Maps …..all of them

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 09:30
ThreadID: 151956 Views:653 Replies:4 FollowUps:20
I doubt any maps will ever be totally accurate.
I recently completed an endurance ride of highway 1 around the mainland. Covering 14,400 k.
I had occasions when the roads were different , and obviously not just built . Predominately using a Garmin 700i running hema maps , but google maps and ExplorOz traveller as well .
One memorable area was port hedland after a long day in the saddle , did a lot of wandering trying to get to accomodation I had booked. (Frustrated!!)
I regularly look at different maps to plan routes , and then adjust the route as needed when I get there.
But I love the effort David and Michelle put in to give us a brilliant tool.
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Reply By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 13:24

Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 13:24
Thanks Shane — 14,400km cycling around Australia is an incredible feat of endurance, congratulations! Stories like yours really highlight how diverse the ExplorOz Traveller user base is, and why we put so much effort into making the maps work for all types of travellers.

You’ve also hit the nail on the head: no map can ever be 100% perfect. That’s one of the key reasons we produce a new edition of EOTopo each year. Not only do things change on the ground, but it’s impossible to catch every omission or error from a previous edition.

One thing we do to help is release a pre-release edition online, inviting the public to review it. We usually only have about a week to gather feedback and make final adjustments before publication, so I encourage anyone interested to keep an eye out for that pre-release and contribute to the final checks.

Thanks again for sharing your experience — we really appreciate it.
Michelle
David (DM) & Michelle (MM)
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Currently Mapping in the Field Across Australia Fulltime in 2023 - 2025

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Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 14:57

Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 14:57
Whoops , I was on my BMW 1200 gsa ,not my pushy , 16 days including 1 1/2 days for a brake down and spent most of a day with a cousin at Esperance.
Tick that off my list!!
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 18:20

Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 18:20
Hey Shane , did you look up Steve from mungeral dog in Perth while you were there ??
Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 21:58

Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 21:58
Nah , I didn’t Nick
I was on my mission to do the lap quickly , and aimed for 14 days , so take off the time off for break down and visit , acheived what I wanted to do.
And for Allan B, I just saw I spelt brake wrong in my break down .LOL.
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 22:09

Thursday, Dec 11, 2025 at 22:09
Haha Shane, don't worry about Alan he's a hema man he won't be looking at Traveller app posts lol :)))
Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 07:40

Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 07:40
Hi Shane,

Even on a motorcycle, it is still a fantastic achievement. I have ridden Melbourne to Gold Coast and back, and Melbourne to the Devils Marbles and back on a Harley cruiser which, although is a comfortable bike to ride, it is always good to “get out of the saddle” at the end of each day. Congratulations.



A couple of years ago whilst doing a Solo Simpson Desert crossing in my Landcruiser, I came across this guy at Maree. He was riding solo from Brisbane to Perth on an Ural with sidecar, with his dog which travelled in the sidecar. He had come down the Oodnadatta from Marla. FYI, a Ural is a Russian bike, a copy of a 1950’s/60’s BMW. After WWII, the Russians brought BMW bikes back to Russia and copied them.



Macca.
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Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 11:11

Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 11:11
Gday macca
I have a mate with a Ural .
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 19:43

Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 19:43
Rear tyre " JUST " made it Shane lol :))
Good looking bike .
I also did a bit of riding when I wore younger man clothes .
Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 07:57

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 07:57
Nice looking bike Shane. Unfortunately, me being a short ar$3, I can’t ride these road/trail bikes, my feet do not touch the ground. :-)

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Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 21:25

Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 21:25
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Hey Nick, I just received a tip-off that you were maligning me on a Traveller thread that I would not be watching. Well, you may be half-right but I haven't used a Hema GPS for well over 20 years since my early HX or something model failed miserably and Hema declined warranty. I switched to a Samsung tablet and am now happily on my second model.
And I do run EO Traveller on it but it is not my default map app. It is a bit too comprehensive for my needs.
But Hema? No bloody way Jose.
That Samsung Tab A6 has done a sterling job for some 100k kilos strapped to the Jesus bar of the Troopy on many of the roughest tracks of Oz. And I haven't once needed to ask Michelle & David how to use it.
Can I go back to my leccy thread now?
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 22:52

Friday, Dec 12, 2025 at 22:52
Well it looks like I'm eating Humble Pie tonight lol :)))
I too have a hema hx1 & i have had few other ones aswel , but the Traveller is so easy to use .

But while i have your attention..
What is a citizen scientist exactly ??
I see you were talking about that in a post recently & I was interested to know after listening to the ABC Adelaide about the algal bloom & what the citizens scientists are doing
Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 07:55

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 07:55
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Nick, me talking about a "citizen scientist" moi? really? I have never heard of the term.
Must have been some other AllanB.
Have another slice of pie. lol
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Member - Warren H - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 09:35

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 09:35
Nick, generally a citizen scientist is a member of the public who volunteers to make observations for a research group and report them. This can include measurements of water pH and turbidity, insect numbers, bird counts (eg Birds Australia annual backyard bird count). The key is to provide guidance and protocols to make the observations as reliable as possible. Often service organisations, schools, nature conservation groups are recruited. SA seems to be active in this arena. A colleague organised an extensive monitoring and reporting program on water and sediments (acid sulfate soils to be specific) in the SA Murray during the Millennium Drought.
NT Pajero
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 10:52

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 10:52
Cheers Warren appreciate the reply .
Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 11:17

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 11:17
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Hey Nick, all very well with the "Cheers Warren" but what about me?
First you malign me now you are defaming me.
What is behind this "citizen scientist" thing mate?
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 11:27

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 11:27
.
Julius Caesar was advised… "Don't go to the Forum Jules". Now I know why!!!
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Allan

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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 11:39

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 11:39
Alan B , SORRY !! :( for the mistaking you in identifying in the as a citizen scientist .
Sincerely Humble apologies Nick



Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 13:16

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 13:16
./
Apology accepted Nick. I am often mistaken…. one way or another.
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Allan

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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 13:54

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 13:54
We are members of the "Friends of the Great Victoria Desert" which is one of a number of groups supported by National Parks in South Australia.
There are several Groups whose activities are primarily in more remote sections of the State, like Friends of Innamincka Regional Reserve, Friends of the Simpson Desert, Friends of Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges and Friends of Mound Springs and others.
While the actual work that we do is sometimes not particularly inspiring, it usually has some long term value and they often provide opportunities to spend time in some wonderful county that is often otherwise difficult or impossible to visit as a tourist.
Active members also get free entry and camping in SA National Parks.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 14:23

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 14:23
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Peter, I thought they were Folk Dancing groups. Thanks for correcting my illusion. lol
Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: Member - wicket - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 12:13

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 12:13
If you want to become a citizen scientist one way is to download the Koala Spotter app created by the CSIRO, and you can do your small bit.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 13:14

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 13:14
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Sounds too much like a Sovereign Citizen for my liking!
I'll stick with electrical aficionado.

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Allan

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Reply By: Kenell - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 14:29

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 14:29
This thread thus far has been all good natured humour and useful information. Now Alan, you want to bring electrics into it? I'm off to get my popcorn.

Kenell
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 14:44

Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at 14:44
Kenell, is mapping the new electrics?
Cheers
Allan

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