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The Bicentennial National Trail is the longest marked route of its kind in the world, stretching some 5330 kilometers from Cooktown in North Queensland to Healesville in Victoria. Where ever possible along its route, the trail has been designed as 'living history', and follows old coach and stock routes, bullock and pack horse trails, fire trails and country roads. It links over 18 of Australia's national parks and traverses a variety of rugged bushland from the coastal tropics to the alpine snowlands of NSW and Victoria.

The trail is not just for horse riders. It is also used for bush walking, canoeing camping, fishing, orienteering, bird watching, survival training, mountain bikes and horse drawn vehicles.

There are 12 separate guidebooks, each covering some 400-500 kilometres of the trail and navigation along the trail is by the maps and directions provided in the books. The trail is marked by red and yellow striped triangles along the way, but it is generally not possible to travel for any distance along the trail without the aid of the guidebooks. The books also provide details of distances, camping sites, contact names and phone numbers, give information about water sources and list information about any special permits that are required. There is also historical information given about the country that you are passing through.

Although it may sometimes appear as if little work has been done along the trail itself, the existence of the trail is the outcome of many thousands of hours work, planning and negotiating with governments and landholders, and labouring to establish the route. The trail was the inspiration of legendary Australian bushman, R M Williams, and was given initial funding as a Bicentennial project.

The trail system is currently supervised by a voluntary organisation, the Bicentennial National Trail, and relies for its safeguarding and improvement on financial contributions and physical help from volunteers. If you are planning a trip on the trail, the Bicentennial National Trail office can assist with advice on choosing a route, selecting the right equipment, and with the sale of topographic maps, forestry maps and regional tourist maps. The office also provides updates on any changes to the trail since the last publication of its guidebooks.

The Bicentennial National Trail links up with the ACT Equestrian Trail system between Tuggeranong, on the southern side of Canberra, and Hall on the northern side. There is provision for camping close to the city at Hall Showgrounds and at the Equestrian Park near the Yarralumla Woolshed. South of Canberra, there are camping sites near Cuppacumbalong Woolshed (Tharwa), Caloola Farm (Top Naas), Horse Gully Hut and the Camping Reserve (Namadgi National Park). North of the city, the nearest camping site is at the Gundaroo Sportsground. The BNT guidebook containing the Canberra section is No. 10 Jenolan Caves to Kosciusko. Guidebooks can be obtained from local saddleries or by writing to:

The Bicentennial National Trail

Unit 1, 74 Margaret Street
Toowoomba Qld 4350
PO Box 2235 Toowoomba Qld 4350
Phone: (07) 878-9747,
fax: (07) 878-2393

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~bnt/

Membership is currently $20 and this entitles you to the newsletter (Tracks) and discounts on publications.

If you use the National Trail for riding, you should join the Bicentennial National Trail organisation and if you use it frequently you should either make a financial contribution or help in the upkeep of the trail.

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