Variety QLD Motoring Events

27/08/2026

10 days. 3,000 kilometres. 100+ cars. 300+ Bashers. More than 1,200 kids impacted. $170,000 in grants along the way. But somehow, the numbers still don’t tell the whole story. Because what can words say that your actions haven’t already?

You chose Variety. You chose to step in, fill the gaps and help make sure Aussie kids and communities have the support they need. And over the past 10 days, it has been nothing short of incredible watching the Variety family come together with purpose.

We’ve watched engines being fixed on the side of the road. People laughing until they cried. Swags unrolled and rolled. Bashers sitting around fires reflecting on the day. Dinners shared with people who, somewhere along the journey, became mates, but not just mates, mates with purpose. We’ve watched old friendships pick up exactly where they left off. Friendships that have and no doubt will span countless Bashes still to come. But most of all, we’ve seen the difference this journey has made for kids, families and communities.

And through all of it, there has always been a reason behind every kilometre, every costume, every fundraiser, and every dusty car: to help Aussie kids reach their full potential, no matter their ability or circumstance. That is what you have achieved together, impact that lasts long after the engines fall silent.

So tonight, as we celebrate the final night - proudly supported by Gladstone Regional Council's Ignite Event Fund - of an extraordinary 2026 QLD Variety Bash, congratulations to every Basher, volunteer, supporter, donor, community and family who helped make this journey possible. This is the Variety family far and near. You showed up. You gave back. You made a difference. Let's celebrate!!!

26/08/2026

It’s been a fun few days on the Bash, and a real licorice allsorts of everything we love about the journey!

From amazing school stops and one seriously delicious bake sale, to families standing along the roadside waving as the colourful convoy rolls through. Those little moments of country hospitality never get old.

We’ve slept under the stars, wound our way through spectacular country, emerged from the gorge beneath incredible towering cliffs, and watched the road change from dirt to bitumen and back again.

Sometimes it’s the changing landscapes, sometimes it’s the people you meet, and sometimes it’s simply the road ahead that reminds you just how much there is to experience when you choose to take the long way around.

Keep exploring. Keep connecting. Keep making every kilometre count.

24/08/2026

24/08/2026

The sweeping plains, dusty tracks, mountain ranges, creek crossings, little towns and endless horizons. The bush has a kind of magic to it. It gets under your skin, slows you down and reminds you to look around.

Somewhere along the way, you realise the journey is doing more than taking you from one place to another. It is changing you. Out here, surrounded by endless landscapes, the bigger picture becomes a little clearer. You are reminded that possibility is everywhere, and that hope often begins with the people willing to reach for it.

And it is hard not to see a reflection of that journey in our Bashers too. Long before the cars hit the road, there were months of fundraising, planning, persistence and generosity. Every effort made in support of Variety helps create hope, open doors and support Aussie kids and families when help is needed most. None of that happens without you.

Perhaps that is why everything from sugar cane fields to coal trains feels like such a fitting backdrop to the Bash. Australia is resilient. Steadfast. Beautiful. And there is something of that same spirit in every Basher who made it here. The determination to keep going. The generosity to give back. The belief that every effort, no matter how big or small, can create something better.

So today, slow down when you can. Look out the window. Take in the country around you. Laugh with your mates. Be proud of what it took to get here, because the journey behind us and the road still ahead are about so much more than kilometres travelled. Every effort has helped create hope, opportunity and possibility for Aussie kids and families. And the impact you leave in the people and communities we travel through will continue long after the dust has settled.

24/08/2026

It was a great morning kicking off with The Wiggles, as the cars fired up and got ready to add a few more kilometres to the Bash odometer.

Then came an incredible lunch stop, where Mistake Creek State School pulled out all the stops with a fantastic lunch and some seriously warm country hospitality. A grant to support future learning for four incredible students that loved every minute of the visit.

Fed, watered and ready to roll, it was back onto the dusty roads. Engines were warm, dust was flying and the Bash convoy rolled past some of Queensland’s most iconic outback backdrops. At times, with the dust hanging in the air and a convoy of colourful machines roaring through the landscape, it felt like we had wandered onto the set of Mad Max.

