The iconic Outback Car Trek is gearing up for another remarkable journey in 2026, once again bringing together motoring enthusiasts, regional communities and passionate fundraisers in support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) – one of Australia’s most vital lifelines for people in regional, rural and remote areas.
This year’s Trek will see 175 participants across 80 cars depart from Albury, New South Wales, travelling through the Mallee region of Victoria, before crossing Bass Strait and concluding in Launceston, Tasmania. The journey reflects the spirit of adventure that defines the event, combining scenic and remote landscapes with meaningful community engagement along the way.
No two Treks take the same road – and that’s the point. Each year, a new set of communities gets to experience the convoy rolling through, the economic activity that comes with it, and the chance to stand alongside one of Australia’s great fundraising traditions.
The participant base highlights the strong national appeal of the Trek. Entrants come from across Australia and beyond, with 70% from New South Wales, 13% from Victoria, 8% from South Australia, 7% from Queensland, and 2% international participants – a testament to the event’s reputation as one of Australia’s leading charity motoring experiences.
Since its inception, the Outback Car Trek has grown into one of Australia’s most successful and enduring fundraising initiatives. At the time of this release, the Trek has proudly raised in excess of $38 million for the RFDS in its history, helping deliver life-saving aeromedical and primary healthcare services across the country.
More than just a fundraising event, the Trek represents a powerful partnership between metropolitan participants and regional communities – highlighting the critical importance of accessible healthcare for Australians living and working outside major population centres.
The ethos of the Trek has always been about more than the road: it’s about providing genuine social and economic benefit to the communities it travels through. That philosophy shapes every route – and this year is no different. The welcome extended by local councils and businesses along the 2026 route has been overwhelming, with communities embracing both the convoy and the cause it carries.
The Outback Car Trek also delivers significant economic benefits to regional Australia. Each day generates upwards of $75,000 in local economic activity, supporting small businesses and service providers along the route. Participants are encouraged to eat locally, stay locally, and spend locally – turning the Trek into a genuine economic event for every town on the itinerary, not just a convoy passing through. Over the course of the week, community-led fundraising efforts are estimated to contribute a further $100,000, reflecting the generosity and strong community spirit that underpins the event.
“The Outback Car Trek has always stood for something bigger than the drive,” said Matthew Tosolini, Head of Motoring Events, Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section.
“Every route we plan is a deliberate choice to put 175 people in the heart of regional Australia – to spend in local businesses, to sit across the table from community members who rely on the Flying Doctor, and to come home understanding, in their bones, why this work matters. The welcome we receive from councils and communities along the way is extraordinary. These towns show up for us because they know we show up for them.”
Key Stops Along the Journey
- Saturday 30 May – Albury, NSW
- Sunday 31 May – Moama, NSW
- Monday 1 June – Ararat, VIC
- Tuesday 2 June – Apollo Bay, VIC
- Wednesday 3 June – Bass Strait Crossing
- Thursday 4 June – Hobart, TAS
- Friday 5 June – Port Arthur, TAS
- Saturday 6 June – Launceston, TAS
- Sunday 7 June – Symmons Plains, TAS
The 2026 route – from inland New South Wales, through regional and coastal Victoria, and into Tasmania – reflects the breadth and diversity of communities supported by the RFDS. Across these regions, the RFDS provides critical patient transport services, linking rural and remote patients with specialist care, alongside emergency aeromedical retrievals that can mean the difference between life and death.
Beyond emergency response, the RFDS delivers a wide range of essential healthcare services, including mobile dental programs, mental health support, and preventative health initiatives tailored to isolated communities. In Tasmania, the RFDS has an increasing focus on primary health outreach, delivering services directly into regional communities where access to healthcare can be limited by geography.
By travelling this route, the Outback Car Trek shines a spotlight on the real-world impact of RFDS operations – demonstrating how these services connect communities, improve health outcomes, and ensure that no Australian is beyond reach of care.
For many participants, it’s also a moment of genuine perspective. When you take the back roads and travel the long way around, you start to understand firsthand just how far these communities are from basic services – and why the work of the Flying Doctor matters so much.
The Outback Car Trek continues to embody the spirit of adventure, mateship and giving back. Every kilometre travelled and every dollar raised helps ensure the RFDS can continue delivering life-saving healthcare services to Australians who need it most.
As the convoy makes its way from the Riverina through Victoria and into Tasmania, the 2026 Outback Car Trek once again proves that when communities unite with purpose – on the road and off it – they can drive real and lasting change.
