Updates from the road
30 days, 9 hours, 59 minutes | Newcastle, NSW > Port Macquarie, NSW | KM 14,210
He's done it!
Lachy rolled into his hometown of Port Macquarie at 1:54 pm local time, completing his loop around Australia and setting the fastest known time for the Around Australia Record – beating the previous mark by over a week.
A 31 day epic that saw him average 450 kilometers a day while also raising over $120,000 AUD ($81,000 USD) – and counting. You can still make a donation here.
He’s pushed through mind-breaking headwinds, dodged kangaroos in the dark, endured the sweltering heat of the outback, and battled straight roads that seemed never ending. Despite this, Lachy showed his unwavering resilience and positivity through it all and even found the time to pull over and help an injured bird 21 days into his ride.
A huge thank you to everyone who came out to ride with Lachan, cheered him on, and helped him along the way.
There is so much good in this world, and so many more beautiful corners yet to explore. We hope this inspires you to go out and explore the world.
Day 30 | Goulburn, NSW > Newcastle, NSW | KM 13903
Thank you, Sydney! Port Macquarie, it’s been a few weeks, but Lachy is coming back around for ya!
Thank you, Aussie dot watchers! The turn out for Rapha and Oatly’s ‘Where is Lachy?´ ride today in Sydney was exceptional.
Almost from the moment Lachlan departed Goulburn in the middle of the night, he had company on the bike, and as he got closer to the city, more and more riders joined him. By the time they arrived at Taylor Square and met the crew from Rapha, they were one huge, smiling peloton.
Rolling across Sydney Harbour Bridge together was an experience that Lachlan will never, ever forget. Some of his oldest friends were there. So were many new ones. Sydney’s cycling community is wonderful.
So is the global one. Lachy has now raised over $115,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation!!! You can still donate.
After coffees from Oatly and Emu Parade, Lachy rolled on with a tight-knit group of dotwatchers. They stopped early for the night in Newcastle.
Just 387 kilometers separate Lachy from his hometown of Port Macquarie, where he set out for this adventure 30 days ago. Lachlan is going to smash the Around Australia Record.
His plan is to leave at 11 p.m. tonight to get to Port Macquarie about noon and beat the old record for the 14,200-km route by over a week.
Check back here to watch his progress and our Instagram for updates.
Port Macquarie, come out to meet Lachlan and celebrate!
Day 29 | Chiltern, VIC > Goulburn, NSW | KM 13508
Sydney, Lachy is coming!
Lachy is less than 1000 kilometers away from his finish line in Port Macquarie with nine days left to set the Around Australia Record. He is on pace to wallop it.
Sydneysiders, come join him at Taylor Square tomorrow and give him a big welcome into the capital of New South Wales. He’d love to have you roll with him to Milsons Point, where Oatly and Rapha baristas will be brewing coffees for everyone.
Lachlan set out at 1:20 a.m. from Goulburn and is aiming to get to Sydney sometime around 9 a.m. depending on the headwinds, which are just par for this FKT course at this point. We’ll keep you updated on Instagram but check where Lachy’s dot is on here, too.
Although conditions have been tough for the past week, Lachlan’s spirits are as high as ever thanks to all of the cheers from the people who have come out to meet him by the side of the road and the dot watchers who have joined him on the bike. You have made the headwinds and highway riding a lot easier. Thank you.
See you tomorrow, Sydney!
Where is Lachy event in Sydney tomorrow!
Attention Australian Dot Watchers. Rapha and Oatly would like to invite you to the “Where is Lachy?” event tomorrow in Sydney!
Meet at Taylor Square to help welcome Lachy into Sydney and then ride with him to Milsons Point where our friends at Oatly will have a coffee truck ready to brew up a storm from 8 am on. Be ready to great him between 8 and 11am local time but keep checking back here as timing could change depending on his progress. We will provide a more accurate ETA tonight as well as the updated route.
Day 28 | Ballarat, VIC > Chiltern, VIC | KM 13055
90% done!
Lachlan is nine-tenths of the way around Australia and just 1238 kilometers away from Port Macquarie, New South Wales, where he set out 28 days ago. Tonight, he is sleeping in Chiltern, Victoria, a quiet gold-rush town on the road between Melbourne and Sydney.
