it was the same on the Barkley Hwy and the Warrego Hwy across Queensland.

Colin was shown a blog/photo book of a cycle trip around Lake Constance in Switzerland/Austria.  The photos were of castles/lakes/towns/forests/mountains.   No such thing in Australia.  Our photos were of the natural landscape, untouched by man for the most part.  Ancient landscapes that had worn down to flat sandy deserts or low hills, but yet had a complex beautiful life of their own.  We spent hours with nothing for company but the sound of our engines and the land around us.