In just two weeks, our team will embark on the most monumental cross-country journey I have ever undertaken: the historic recreation of the Wheels Across a Wilderness expedition 60th Anniversary. While I spent four incredible years traveling the continent in my twenties while filming Leyland’s Australia, this upcoming 2026 outback trek is profoundly different. This journey is entirely about forging new family memories with my father, retracing the greatest overland adventure he ever achieved, and ticking the ultimate transcontinental crossing off my personal bucket list.
Table of Contents
Highlights of the Wheels Across a Wilderness Expedition
- Retracing 1966 Outback History: Honoring the legendary coast-to-coast 4WD tracks originally filmed by the Leyland brothers.
- Modern 4WD Vehicle Preparation: Packing specialized filming and camping gear into a custom, sponsor-backed overland vehicle.
- Dementia Health & Wellbeing Support: Helping outback legend Mal Leyland relive his finest memories through regional travel.
- Steep Point to Cape Byron Crossing: Navigating a punishing 4-week route through the Nullarbor, Uluru, and the Simpson Desert.
Honoring a Pioneer Legacy: Mal Leyland’s Toughest Track
My father has spent a lifetime sharing the incredible stories of his original 1966 adventure when they famously filmed the ground breaking Wheels Across a Wilderness expedition documentary. He often speaks of the intense trials, tribulations, and endless mechanical breakdowns they had to overcome using basic, historical equipment.
Because of those stories, I am immensely grateful that we will be undertaking this 2026 tribute crossing with the complete reliability, safety, and climate-controlled comfort that comes with modern, cutting-edge off-road vehicles.
Preparing Our Sponsor-Backed Expedition Vehicle
In fact, until just a few weeks ago, our full team wasn’t even certain which vehicle we would be driving across the desert, as neither my husband nor I currently own a high-clearance 4WD.
We owe a massive thank you to ARB for coming on board as our official vehicle sponsor and providing the heavy-duty rig required to complete this cross-country journey safely.
We finally take delivery of the vehicle next week. From there, we can immediately begin working out how to strategically pack our specialized satellite filming gear alongside our essential outback camping equipment. It has been quite a while since I have lived completely out of a tent, as most of my recent Australian adventures over the past year were managed using a caravan!
Travel as Medicine: Combating Dementia in the Outback
My father’s journey with dementia is unfortunately impacting his daily life more and more each week. Because of this, our team firmly believes that this celebratory Wheels Across a Wilderness expedition will be profoundly beneficial for his mental health, memory recall, and cognitive spirit.
It provides an invaluable opportunity for him to step back into the wilderness, doing exactly what he loves most: traveling, exploring remote tracks, and photographing the raw beauty of Australia.
Our Massive 2026 Transcontinental Transit Route
Our logistical journey kicks off from our home base in Cairns. We will first travel south to Adelaide, push across the vast expanse of the Nullarbor Plain to Perth, and finally head north to Denham, Western Australia, where our official starting flag drops.
Day-by-Day Expedition Milestones:
- May 4th — The West Coast Launch: Our convoy begins heading east from the cliffs of Steep Point (the westernmost point of mainland Australia).
- Mid-May — The Red Centre Core: Pushing along rugged desert tracks straight through to the sacred monolith of Uluru and up into Alice Springs.
- Late-May — The Simpson Desert Challenge: Navigating eastward across the heavy sand dunes of the Simpson Desert, provided the local seasonal floodwaters have cleared out in time.
- May 28th — The Pacific Finish Line: Pushing through to watch the morning sunrise at Cape Byron, New South Wales (the easternmost point of mainland Australia), marking the formal conclusion of our 28-day expedition.
Follow Our Live Transcontinental Progress of the Wheels Across a Wilderness Expedition
We would love for you to join our digital convoy! Make sure to follow our daily satellite tracking updates, camp photos, and raw video clips directly on our official social channel layout loop: Leyland’s Travel Australia 60th Anniversary Facebook Page
Wheels Across a Wilderness Expedition FAQs
Where did the original 1966 Wheels Across a Wilderness
expedition start and finish?
The original historical crossing launched from the rugged cliffs of Steep Point in Western Australia and concluded at Cape Byron in New South Wales. The 2026 tribute tour follows this exact transcontinental line to honor the pioneering routes of Mal Leyland.
What type of gear is required for a Simpson Desert vehicle crossing?
Crossing the remote Simpson Desert requires extensive preparation. Specialized 4WD gear includes high-clearance suspension, off-road recovery tracks, high-visibility desert sand flags, dual battery charging systems, auxiliary fuel tanks, and integrated satellite communication devices.
