Australia is home to one of the most unusual road projects in the world. Known as Highway 1, this traffic system stretches for about 14,500 kilometers and is considered the longest national highway on the planet.
What makes it particularly interesting is the fact that it has no classic beginning or end. The route is shaped like a huge loop that surrounds the entire Australian continent and connects all the capital cities of the federal states and territories on the mainland of the country.
Built in the middle of the last century, in 1955 to be exact, Highway 1 is actually a network of interconnected roads that pass through some of the most diverse landscapes in the world – from tropical forests and steep coastal cliffs to desert expanses and endless beaches.
A journey across the entire continent
The great circular route is made up of several well-known Australian roads, including the Princes Highway between Sydney and Melbourne and the Stuart Highway connecting Darwin and Port Augusta via Alice Springs.
For many adventurers, crossing a complete circle around Australia is a lifetime challenge. Most travelers set aside between six months and a year for such a trip in order to explore numerous natural and tourist attractions along the way.
Even when driving without long stops, it takes at least three months to go around the entire route.
However, the record is held by a team of drivers who organized the drive non-stop, taking turns behind the wheel throughout the day and night. They only stopped to refuel, and completed the entire circuit in just five days and 13 hours.
Thousands of kilometers without a gas station
One of the biggest challenges on this route is the huge distances between populated areas, especially in parts of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and across the famous Nullarbor Plain.
On certain sections, drivers do not come across gas stations or water sources for hundreds of kilometers, which is why detailed travel preparation is of key importance.
It is estimated that approximately 1,500 liters of fuel are needed to go around the complete circle, which speaks volumes about the scale of this undertaking.
Due to its length, unusual shape and the spectacular landscapes it passes through, Highway 1 is today considered one of the most impressive road routes in the world and an unmissable destination for lovers of long journeys.
