Don’t forget the BNT

“The Bicentennial National Trail is Australia’s premier long distance, multi-use recreational trekking route, stretching an extraordinary 5,330 kilometres from Cooktown in tropical far north Queensland to Healesville in Victoria.”

Yes, riding or walking or running the BNT is very very hard and takes enormous amount of preparation and is most likely a one in a lifetime adventure. It’s hard-work and determination and patience and adaptability and training and many other skills and talents that will make you succeed and enjoy the BNT in a safe manner. But you, the adventurer, are not the only part of the equation. Don’t forget that the BNT exists because other people make it possible!

BNT logo

The BNT wouldn’t exist without the amazing work of their devoted volunteers. Imagine maintaining up to date information about a living trail that is more than 5,000 kilometres long. It takes some incredibility hard work as well as a lot of responsibilities.

http://www.bicentennialnationaltrail.com.au

The BNT is self funded and lives from donations and the purchase of the guidebooks.
You will find on this blog a lot of free information. However you are reminded that you must become a BNT member and purchase the guidebooks prior to riding the trail. Even if you already have an electronic copy or some GPS files you must purchase the guidebook. This is how the trail is funded and without the selling of those and the donations it would’t exist. On top of this, the BNT manages section of the trails that go through private properties. Being a member and owning the section book that relates to the section you are travelling on, will give you access to those private parts of the trail (sometimes requiring a courtesy phone call), access to the community of volunteers and members (never underestimate how those people can be helpful to you).

Please do not rely solely on the information present on this blog. Become member and purchase the guidebooks:
http://www.bicentennialnationaltrail.com.au/shop/

You won’t regret it. Some of the BNT people I met will remain good friends forever. Thank their hard-work and encourage them to continue despite all the challenges they face (political, relationship management with land owner, ever changing conditions and re-routing of the trail due to natural causes such as Cyclones, drought, flood, etc.)

Thanks and don’t hesitate to contact me or the BNT if you need any advise. I’m usually very quick to answer (~2 days).

Vincent Brouillet – a BNT enthusiast.

3 thoughts on “Don’t forget the BNT

  1. Hi Vincent nice write up. No wonder you were keen to get back home when you got to Darwin. This was a huge ride and then you took on getting to Darwin. Take care, good luck with your next plans.

  2. Hello Vincent.
    Great effort taking on the epic challenge of “The Big Nasty”.
    Really inspiring man.
    I was hoping you could take the time telling me how many litres of water you had with you at any one time and also what your food situation was like?
    Hope this finds you well.
    Thanks, Andrew

    • Thanks Andrew. Between 4 and 7 litres. I run out of water once in Victoria despite having filled my 6L bladder and a 1L water bottle. But it was not too bad. You got to fill up before starting to climb a mountain as you don’t know where you will get some next. And during long dry stretched in central Queensland.

      Food is a little bit complicated. Count 900 grams of dehydrated good per day. In Victoria you have to do parcel drop or send parcels to post offices as there is nothing between Marysville and Omeo. I had dehydrated my food and had about a dozen parcels pre packaged and a copy of the inventory wit me on my phone. I would sms my friend when I had reception to ask him to send them to designated post office. Worked all right but got tired of this system as it requires a lot of coordination to get the timing right. After a while I decided to top up with as much food as I could when I found a supermarket. Rare in the country. I tend to have a more than I need, I hate running low. Eating continuously makes the difference and increases your chance of success. Those who struggle physically usually don’t eat enough.
      I was carrying between 6kg and 9kg of food with me.
      I hope that helps.

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