With nine days to spare, he is on track to smash the Around Australia Record. He can’t wait to get home and swim in the Tasman Sea, but is going to enjoy every last kilometer of this final stretch.
Today, he got to share the ride with new friends. Dot watchers came out to join him on the road as he skirted around Melbourne on a route made for him by his buddy and former teammate Mitch Docker. Having them along made battling into the cold headwind a whole lot more enjoyable.
As he nears Sydney, Lachlan hopes that more dot watchers will come out to ride a few kilometers with him and take part in his historic ride.
There’s still time left to make a donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation! Lachy has currently raised $77,000 to help provide books and learning resources to Indigenous children living in remote communities across Australia and hopes to make that $100,000 before he completes his ride.
Day 27 | Coonalpyn, SA > Ballarat, VIC | KM 12662
Lachy is back on the roads that he loves
It would have been faster to stay on the highway, but Lachlan decided that it just wasn’t worth the risk to spend a whole day getting buzzed by heavy trucks and speeding drivers. Last night, he looked at the map and came up with a new route that will be a bit longer but a heck of a lot quieter.
As soon as he rolled out in the early hours, he knew he had made the right decision. He was soon spinning through green fields on perfect black tarmac. The air was cool, but not cold, and he could settle into his own rhythm, accompanied by the whirr of his chain and whoosh of his tires–much better than blaring engines.
He saw sheep, cows, alpacas, and all sorts of birds. He did have to stop a few times to look at the map and make sure he was on a good road, but always got going again quickly.
Late in the day, an older couple met him to say hello and wish him luck. That sure cheered him up. They had been chasing his dot all over rural Victoria.
To make up for the longer route, Lachlan pushed late into the night. He’ll make another early start tomorrow.
Day 26 | Port Germein, SA > Coonalpyn, SA | KM 12122
Lachy´s hardest day so far
Just when we thought it was going to be smooth tarmac and tailwinds all the way back to Port Macquarie, Lachy had his hardest day yet. Three near misses in traffic on the highway out of Adelaide just about cracked him.
The day had started so well. With a cool breeze at his back, Lachy rolled through farm country on quiet gravel roads, enjoying the sound of the birds and sight of the mist rising over the fields. Dot watchers joined him as he got closer to the South Australian capital and by the time he rode into the city, they were a whole peloton.
Lachy pushed on, straight into a buzz of trucks and cars. After the third time he almost got hit, he decided he was going to have to reroute. A backroad on the map looked like it would take him where he needed to go.
That 4x4 track soon turned to deep sand and then Lachlan was riding straight into the bush in search of harder ground. He was still hiking his bike when the sun set.
After a couple of hours out in the woods, he decided he was going to have to cut the day short and stop at the next motel.
One big hug from his wife Rachel and a cold beer later, and Lachy was able to laugh off the toughest day on his ride around Australia so far.
Day 25 | Ceduna, SA > Port Germein, SA | KM 11698
Almost on the home stretch
Day 25 started very cold, but the wind was blowing in Lachlan´s favor. He bundled up and flew through the night, tires humming along the Eyre Highway. By dawn, it was starting to warm up, as the sun rose over the wheat fields, casting long shadows after the grain silos.
Lachlan rolled past Wirrula, Poochera, Minnipa, Wudinna, Kimba, and Iron Knob–waving at the folks who live in the small-town farming communities that serve the surrounding countryside. Outside Port Augusta, he met a young rider and rolled into the city with him before racing on his way.
Lachlan is now stopped for the night, just outside Port Germein on the Augusta Highway. Tomorrow, he will push through Adelaide, the biggest city he has seen for nearly 3000 kilometers. Dot watchers, come out to welcome him and cheer him on!
Right now, Lachy is on pace to smash the Around Australia Record. He is over 80% of the way around the country, heading for Victoria. He has raised $68,300 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
There is still time to donate to help us reach our $100,000 goal.
We're almost on the home stretch!
Day 24 | Eyre Highway, SA > Ceduna, SA | KM 11168
Tailwinds!
Lachy flew today. With a glorious, ripping tailwind at his back, he covered nearly 500 kilometers, making it to the town of Ceduna, on the South Australian coast.
