South Australia’s most feel-good Postie Bike adventure raises funds for cancer family retreats
I grew up the daughter of a postie. Every weekday, my dad would jump on his little red Honda CT110 and, with one hand on the throttle and the other beeping the horn, deliver the daily mail. I always knew that bike could handle potholes and outrun the occasional cranky Jack Russell, but I never imagined that little red demon could take on the Flinders.
Turns out, those humble little mail chariots can – and they have, for the past 10 years.
From August 28 to 31, a gutsy group of riders will once again fire up their postie bikes and take on the 2025 Apex Outback Postie Bike Ride – rattling across 1,000km of dirt, dust and corrugations through the Flinders Ranges, tackling some of South Australia’s most rugged and breathtaking terrain.
A dusty ride with a whole lot of heart
What started as a handful of mates from Apex Clubs across regional SA has exploded into a full-throttle tradition. These days, the ride draws over 100 brave (and probably slightly mad) keen adventurers every year, many calling it the most fun and meaningful experience they’ve ever had. Friendships are forged in plumes of red dust, with lifelong bonds formed over busted chains and flat tyres.
But the real heart of the ride is its cause.
The first ever Apex Outback Postie Bike Ride was put together in 2007 by Apexian Greg Kipling, better known as “Kippo.” It began with just seven mates and a few second-hand bikes, originally raising funds for “Bradley’s Place” on the Fleurieu Peninsula – a retreat house for families facing childhood cancer. The ride grew rapidly, and as numbers swelled, Kippo handed the reins over to the Apex Club to manage.
According to Apex Club of Kadina Chair, Neil Sawley, that’s when the dream to create something similar here in South Australia really took shape. “Apex has a history of providing retreats,” he said. “We had the idea to do the same in South Australia, and the Copper Coast Council were so supportive – they helped facilitate the whole thing.”
Every rider commits to raising at least $500 to support the Apex Copper Coast Retreats – a collection of custom-built cabins in the Wallaroo North Beach Tourist Park, funded primarily through the Postie Bike Ride.
From red dirt to retreats
So far, five luxurious units have been built, sitting just metres from the shoreline. Each one is fully decked out with three bedrooms (sleeping up to eight), a full kitchen with modern appliances, a bathroom, and laundry facilities – everything a family needs to relax, reset, and forget the cancer journey for a little while.
They’re booked out three to four months in advance, and the team’s already thinking about building another one.
Neil remembers one of the first guests at the retreat. “It sticks in my head,” he said. “There was a lady who stayed there who’d never had a dishwasher in her life. To go away and not have to do the dishes – that was a real treat for her. Something so simple meant so much.”
It took years of fundraising (including many a postie bike ride) and nearly $1 million to build the cabins, but what they offer is priceless.
In South Australia, 28 people hear the words “You have cancer” every day. The Apex Copper Coast Retreats exist to make sure they, and their families, aren’t facing it alone.
“If you could tell people just one thing about why this matters…” I asked Neil.
His answer was simple, “Building precious memories with families.”
And when it comes to encouraging people to get involved? “The riders are having a lot of fun for four days,” he said, “but they’re also raising money for those doing it tough with every dollar going straight to the project.”
So how can you help?
Easy. You can donate directly to the cause, support an individual rider, or sponsor the ride. All donations over $2 are tax-deductible, and 100% of funds go straight to the Retreats.
Postie Bike Ride 2025
Where: Port Augusta, Hawker, Leigh Creek & Angorichina
When: August 28 – 31
Click here to donate or find a rider to support.
Â
