This post may be used as resource for others so try to structure it somehow. Share whatever you think will be useful- links, local knowledge, interesting places, routes, maps…
In Australia, on the east coast (Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne) the highways are certainly possible to ride, but the https://www.nswcoastcycle.com/ is a much better option that a lot of bikepackers don’t seem to find easily.
Sorry for not writing sooner my instance is on and off for few days now and federation with world is meh (don’t know on what side).
Czech Republic/Slovakia
Routing/maps
- how the signs for hikers and cyclists looks like - https://kct.cz/system-turistickeho-znaceni
- we have pretty large OSM community so any OSM client (except OrganicMaps) is good option but there are few developed here. Like https://www.locusmap.app ; osmapp.org ; freemap.sk
- non Foss options - mapy.cz and https://www.cykloserver.cz/cykloatlas
Camping/bivouacing
Camping outside is generally allowed with right etiquette (leave no trace, don’t make fire where and when it is not allowed, be out of sight …). I would suggest to bivouac only, if it is possible. But still there are few nono’s:
- National parks and other protected areas. It may be possible with designated camping spots but every park has different rules so check it out before you go there.
- Military training areas- you can ride through them on designated roads but you can’t stay there. Even the recently opened to public (military didn’t needed it) have only opened roads and few places - the demining operations will take some time.
Resupply, pubs, restaurants
- in vilages shops are closed on Sundays and on Saturdays they are usually open till 11
- In restaurants they have few different types of food offerings - lunch menu (pre-made meals offered from 11:00 to 14:00) you can get it in few minutes, “minutka” (pre-made and cooled/freezed meals) it will usually take less than 30 minutes to get it and other meals they may take up to 1 hour to make.
- I am beer guy so here is map of Czech brewerys: https://ceskepivo-ceskezlato.cz/mapa-pivovaru/
Trains
There isn’t usually any problem with bringing bike there, for some trains you have to book it in advance.
- if you can’t buy the ticket at the station, you can buy it in train. It is possible to pay by card but have some money at hand (the terminals are old and sometimes unreliable)
- you can check connections here: https://t.idos.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusymhdvse/spojeni/