Ceduna is a local Aboriginal Wirangu word, which means a place to sit down and rest. It's a beautiful spot on the edge of the bush, which drops to pristine beaches, where huge waves crash below the cliffs. Lachlan will only enjoy it for a few hours though. He has got another huge day on the road ahead of him.
Lachlan´s plan is to start at 02:00 and ride through the frigid night. He has left the Nullarbor behind him. The roads ahead will be quiet and he enjoys those early-morning hours. He will push on in the dark, guided by the light of his lamp.
Day 23 | Eyre Highway, WA > Eyre Highway, SA | KM 10688
Dodging snakes three-quarters of the way around Oz
After an all-day push into a downpour, Lachlan crossed the border into South Australia and hit the three-quarters-of-the-way-around-Oz mark. With 3500 kilometers left to ride, he is 2000 kilometers ahead of the Fastest Known Time, 23 days into his effort. Keep watching his dot. Just how fast can he make it back to Port Macquarie?
Right now, the weather is not in his favor. For the past seven days, Lachlan has plowed into a headwind. His Vision aerobars and POC Procen Air helmet help a lot, but it still takes all of his willpower to keep up his momentum.
There were a few moments today when he almost cracked. Sopping wet, hammering down Australia´s longest, straightest road through red-clay puddles and into a block headwind, he dodged snakes slithering across the pavement. He had to blink twice when he saw a camel.
But he made it to the border, after 531 kilometers in the saddle. The forecast is calling for more rain and strong gusts of wind tomorrow.
Lachlan is hoping that the wind is finally behind him.
Day 22 | Esperance, WA > Eyre Highway, WA | KM 10157
Will the wind turn?
Lachy´s trip odometer ticked over 10,000 kilometers just outside of Norseman on the Eyre Highway. He's hoping that the wind will shift, because the past couple of days have been some of his toughest on the road yet.
Another night, riding into a bitter cold wind left him feeling ragged. But after a big breakfast by the side of the highway and a few moments to relax in the rising sun, his old strength returned and his legs spun fluidly again. As the day warmed, the wind eased and at times even turned in his favor. Lachy tucked into his aero bars and pushed hard till sundown and then on into the night, his headlight streaking across the outback under the stars of the Southern Cross.
After a few hours of sleep, he will be at it again, as he rides on into the wide open space of the Nullarbor plain.
Tonight, Lachlan is dreaming of tailwinds.
Day 21 | Manypeaks, WA > Esperance, WA | KM 9767
Pay it forward and keep moving forward
Lachlan is tucked in for the evening in Esperance, Western Australia, a port town on the coast of the Southern Ocean. There were no free rooms left in town, so a local bike rider, who had been watching Lachy´s dot, offered him a place to rest his head and his tired legs.
The 21st day of Lachlan’s trip was a tough one. From the moment he set out in the middle of the night, he struggled into a frigid headwind, pushing hard to keep up his pace. It was up and down all day, with over 3000 meters of climbing.
At one point, Lachy caught sight of an injured bird. He stopped and bundled it off the pavement and into a safe spot, before giving animal rescue a call to come take care of his new bird friend.
Pay it forward and keep moving forward.
That’s what Lachlan’s ride around Australia is all about. He has already raised over $60,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, with a bit more than 4000 kilometers left to go before he has circumnavigated the country.
Day 20 | Perth, WA > Manypeaks, WA | KM 9331
Four-hundred-plus-kilometer days are becoming normal
Lachy is two-thirds of the way around Australia and his body is adapting very well to his effort. Today he pushed hard into a cold wind, heading south and then east out of Perth as he rounded the southwest corner of the continent and reached the coast of the Great Australian Bight.
Lachy kept bundled up to fend off the chill, watched the hills roll past and the waves roll in, and cherished the last shelter from trees that he will see for a while.
Ahead of him lies the Nullabor, a vast, dry plain that stretches for over 1000 kilometers across the south of Australia. If the wind is blowing, and it is almost always blowing, it will whip across the sands, undaunted by the shrubs that rise from the earth or a lone bike rider, crouched over his bars, pedaling down the empty highway in bright pink kit.
