- 3 best mates
- 4 months sleeping in a ute with a canopy
- 136 bumpy creek crossings
- 3 sore bums
Sue's 1954 Riverina to Darwin adventure
![Sues 1954 road trip Sues 1954 road trip](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/sues-1954-road-trip--header-image.jpg?h=500&iar=0&w=1140&hash=30C05CA0754E3D857C62A519648B8180)
![Sue's 1954 road trip](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/sues-1954-road-trip--mob.jpg?h=360&iar=0&w=640&hash=D9430B13074B60B59CFCA6F5B10885E0)
It was 1954, I had just turned 21 and completed my nursing degree. I was ready for an adventure and wanting to see more of Australia, I decided to follow in my dad’s footsteps, who once embarked on a road trip with a friend in a T-Model Ford, covering Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. So off I went in a Holden Ute, armed with basic knowledge on mechanics and my two best mates.
The gang hit the road
![Sue's 1954 road trip - We three girls ready for trip](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/01---we-three-girls-ready-for-trip.jpg?h=1054&iar=0&w=732&hash=98186210C5BEFAD1A18CE83B790FE054)
Three best mates ready for a trip of a lifetime
Coastin'
![Sue's 1954 road trip - On the highway near Pentland Qld](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/07--on-the-highway-near-pentland-qld.jpg?h=724&iar=0&w=1019&hash=0C789B6823EC87465E34954D90368465)
On the highway
Breakfast for lunch and dinner
![Sue's 1954 road trip - Lunch on the road near Townsville](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/05---lunch-on-the-road-near-townsville.jpg?h=729&iar=0&w=1045&hash=486AE463E77C7A2CB9F0E2F3C5BF852A)
Lunch on the road
Where rainforest meets reef
![Sue's 1954 road trip - Sue on trip to reef from Magnetic Island](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/06---sue-on-trip-to-reef-from-magnetic-island.jpg?h=1036&iar=0&w=760&hash=F4231D21D9ABE5DF2D0C222A5DDE4DCF)
Sue on a trip to the reef from Magnetic Island
A lot of bull dust
![Sue's 1954 road trip - Camping at a bore in Western Queensland](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/08---camping-at-a-bore-in-western-queensland.jpg?h=726&iar=0&w=1036&hash=B385B7EA48E2AF13132E9A8784AB8A14)
Camping at a bore in Queensland
Half-time to the Top End
![Sue's 1954 road trip - At Berry Springs south of Darwin](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/09---at-berry-springs-south-of-darwin.jpg?h=755&iar=0&w=1028&hash=E0B21DC1A49C67A68C8D0E03D504FB9E)
At Berry Springs south of Darwin
The freezing desert
![Sue's 1954 road trip - We three in the back of a jeep on a tour to Palm Valley from Alice Springs](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/10---we-three-in-the-back-of-a-jeep-on-a-tour-to-palm-valley-from-alice-springs.jpg?h=733&iar=0&w=1043&hash=A479FA363DCBFAADC5D0C644C4FFFE20)
In the back of a jeep on a tour to Palm Valley from Alice Springs
All aboard!
![Sue's 1954 road trip - Two bedded down in the ute](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/02---two-bedded-down-in-the-ute.jpg?h=720&iar=0&w=1016&hash=79F6A2A88414A08738B1133D78426B56)
Bedded down in the Ute
It all went south
![Sue's 1954 road trip - Washing the car out of Maclean](/-/media/centenary/moveable-memories/sue/04---washing-the-car-out-of-maclean.jpg?h=720&iar=0&w=1039&hash=CFDA80EFCA28D8BE73ED002DA51BBE45)
Washing the car
Road Trip Tales are Member-shared memories, providing a sample of their route. Some highways and routes may no longer be open today. If you would like to emulate Sue's journey, use the multi-place map. above, or create your own route using our trip planner and our road trip guides.