Many 18-year-olds taking a gap year after finishing school may have kicked off their newfound freedom with Schoolies Week or partying with friends.
But Libby Wylie, from Tea Gardens in New South Wales, had a different adventure in mind.
The teenager has just embarked on her dream of completing the Bicentennial National Trail on horseback.
Stretching from Cooktown in Far North Queensland to Healesville in Victoria, the 5,330-kilometre trail was officially opened as part of Australia's bicentenary in 1988.
In the family
Known as the BNT, the national trail or simply "the trail", it follows the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and the eastern escarpment. To date fewer than 60 people have completed the entire trail.
Libby, who started her journey only weeks after turning 18 in April, was inspired by her parents' romantic stories.
"My mum had come out from Ireland to attempt the trail and she met Dad and he said he would like to accompany her on her quest," she said.
Libby originally wanted to start the trail when she was only 16, but her dad Rob Wylie suggested she wait until she was 18.
"Libby has spent the last two years saving for this and after she turned 18 this year, we decided to give it a crack," Mr Wylie said.
The trail passes through some of the most remote and inaccessible parts of western Queensland and New South Wales.
Mr Wylie has started the journey with his daughter, and will later hand over to others.
"I will eventually need to get back to work, and when I am not with her, Libby will be accompanied by friends for parts of the journey," he said.
"I hope to be able to pass on some skills and help her on her way and hopefully I can join her at the end of the journey."
While Libby is accompanied by other riders, she also has with her two riding horses and two pack horses.
"We do about 20km a day on the horses, and we often get off and walk to give the horses a break," she said.
"I've always loved being on horses and going on adventures and being in the outdoors.
Gap year at horse's pace
Without mobile phones, TV, social media or the internet, Libby says one of the hardest parts of her journey is the social isolation.
"Sometimes it has been days before we see another human being, we get excited when we see a road or a house," she said.
"It's very different to what I am used to, I'm used to seeing or chatting with people every day.
"Whereas now it's all about being independent and finding my own way with no technology.
"We have been lost a few times over the past couple of weeks, but we eventually find our way."
Mr Wylie said the highlight so far had been meeting the locals.
"I've always told Libby that the people of North Queensland are phenomenal, they have been so friendly and welcoming and supportive," he said.
"We are constantly overwhelmed by people's hospitality, so many people just want to stop us on the side of the road for a chat.
While the whole journey could take as long as 18 months, Libby says there's no timetable, and she is happy to go at the horse's pace.
"We like to give the horses decent breaks, if they are in good spirits we keep going," she said.
"There are too many variables to have a timetable, it's all about the horses."
