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Why do the Canning Stock Route?
Why do the Canning Stock Route?
Blame the movie.
Our CSR adventure started when my son Jasper and I watched the series Friends Cross the Canning. Some (strange) blokes, big 4WDs, lots of red dust, mechanical drama (with the Hilux), and banter. Jasper was hooked.
About halfway through, he turned to me and said:
“We should do that.”
Only problem? We don’t own a 79 Series, a vintage Land Rover or a Nissan Patrol with a kitchen sink welded to the bull bar (or was it a Mitsubishi?).
We have a Suzuki Jimny.
So that’s how the Canning adventure began — a then 9-year-old inspired by camels and campfires, and a slightly stubborn dad thinking:
“Well… why can’t the smallest 4WD do the world longest stock route?”
For me, it’s about proving that you don’t need lockers, 35-inch tyres, or a second mortgage to take on something epic. You just need the right prep, a good attitude, and maybe a little trailer full of jerry cans.
Almost two years ago, a mate of mine—who’d just moved to a farm in Queensland—said, “Why don’t you come visit?”
My first thought? “That’s a two-day drive. Three if you're a normal person. And I’ve got a nine-year-old…”
But then I thought, Why not? What could possibly go wrong?
To my surprise, Jasper loved it. Still does. He’s officially hooked on road trips—especially the off-road kind. And just like that, we were off on our first adventure together.
Then came the YouTube rabbit hole. Amid the usual noise I stumbled across some proper overlanding and 4WD content (I’m looking at you, 4xOverland and Ronny Dahl). And the dreaming began…
Two videos really stuck with me:
“Basic Backpackers 4WD Build”, which showed how little you really need to get going
And a solo 4xOverland trip where Andrew spoke about the finality of life. That one hit hard.
At the time, I had a Suzuki Grand Vitara—not a ‘real’ 4WD according to the internet—but I figured: I’ve got a car, I’ve got a kid who loves travel… why not give an easy trip a go?
So off to Perth we went. From Sydney.
Yep, just a quick cross-continent trip—twice!—and it was magic. We racked up over 1,500 km of off-roading, soaked in the beauty of the Nullarbor, stayed in underground motels, and camped next to salt lakes. It was unforgettable.
But one thing became clear: while the Grand Vitara is excellent on the road (cheers, independent suspension), that same suspension made it just okay off-road. We tackled a few tracks across the Nullarbor that had us bottoming out more than I liked. And all I could think was: My old Jimny would’ve cruised this.
So when we got home, I did what anyone would do—I traded in the GV for a brand-new Jimny. No regrets.
Fast forward less than a year, and we’ve already put the Jimny through its paces. Multiple long weekend trips in the Blue Mountains to test its technical chops, plus a big one: a 4,700 km loop to South Australia and back. That included 2,500 km off-road and nearly 900 km of corrugations.
What did we end up with?
One loose number plate screw
Two broken cable ties
And a whole lot of new dreams.
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