BDR Ride to the Top - Northern Territory

BDR Ride To The Top - Northern Territory

BDR Ride to the Top aims to start a national conversation about depression and suicide prevention. Help us get the country talking and join us on this epic journey!

We will have ride groups from all states and territories of Australia travelling to meet up at our final destination, Cairns QLD followed by the optional Thunder Run.

Ride Registration

Registrations to ride all the way to Cairns with Black Dog Ride are strictly limited. Registrations close when all places are filled.

Registration for the FULL BDR Ride To The Top includes:

• Entry and participation in the fully organised Ride 

• Back up of a Support Vehicle en route to Cairns 

• Commemorative rider pack

• Commemorative tee shirt

• Black Dog Ride Celebration Dinner, Saturday 12th September

• Entry and participation in the all states group ride, Thunder Run on Sunday morning, 13th September

Ride Itinerary 

The detailed ride itinerary and accommodation options are currently being planned and will be updated online. Please do not book accommodation until you receive that update, as we will have some suggestions for each stop. That helps keep everyone together as well. 

Check in time: 
Start point:
Total Distance:

Daily route & Accommodation

Day 1 – Saturday, 5th September 2026

Darwin (Noonamah) to Daly Waters 548kms

Gather at Noonamah Tavern car park from 08:00 for 09:00 departure. Merchandise sales from 08:00 and Rider briefing 08:50

10:45 to 11:15 (approx.) Morning tea and fuel stop at Pine Creek Lazy Lizard

12:15 to 13:00 (approx.) Lunch at Katherine Club and fuel elsewhere in Katherine

14:45 to 15:00 (approx.) refreshment stop at the Pink Panther.

16:00 to 16:15 (approx.) fuel stop and stay Daly Waters (Highway Inn or Pub)

Fuel

Adelaide River, Pine Creek, Katherine, Mataranka, Daly Waters. 
Longest distance without fuel on this day = 168kms (Mataranka to Daly Waters)

Accommodation

Daly Waters Highway Inn (08) 8975 9925  Camping and Cabins/Rooms available

Daly Waters Historic Pub (08) 8975 9927  Camping and Cabins/Rooms available

Day 2 – Sunday, 6th September 2026

Daly Waters to Barkly Homestead 561kms

Gather at Daly Waters Hiway Inn car park from 08:00 for 08:30 departure.
Rider briefing at 08:20

10:00 to 10:15 (approx.) Morning tea and fuel stop at the Elliott Store

11:00 to 11:15 (approx.) Fuel Renner Springs

12:45 to 13:30 (approx.) Fuel and late lunch at Threeways.  Hopefully meeting Alice Springs here or meet at Barkly.

15:30 to 16:00 (approx.) arrive at Barkly Homestead for the night.

Fuel

Daly Waters, Dunmarra, Elliot, Renner Springs, Threeways and Barkly Homestead. 

Longest distance without fuel on this day = 187kms (Threeways to Barkly HS)

Accommodation

Barkly Homestead Wayside Inn (08) 8964 4549.  Camping and Cabins/Rooms available
(Rooms and Cabins are in demand so book ahead if possible. https://www.barklyhomestead.com.au/

Day 3 – Monday, 7th September 2026

Barkly Homestead to Cloncurry 570kms

Gather at Barkly Homestead car park from 07:30 for 08:00 departure.
Rider briefing at 07:50

11:00 to 11:15 (approx.) Late morning tea and fuel stop at the Camooweal. (Remember no more 130km/h speed limit – 110km/h max in Queensland)

13:15 to 14:15 (approx.) Late lunch at Mount Isa Irish Club and Fuel

15:30 to 16:00 (approx.) arrive at Cloncurry for the night.

Fuel

Barkly Homestead, Camooweal, Mount Isa and Cloncurry. 

Longest distance without fuel on this day = 260kms (Barkly HS to Camooweal)

Accommodation

Cloncurry Caravan Park Oasis (07) 4742 1313.  Camping and Cabins/Rooms available
https://www.cloncurrycaravanparkoasis.com.au/   This is proposed to be the main accommodation.   Other Accommodations include: Gidgee Inn Motel 07 4742 1599, Happy Jacks Cabins and Offices 0455 343 224, Oasis Motel 07 4742 1366, Wagon Wheel Motel 07 4742 1866.  Quamby Pub is also an option 45km north of Cloncurry https://www.facebook.com/quambypub/ . 

Some NT Black Dog Riders that left early for the Birdsville Races will catch up with us today at Mount Isa or Cloncurry.

Day 4 – Tuesday, 8th September 2026

Cloncurry to Croydon 536kms

After brekky and fuel up (wherever you choose) gather at Puma Cloncurry car park from 07:30 for 08:00 departure. If staying at Quamby Pub those coming from Cloncurry should reach Quamby by 08:30.
Rider briefing at 07:50 https://maps.app.goo.gl/yfMNhanjbTv2fZ4k7

10:00 to 10:15 (approx.) Morning tea and fuel stop at the Four Ways (Burke and Wills Roadhouse.

12:15 to 13:30 (approx.) Lunch at Normanton at the Purple Pub

15:30 to 16:00 (approx.) arrive at Croydon for the night.

Fuel

Cloncurry, Four Ways (Burke and Wills Roadhouse) Normanton and Croydon. 

