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.
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