A 1,000 km journey through the rooftop of Australia along backcountry trails, exposed high plains, through snow gum woodlands and tall native forests.

When

Date: November 30, 2019

Time: 6:00 am

Details

Cost: $129

Event Website

Organizer: Dan Hunt

Email: customerservice@huntbikes.com

Developed in 2016 by Dan Hunt, the Hunt 1000 is a bikepacking route that links two of Australia’s major cities, Canberra and Melbourne, and traverses some of Australia’s most beautiful high country in a tough but achievable seven days (suggested). The route links some amazing campsites and historic alpine huts, provides a limited number of resupply points, and mixes in some challenging hike-a-bike sections, as well as river and creek crossings.

Encompassing the Kosciuszko, Alpine and Namadgi National Parks, the Hunt 1000 route takes you into the heart of these remote and uniquely Australian alpine wilderness areas. The Australian Alps have a geological history dating back 160 million years and are unlike regions commonly associated with the term alpine, such as the Andes or the Himalayas. Rather, the Australian alpine region is essentially an uplifted plain made up of grand plateaus surrounded by eroded steep valleys. This unique geology becomes apparent as you climb out of Brindabella Valley to Long Plain or when you scramble 1100m up Billy Goat Bluff Track to the plateau above. The nature of the landscape means you will spend hundreds of km’s on top of the world. But, what goes up must come down and you’ll work hard for those high trail views.

Weaving together a network of fire trails, alpine paths, gravel tracks and country roads, sometimes you’ll wish you had a randonneur with slick 32’s, other times you’ll wish you had a fat bike, and sometimes it just doesn’t matter because its too steep to pedal. The trail conditions and the elevation profile are about as varied as the alpine weather can be. This all combines to make the route a beautiful challenge.

On the back roads and trails your unlikely to have any company other than your thoughts and the occasional wild Brumby or Wallaby. However, when you pass the small towns, the friendly locals love to have a chat. If you make it to Dargo in time for an afternoon beer then stop in for a pot at the Dargo Hotel.

As per previous years, the Hunt 1000 will start in Canberra and finish in Melbourne however, the route between these two points will change. The final version of the route (GPS file) will not be made available until late October / early November.

Follow along live below:

Fore more info on the Hunt 1000 check out Dan’s route posting, and for all of the details on this event head over to the Hunt 1000 website.