Touring Western Australia by bicycle is exciting. You can do it supported by a tour company, or by our favorite way, which is self supported.
Self supported touring can be done solo or with other people. We will be posting advice, tips and information that is useful for bicycle touring in Western Australia.
The capital of Western Australia (WA) is Perth. It has a population of about 1.2 million people, and is in the lower south west of the state on the coast. The people of WA are extremely friendly, and will usually stop in remote areas and ask if you are alright, and if you need water etc.
However, don’t rely on this as your means of supplies when traveling. Western Australia’s population is based more in the south west area, and distances between towns and supplies is smaller. In the south west corner of the state, water is generally easier to locate, except further east and especially on the Nullarbor Plain.
Be Prepared for headwinds that bend trees.
Mobile (Cell) phone networks are GSM, 3G and NextG. GSM and 3G works in Perth and most larger country towns. There are three companies, Vodafone, Telstra and Optus.
Their coverage varies outside the metropolitan area, but in most areas outside towns and the city, it DOES NOT work. NextG, which is run by Telstra, has better coverage of country areas. It works in Perth and in a lot more areas in the country. I even used mine on the SA/WA border halfway across the Nullarbor Plain.
There are still a lot of areas without any coverage. If needing a phone, satellite will work. Pay phones are available in some areas, but are sometimes vandalised.
For an off road cycling adventure within easy reach of Perth, there is the Munda Biddi Trail, which at the moment goes from Mundaring (outskirts of Perth) to Collie. It will eventually go through to Albany. For full details see http://www.mundabiddi.org.au.
Some exotic bicycle touring parts are impossible to locate, and may not even be in the country. Other common parts are available in Perth and in some country towns. Some country towns do not have a specific bicycle shop, but usually a hardware store will carry common bicycle parts. Mountain bike tyres are easier to find than 700c in remoter areas.
There are only two major highway routes out of WA. The road across the Nullarbor, and the highways leading north, which will take you up to Darwin. Both require long rides with no convenience of shops or water.
For instance on the Nullarbor, some of the longest stretches between roadhouses are 181 kms. When you get to the roadhouse, you will see a sign “Do not ask for water as refusal may offend”. You will probably need to purchase water.
A lot of the roadhouses both on the Nullarbor and in the North use bore water for general washing etc, and a separate supply for drinking. DO NOT fill your water containers without checking whether the supply is drinkable. Bore water usually tastes salty or smells of sulphur.
Fit rear view mirrors to your bike. You need to see what is coming from behind, especially road trains. You can not hear them when riding into a head wind. If the road is clear, they will usually move right over for you if the road is wide enough.
If in doubt, or you hear a long blast on their air horns, get off the road immediately. Be aware, depending on the wind direction that the rear trailers of a road train exert a sucking motion on your bicycle.
Warnings
- You CAN NOT ride up North in the heat with only two 750 ml water bottles. You will die. This also applies to crossing the Nullarbor.
- DO NOT rely on maps showing water tanks, as some of these tanks are vandalised and/or empty due to lack of rain.
- BE AWARE of fire restrictions that may be in place. At certain times of the year, camp fires are not allowed due to the bushfire danger.
- Road Trains are not trains that run on rails on the road (similar to a tram). They are Semi trailers (prime mover/tractor truck), pulling several trailers. 2, 3 or 4 trailers is common and when passing a cyclist at 110 km/h can be scary if you have never encountered this before.
- In the South West of Western Australia, there are lots of jarrah forests. Jarrah trees naturally drop their limbs as part of their growing cycle. People have been seriously injured by camping under Jarrah trees and having a large limb land on their tent. Exercise caution when choosing a camp site. The limbs do not need heavy winds to fall.
- The North of the state has the dry season (Winter in south) and the wet season (summer in south). Temperatures can get incredibly hot. DO THOROUGH research before riding the North of the state.
Most of all, Enjoy your tour and Western Australia!