Lachy is not afraid. His body is adapting to the effort. Four-hundred-plus-kilometer days are becoming normal
Day 19 | Geraldton, WA > Perth, WA | KM 8757
Dot watchers for company
Lachlan rolled out of Geraldton, Western Australia at 01:30 in the morning with a local dot watcher for company. The two of them rode through the dark and into a biting headwind, pushing hard on the pedals to stop themselves from shivering. As the sun rose and began to warm the earth, they shed layers and started to sweat. Lachy soon had to leave his new friend behind. He was in his rhythm and wanted to make it to Perth before the day's end. The wind was not going to make it easy to cover the distance.
His tires hummed over the hills of the Western Australian farmland, chip seal turning to smoother and smoother asphalt with every pedal stroke took him closer and closer to the state capital.
More dot watchers were waiting for him outside the city limits. They rode into Perth in his draft.
We´ll see how many get up to join Lachy for his 12:30 a.m. start tonight and ride through the night with him into another icy headwind.
Day 18 | Carnarvon, WA > Geraldton, WA | KM 8317
Cruising south and a change of scenery
With the wind threatening to pick up at any point, Lachy had to be smart and efficient with his time today. He ate from the bike and only stopped for very brief breaks if he absolutely needed to. After a big day in the wind yesterday, he was able to make good progress again in the calmer conditions.
The day started off cooler than he was expecting and Lachlan got properly cold – something he hasn't felt in a while.
After a big chunk of riding, staring at dirt and barren landscapes, the scenery finally started to change today and Lachlan got to enjoy the green, rolling hills and farm lands of Western Australia.
Tomorrow though, it's back to riding into the wind.
Day 17 | Nanutarra Roadhouse, WA > Carnarvon, WA | KM 7842
A big day into the wind
It can't always be smooth sailing on a month long ride and yesterday was one of those days for Lachy. He rode into a solid headwind all day which also brought with it the first rain of his lap around Australia.
The headwind made for much slower and tougher going for Lachy. Still, he managed to ride just over 400 kilometers on day 17.
Towards the end of the day, after slow progress, he decided to throw caution to the wind and ride hard — a decision he said knew he would regret.
He's planning on putting in a big day tomorrow, hopefully the wind dies down a bit although the forecast doesn't look too promising...
Day 16 | South Hedland, WA > Nanutarra Roadhouse, WA | KM 7480
Smooth sailing down the western coast
Lachy reached a major milestone today, crossing the halfway point of his journey around Australia—7,100 kilometers down, 7,100 to go.
He's currently traveling down the western coast, where the landscape is becoming even more desolate. Towns are few and far between, and options for overnight stays and refueling are scarce.
He's been having to navigate the many road trains and traffic from the numerous mines in the area and every time he stops, he is swarmed by the millions of flies that inhabit the area.
Still, Lachy seems to be having a blast out there. Later start tomorrow for what should be another big day on the bike, this time though, with a big headwind.
Day 15 | Broome, WA > South Hedland, WA | KM 6990
600 kilometers on day 15
Lachy faced one of the hottest days of his ride around Australia so far, with temperatures soaring into the mid to high 30s°C. It was a tough day, as he aimed to cover his biggest distance yet.
Despite the heat, Lachy remained unfazed. His spirits were high, and every time the crew caught up with him, he greeted them with smiles and still had time for some jokes.
The Achilles injury that had been bothering him for the past few days seemed to be improving, with the swelling subsiding. By the end of the day, Lachy had ridden just shy of 600 kilometers over seventeen-and-a-half hours.
Go Lach!
Day 14 | Fitzroy River Lodge, WA > Broome, WA | KM 6390
Coast to coast
Lachy made it to the coastal town of Broome yesterday and got to enjoy a nice swim in the Indian ocean with the crew.
He's approaching the halfway point and his spirits don't seem to have dulled one bit since leaving Port Macquarie nearly fifteen days ago. His achilles is feeling better today which was a relief and he got to enjoy another day with a tailwind.
He's going to attempt a big push tomorrow and is hoping to tick off over 600 kilometers by day's end. Here’s hoping his good fortune continues.
Day 13 | Warmun, WA > Fitzroy River Lodge, WA | KM 5990
Flying through Western Australia
From a headwind yesterday, to a ripping headwind today. Lachy was flying through for most of the day, keeping his average speed up over 40kph. The wind brought with it some cooler temperatures as well which gave him a well earned break from the scorching sun.