It was great watching the cars overtake, pull over, regroup, chatter over the radios and simply get on with what Bashers do best... driving every kilometre for change for Queensland kids. Dust, noise, laughs and a whole lot of colourful chaos rolling through the Queensland outback.The best journeys are the ones that mean something.

23/08/2026

Taking some time to slow down on lay day and look back on the first few days, one thing is already clear: everyone is finding their rhythm on the road, settling into the journey and reconnecting with what makes the Bash so special.

The Variety Bash is a collective effort, powered by people who choose to show up, give back and support Variety, all to help Aussie kids have a fair go. Along the way, lifelong friendships have been formed, and new ones are still being made. Stories are shared, memories are created and, for many, this incredible community has sparked love, created belonging and given real purpose.

Mateship is one of the Queensland Variety Bash values, and when that mateship is paired with purpose, it creates real change for Aussie kids. The only difference we should see in this world is the difference we make, making more things possible, more inclusive and more life-changing for children and families who need it most.

It is incredible to watch the Variety family come together. The support, the spirit and the heart behind it all is truly like nothing else.

That is the Bash.
That is mateship with purpose.
And that is how change happens.

And perhaps no words sum up the Bash better than these. ❤️➡️

21/08/2026

What a journey it’s been so far,
with every turn raising the bar.
From wild little moments to views that amaze,
the Bash keeps delivering in all kinds of ways.

Up we went and down we came,
around each bend, no two the same.
A splash through creeks, a cloud of dust,
on Bash you follow… because you must!

Past cattle watching from the side,
big rigs rumbling as we rolled on by.
Then came the firies, hose in hand,
with one wet welcome nobody had planned!

Then into schools after the morning run,
where cheers rang loud and hearts were won.
At lunch came a stop that meant much more,
meeting Laura and students we were there for.

A Variety grant helped open the way,
for a life-changing camp and brighter days.
For Pentland State School and others nearby,
new adventures await and dreams can fly.

The outfits changed, the characters grew,
and honestly… we’re not sure who is who.
But beneath the costumes, dust and fun,
there’s a reason every kilometre is run.

20/08/2026

Creek crossings, sandy bottoms, bumpy grids, dusty roads and winding tracks through some seriously beautiful country… as long as you followed the route instructions! 😏

The bush has been absolutely showing off today. Around every corner there seems to be another view, another track, another moment worth stopping for. There is honestly too much to photograph and even more to take in. From the dust and bumps to the wide-open landscapes, days like this remind you just how spectacular Queensland can be.

What an incredible way to Bash, soak it all in and celebrate all the hard work and fundraising that got us here. And we’re not done capturing all of our amazing Bashers yet! Here’s just a snippet, and we can’t wait for the next few days to catch more of you out on the road, in the creeks, at the fun stops and everywhere in between.

Enjoy your dinner, find a spot by the fire, stay warm and rest up. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings! 🔥

18/08/2026

From the Innisfail Showgrounds, through lush rainforests and country towns, off-road tracks and finally sitting under the stars for dinner… what an incredible way to kick off the 2026 QLD Variety Bash!

One of the best parts of today was the welcome along the way. Local families standing on their lawns to wave us through, kids lining the school fences waiting for the Bash cars to honk past, and communities coming out to be part of the action.

After months of fundraising and preparation, it’s pretty special to finally be out here seeing what the QLD Variety Bash is all about: community, mateship, adventure and making a difference for Aussie kids.

With a little dust already on the cars and plenty more adventure ahead, Day 01 is done. Nine more days on the road less travelled!

17/08/2026

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” ❤️

Life is full of characters… and the Variety Bash seems to collect the best of them. And just like that, Day 1 of the Variety Bash is OFF the start line! 🚗💨

The costumes are on, the cars are rolling and some of Queensland’s finest characters are officially on the road.

Here are just a few of the characters bringing the Bash to life this year… and trust us, we’ve only just started. 😂

Day 1. Let’s Bash!