DESERT RATTLER 2015

The Journey
Steep Point, Western Australia, to Byron Bay, New South Wales, via the five Australian deserts. 

Vintage Adventurer’ Rod Wade set himself the challenge of crossing Australia from the furthest point west to the furthest point east via five of the driest and most inhospitable deserts in the world.

After setting two World Records, Rod started the ‘Desert Rattler’ from Steep Point, in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, and headed across the Great Victorian Desert.

Sleeping under the stars, Rod and his support team then crossed the Gibson Desert and Great Sandy Desert as they headed for Uluru, more commonly known as Ayres Rock. Rod asked the local aborigines for the permits he needs to include this landmark in his route.

From there, the adventurers headed to Kulgera to Birdsville via the Simpson Desert with a possible detour to Poeppel Corner where the three states of the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia converge.

The final charge saw Rod cross the Sturt Stony Desert and headed for the final destination of the lighthouse at Byron Bay, New South Wales.

Rod completed this epic 6,000 kilometre journey in a 1929 Ford Model A that was specially built for the challenge.

6,000 miles across some of the most stunning country in the worldUnlike Rod’s other challenges, the Desert Rattler wasn’t against the clock. He was supported by a team of volunteers including two Ford Model A specialists from the USA.