For the most part, Lachy's body has held up all right so far. Over the last couple of days, he's developed some swelling and tenderness in the achilles and is generally finding it hard to walk. But beyond that and some general soreness for the first few hours of riding each day, he says he's been feeling great.
Today, the goal is to get to Broome and to start heading south!
We've seen a huge jump in donations over the past 24 hours, a big thank you to everyone that has donated so far. We really appreciate everyone's support. Help us make it to our goal of $50,000 by making a donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation here.
Day 12 | Victoria River Roadhouse, NT > Warmun, WA | KM 5536
Warm welcome to Western Australia
After setting off just before midnight, Lachy was greeted on the road by the smell of smoke from the controlled fires in the area. The smoke quickly filled his lungs and stung his eyes making the first few hours of riding hard and slow.
Today, Lachy crossed over into Western Australia – the fourth State in his journey around the continent. Lachy had to deal with more of the same – intense heat, poor road surfaces – but to make matters worse, the wind that had been helping him so far shifted and he had to ride through a headwind for most of the day.
Still though, Lachy's spirits were high and his body felt good for most of the day. He finished the day of with a few hours of riding in the pain cave but is loving riding in W.A.
Day 11 | Darwin, NT > Victoria River Roadhouse, NT | KM 5028
Keeping it cool.
Fueling in the outback can be tricky. Towns are few and far between and Lachy has been riding primarily at night to try to escape the heat. Today, Lachy's breakfast was a knapsack that had been stashed in a bush outside of a gas station in Adelaide river by the crew which he ate at about 1am.
Once the sun rose, Lachy was greeted by sweltering heat. The crew spent the better part of the day trying to keep Lachy cool and hydrated by passing bottles and ice towels to him periodically. Still, it was a tough slog for Lach.
The original plan was for him to push all the way to Timber Creek but with the heat and the "sticky" road surface, he revised his plan and finished the day early. Still, by the end of the day, he had knocked out just over 500 kilometers.
Day 10 | Katherine, NT > Darwin, NT | KM 4514
Made it to the Northernmost point
By early afternoon, after yet another pre-dawn start, Lachy rolled into Darwin—the northernmost point on his route around Australia. After a dip in the ocean and a hearty lunch, he was feeling rejuvenated, even if there was still much road ahead.
For the first time in days, Lachy experienced a change in his surroundings. The dry, endless stretches of road gave way to something more lush and alive. As he edged closer to the coast, the landscape transformed—tropical humidity replaced the arid heat, and the vegetation thickened.
He's planning on another big push tomorrow and is already on the road as we write this update (1am local time). Go Lachy!
Day 9 | Renner Springs Desert Inn, NT > Katherine, NT | KM 4200
Tough day in the outback...
Lachy had a tough night. He woke up drenched in sweat, experiencing what he described as "growing pains" in his legs. After forcing down some breakfast, he set out, but couldn't keep the meal down.
Despite the discomfort, Lachy pushed through the morning. By lunchtime, after a break with the crew, his body began to recover, and he decided to keep going—ultimately logging another 500-kilometer day.
The heat has been relentless over the past few days, and the crew's primary task was keeping him cool. Fortunately, a small group of local cyclists joined him, offering some much-needed company all the way to Katherine, where he was greeted with a state-of-the-art ice bath.
Tomorrow, he heads toward the northernmost point of his journey—Darwin.
Day 8 | Camooweal, QLD > Renner Springs Desert Inn, NT | KM 3690
Quarter of the way there!
Lachy set off at 11:30 last night and had an incredible day on the bike, covering 580 kilometers on Day 8. He has now ridden over a quarter of the total distance of "The Lap," having completed the equivalent of the 2024 Tour de France—and more—in just eight days.
With the help of a strong tailwind on the long, straight stretches, Lachy managed to break the monotony by making a right turn that will take him toward Darwin, the northernmost point of his route.
Since departing from Port Macquarie eight days ago, Lachy has raised over $25,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. We've now raised our fundraising goal to $50,000. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported his journey so far! Head here to make a donation.
