Port Macquarie-Hastings resident Mike Koch has explored all the nooks and crannies of Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Over 200,000 kilometres and four years Mr Koch travelled the back roads of the country with the aim of discovering places which the average person would not know about.
Mr Koch documented his journey by taking photographs and writing along the way. The information was transferred into a book format and also an app titled Australia Free.
Mr Koch wanted to create a book which would appeal to people travelling on a budget.
“I kept hearing the same story that it can be expensive to travel,” he said.
“What is there to see and do that is free?”
Mr Koch said when people travel they often focus on the destination and not the journey which is often the best part.
“They tend to miss out on a lot of the free activities and attractions along the way,” he said.
Some of the places might be only 10 kilometres off the highway but Mr Koch said they are missed because people don’t take the detour.
“A lot of the places which I went to people have never heard of,” he said.
Mr Koch said the top end of Australia is spectacular.
“You’ve got all the canyons, gorges and the waterfalls,” he said.
Mr Koch said on his travels a lot of his research came direct from the locals at restaurants, service stations or any hotel.
The book contains road atlas maps, GPS coordinates, dump points and photographs.
Mr Koch said it’s always nice to come back to his home town of Port Macquarie.
Mr Koch’s book will be launched at Settlement City near Mister Minit on June 29, 30 and July 1 at a pop up store.
For more information please visit www.australiafree.com.au