Bicentennial National Trail
The Bicentennial National Trail (BNT), originally known as the National Horse Trail is one of the longest multi-use, non- motorised, self-reliant trails in the world, stretching 5,330 kilometres from Cooktown, Queensland, through New South Wales and the ACT to Healesville, 60 km north-east of Melbourne. This trail runs the length of the rugged Great Dividing Range through national parks, private property and alongside of wilderness areas. The BNT trail follows old coach roads, , brumby tracks, rivers and fire trails. It was originally intended for horses, but is these days promoted also for cycling and walking. However it is not yet entirely suited to these two activities.
The trail was initiated and planned by the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association. The association spent many years planning and negotiating a route that linked up the , brumby tracks, pack horse trails, historic coach roads and stock routes, thus providing an opportunity to legally ride the routes of and drovers who once travelled these areas.
The development of this image was left to a committee led by R. M. Williams. Dan Seymour was sponsored by R.M. Williams to find a route along the Great Dividing Range, and to promote enthusiasm for the proposal. Dan volunteered to ride the Trail and set off from Ferntree Gully, Victoria in February 1972 with two saddle horses, a packhorse and ‘Bluey’ his blue heeler cattle dog. The Australian Trail Horse Riders Association provided Dan with encouragement during this lengthy journey. His amazing twenty-one month ride finished in Cooktown, Queensland in September 1973. Dan’s journey, which was regularly reported, created increased interest in the formation of the Trail.
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