Longest distance without fuel on this day = 198kms (Four Ways Burle and Wills Roadhouse to Normanton)

Accommodation

Croydon Caravan Park Oasis 0437 270 584.  Camping and limited Cabins/Rooms available
https://www.croydon.qld.gov.au/Community/Local-Business/Croydon-Caravan-Park   Other Accommodation include: the Club Hotel  07 4745 6184 https://www.croydonclubhotel.com.au/

Notes:

Group dinner at the Poddy Dodgers Bar at the Club Hotel in Croydon. Great steaks apparently.

Day 5 – Wednesday, 9th September 2026

Croydon to Innot Hot Springs / Ravenshoe 379kms

After brekky and fuel up and gather at Gulf Gate Roadhouse BP from 07:30 for 08:00 departure.
Rider briefing at 07:50 https://maps.app.goo.gl/desSiohiaYsdU1cWA

09:45 to 10:15 (approx.) Morning tea and fuel stop at Georgetown Roadhouse.

11:30 to 12:30 (approx.) Lunch at Mt Surprise Tourist Van Park Motel & BP Roadhouse https://pyneyspiereviews.com/mount-surprise-tourist-park-and-motel-mount-surprise-qld/

Some may choose to stay or stop at Undara Lava Tubes (bookings recommended)

15:00 to 15:30 (approx.) arrive at Innot Hot Springs for the night. 

Fuel

Croydon, Georgetown, Mt Surprise, Mount Garnet. 

Longest distance without fuel on this day = 148kms (Croydon to Georgetown)

Accommodation

Innot Hot Springs Caravan and Leisure Park (30kms before Ravenshoe. 0482 534 737 https://innothotspringscaravanpark.com.au/stay/ camping and rooms

Day 6 – Thursday, 10th September 2026

Innot Hot Springs / Ravenshoe to Cairns 150kms approximate (via the Gillies Range)

After brekky and fuel up and gather at Ravenshoe Highland Bakery from 08:30 for 09:00 departure.  (Late but short day today)
Rider briefing at 08:50 https://maps.app.goo.gl/Scf5W3uvXFvSuxCTA

Fuel

Plenty of fuel availability on today’s route.

Accommodation

Recommended Black Dog Rider Accommodation:

Day 7 – Friday, 11th September 2026

Rest day for Bike servicing and/or site seeing around Cairns region.

Major Motorcycle repair/servicing or fitting tyres etc.

·       Northern Performance Motorcycles (KTM, CF Moto and most brands)
16 Salvado Dr, Smithfield, (07) 4057 5696

·       Harley Magic, 385 Sheridan St, Cairns. (07) 4032 1800

·       Wayne Leonard Motorcycles, (Royal Enfield and Suzuki)
34 Water St, Cairns City (07) 4051 2741

·       TeamMoto Yamaha, 301 Mulgrave Rd, Cairns City (07) 4042 7162

·       Indian Motorcycles, 417 Mulgrave Rd, Bungalow. (07) 4051 0022

Saturday 12th September - Celebration Dinner in Cairns - all states

Where: The Magazine - Magazine Street, Stratford QLD 4870

When: Saturday 12th September 2026

Time: TBA

Accommodation: 

Tasman Holiday park 

07 341949 email coolwaters@tasmanholidayparks.com 

Some riders have already started booking in.

Cairns Coconut resort

07 40546644 website BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut | Holiday & Caravan Park Cairns | Ingenia Holiday Parks

is offering up to 18% discount 

Oasis INN Cairns 07 4051811 email admin@oasiscairns.com.au

NRMA Cairns 0740511467 e-mail cairns@nrmaparks.com.au

Mostly camping limited number of cabins 

Lake Placid Tourist Park
Site fees are $54.50 per site for 2 people. $15 for each extra adult.
10% discount for 10 sites and 15% for 10+ sites
Bookings need to be confirmed with 1 night deposit and balance paid on arrival.
This is entirely subject to availability. Currently we can easily accommodate 100 people at 4people per site.
People with trailers will have 2 people per site.

Sunday 13th September - Thunder Run

Where: The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum - 2 Skyrail Drive, Smithfield QLD 4878

When: Sunday 13th September 2026

Time: TBA

Ride will depart and return to The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum.

Merchandise

Our Online Shop has our standard range of merchandise for sale all year round. You can access our shop HERE.

Fundraising

Start your fundraising efforts HERE. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Ride Preparation

It is imperative that riders ensure their bike is registered, roadworthy, and in proper working order, ready for the significant distance ride ahead. It is also imperative that riders and pillion passengers are fit and well enough for the journey. Black Dog Ride does not take responsibility for these matters.

Share the Ride

Each state has a Facebook Group to help you connect with fellow riders. Once you have registered for this ride you can go to your state's Facebook Group and apply for membership. Here's the link to the state group.

NT Black Dog Riders

Ride Coordinator

Your coordinator for this ride is Shane Klein. You can reach Shane via email on nt@blackdogride.org.au if you have any specific questions about the ride.

The safety and wellbeing of all Black Dog Ride participants is our priority: While participating in Black Dog ride events, at any time where you are, or are likely to be, in control of a vehicle, the consumption of alcohol and illegal drugs is prohibited. At all times, the use of illegal substances is prohibited. At the conclusion of the event or days documented riding, and/or if an event includes multiple days, including evening social events and meals, we expect your decision to consume alcohol to be in moderation and within legal limitations. Non-compliance of this requirement will result in your immediate disqualification from further participation in the event, and no refunds will be given