Day 7 | Cloncurry, QLD > Camooweal, QLD | KM 3107
"Rest" day
Yesterday was a "shorter" day on the bike for Lachlan, who "only" managed to cover 300 kilometers. After pushing the pace for the first six days, Lachy opted for a lighter day to give his body some much-needed rest.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The day started off a bit hectic, with Lachy having to bunny hop over a kangaroo. Fortunately, he was able to enjoy the scenery afterward. With little shelter from the sun, he had to pull out the sun sleeves to stay protected.
Thankfully, Lachy managed to relax with a swim in the campsite pool before calling it an early night. The early stop means an early start, as he's planning to hit the road again at 11:30 p.m. for a big push tomorrow.
Day 6 | Hughenden, QLD > Cloncurry, QLD | KM 2793
It's heating up.
Lachy is heading further and further inland and the heat is starting to become a factor. He started the day in flat pedals after struggling through some hotspots on his feet yesterday. The barren landscape and straight roads offered no shelter from the beating sun.
After a tough first couple of days, Lachy had contemplated taking an easier day to allow for his body to recover a little. But with favorable winds, and a flock of birds to keep him company, he decided to forge on, knocking out nearly 460 kilometers on day 6.
Tomorrow? More of the same most likely.
Day 5 | Gumlu, QLD > Hughenden, QLD | KM 2345
Heading west!
Lachy is headed west! After riding north along the pacific coast for over 2000 kilometers, he made the turn in Townsville which will take him deeper and deeper into the heart of Australia.
The roads are getting straighter and the distance between towns is getting bigger.
So far, Lachy has raised $21,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. If you want to learn more about the ILF and their work or make a donation you can head here.
Day 4 | Marlborough, QLD > Gumlu, QLD | KM 1870
A classic day 4
Another big day out on the bike for Lachy who ticked off nearly 500ks on day 4. His body was sore this morning, which made the first few hours of riding tough. But after a much needed breakfast break that the crew had set up for him, he was able to turn things around and made solid progress all day. Classic day 4 as Lachy would say.
On the plus side, he had a big tailwind pushing him along today and lots of stunning scenery to take his mind off his aching body.
Day 3 | Maryborough, QLD > Marlborough, QLD | KM 1393
Swooping magpies and big big skies.
Another benefit of early starts? The stars. Lachy set off around 2am local time and is finally out of the worst of the highway traffic. With the milky way lighting up the sky above him, he was able to make good progress on the quieter roads.
As he makes his way further and further away from the busy coastal cities, he's entering road train territory (Australia's infamous long trucks) and riding on roads that stretch out as far as the eyes can see.
One drawback of the quieter streets? The Aussie magpies. He's been dive bombed by the birds more times than he can count today. Let's hope they play nice tomorrow.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Lachy so far and donated to the Indigenous Literacy Fund. We've raised close to $17,000. Head here to make a donation.
Day 2 | Tweed Heads, NSW > Maryborough, QLD | KM 890
Traffic lights and sunrises
Lachy set off early again, hitting the road around 3:30 AM local time. Partly because he enjoys the early starts, but also to log some solid miles before traffic picks up on the Pacific Highway.
Slowed down by traffic lights in Brisbane, Lachy was eager to leave the city behind and return to the open countryside. Along the way, he’s been joined by several riders and has been loving all the support he's gotten from supporters cheering him on from the roadside.
Despite the heavy traffic, Lachy has taken advantage of the highways and maintained a strong pace as he heads north.
He called it a night early, stepping off the bike in Maryborough around 5pm after having ticked off just over 400 kilometers on day two. You know it, early start again tomorrow.
Day 1 | Port Macquarie, NSW > Tweet Heads, NSW | KM 486
He's off!
Fourteen thousand two hundred kilometers of open road and a full lap of Australia lie ahead. Lachy is off! He rolled out at 4 AM local time on a chilly morning in Port Macquarie, accompanied by a solid group of dot watchers.
After a quick stop to layer up, Lachy found his rhythm and began racking up the kilometers. He arrived at his hotel in Tweed Heads after dark, completing a strong 486 kilometers on day one, despite a tough headwind. Spirits are high, and we're excited to be on the road.
A big thank you to everyone who came out to support Lachy today, and a huge shoutout to all those who have already donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Keep checking back here for more updates from Lachy and the crew on the ground.