Meredith Quinlan was the first of the field to complete the gruelling 2025 Terra Australis ultra bike race – which covers the length of Australia’s east coast – in a touch under 35 days, 8 hours. Photo: Supplied.
Cape York has been indelibly inked in the memories of three competitors after they completed a mammoth 6,200-kilometre ultra endurance challenge by standing proudly at the tip of Australia this month.
The trio were participating in the 2025 Terra Australis, a gruelling two-wheel adventure along the entire east coast of the country, from Wilsons Promontory in Victoria to Pajinka at the northernmost point of the continent.
Merdeith Quinlan, who has made two previous failed attempts to conquer the ride, was the first of the three riders to reach the end of the road, stopping the clock in 35 days, 7 hours and 55 minutes – more than 175km per day.
Paul Lester was the second rider in the field of six starters to complete the race in 37 days, 9 hours and 33 minutes.
One competitor withdrew from the race after 760km, while two more pulled the pin on the arduous challenge at the 1,200km and 1,450km distance markers.
Craig Johnston, the only other rider left standing, reached the Northern Peninsula Area at the weekend, 44 days, 16 hours and 41 minutes after setting out from Victoria.
Ms Quinlan said the behind-the-scenes planning for the self-supported race had been critical to her success.
“I think planning is key to it, and being aware of what you’ve got ahead of you, and how far apart the food stops are, because it’s all self-supported,” she said.
“You have to look after yourself; you have to know when the shops are open – there’s no point counting on shops when you’re going to be riding through town at three in the morning, unless there’s a bakery open, which occasionally happens.
“In terms of the mind, I had my phone with lots of downloaded books, podcasts and music, all the traditional things that we all use these days to help us keep positive and motivated; I had a different flavour of things that I could listen to, depending on the mood and the occasion.”
Ms Quinlan completed her race without any mechanical breakdowns, something she credited to pre-race maintenance and component replacement, and “not smashing it too badly” as a conservative rider.
The 53-year-old said there was major satisfaction in being the first across the finish line, and had nothing but praise for the Cape York residents she met, including a group of riders on a motorcycle tour.
“People up in the Cape are just so lovely,” she said.
“I just find when you get into the remote areas of Australia, that people just get nicer and warmer, and more willing to have a chat or help.
“The Cockatoo Creek crossing was really high and I was trying to work out what to do, then I heard these engines and these guys on trail bikes rocked up; they just jumped in the water, in a line, and picked my bike up like it was a toy, because they’re tall and big boys; they just walked over so easily, and I was struggling to swim over.
“That was just so cool.”
Meredith Quinlan marks the end of the 6,200-kilometre ultra bike race from Wilsons Promontory to Pajinka with the obligatory photo at the tip of Australia. Photo: Supplied.
