The BMW GS Safari Enduro kicked off at Bourke, NSW last month,
with 110 riders embarking on an incredible adventure following the
Darling River from its headwaters in central New South Wales to the
mouth of the Murray in South Australia.
Riders were taken to the heart of Australia's agricultural past
to experience the ultimate outback adventure. The Darling-Murray
River run provided riders with a lifetime of friendships and
memories.
In true Safari style, riders were faced with challenging
terrain, open plains and an abundance of wildlife. The group
travelled north towards the famous border track, following the
Murray River to Victor Harbor in South Australia. The ride was a
scenic run criss-crossing the Murray all the way to the mouth,
where participants were able to smell the salt air and see the
Murray flowing into the ocean after six days of dusty outback
riding
Camping along the way allowed participants to travel to remote
destinations and explore tracks less travelled. Highlights included
stopping at beautiful riverside stations, sitting around the fire
and hearing stories of the amazing history of the remote areas.
The catering was popular among riders and being fed like a king
was the perfect way to end each day. Participants were even treated
to comfy beds and a beer at the pub in the bigger inland cities of
Mildura and Renmark.
Riders were pushed to their limits, with days four and five
being the most challenging tracks ever offered at a BMW GS Safari
Enduro.
The epic sand sections tested each rider's technical ability and
off-road endurance. The buzz at Renmark was unforgettable as riders
celebrated the completion of a hard day's riding on their trusty GS
motorcycles.
Day five to Swan Reach was a memorable ride, where the open
terrain echoed an African landscape. Riding through the Danggali
Conservation Reserve, an elephant or giraffe wouldn't have looked
out of place. The remote ride looped north with close to 300km of
nothing before arriving at the small town of Morgan, where riders
were grateful for a fuel and food stop before the final camp night
on the side of the river at Swan Reach.
The final day was a great scenic tour into the Adelaide ranges
with an option to see the mouth of the Murray before wrapping up at
Victor Harbor after an amazing week of riding in some truly
incredible country. While the GS Safari Enduro focused on riding
ability, a lot of the time the adventure was about the places and
the people.
As usual, the farewell get-together was a mix of excitement and
sadness that it was all over. But for some, there were still
thousands of kilometres to ride before they reach their home bases.
As with most GS riders, this was an opportunity to continue the
adventure by exploring more of what this country has to offer.
One of the great things about the BMW Safari is that it always
brings such a wide mix of people together. This year's GS Safari
Enduro included four father and son teams, riders from across the
globe and an age range from 17 to 73 years.
The BMW GS Safari Enduro is an event where riders can escape the
daily grind, enjoy the freedom of travelling by bike and make life
a ride with a great support network.
The next BMW GS Safari is in November, with bookings opening
soon. To receive information on BMW Safari and other BMW Motorrad
events please register for BMW Rider newsletter by clicking
here, follow BMW Safari on facebook.com/bmwsafari or
call 1800 813 299.