Fast & Fabulous - Sh*tbox Rally 2026

19/09/2026

Definitely the last one 😂

Watch the teams of Sh*tbox Rally 2026 - Autumn as they rally from s...

26/08/2026

Day 6 – Narrandera to Dargo ❤️🏁

Day 6… and we’re officially in the home stretch! 🥳 By this stage, we’d pretty much given up on showers 😂 and were living in a slightly feral state – but we were having an absolute ball - sort of - well after morning coffee!

Today was “In Honour Of” Day ❤️

It was a special and emotional part of the rally as we reflected on why we were doing this crazy adventure – in honour of those who have lost their battle with cancer, those still fighting, and those who have come through it and are surviving and thriving. For Dawn, it was particularly poignant as we remembered her Dad, Dave, who lost his battle with cancer a few years ago. ❤️

Today we tackled 463km from Narrandera to Dargo – 399km sealed and 64km of dirt – travelling through Lockhart, Walbundrie, Lavington and Albury, past Lake Hume and through the stunning Mitta Mitta Valley before heading into the mountains.

And what a day it was! ⛰️🚗💨

The scenery was spectacular, the roads kept us entertained, and the mighty Miss June just kept plodding along. We even stopped at the Mt Kosciuszko lookout to take in the views and remind ourselves just how far we’d come.

The roads were winding through the high country and very much reminded us of the Brindabella and Snowy mountains around Canberra where we shared many adventures together - we both have a few scars and broken bones as a legacy 😂.

Then came the tricky part. As night fell we lost sight of our the tail lights of our buddy team but we were quietly confident that we had this in the bag as we had both driven on rough dirty roads in the dark many times. It was slow going as the roads were rocky and full of bends and pot holes with steep mountain fall on one side. Then the unexpected happens - we lost our brakes - not a little bit - all, completely! Fortunately Fiona remembered her training from drive tricks in the Rural Fire Brigade and heaved the car into a the lowest gear - against the will of Miss June and used the hand break to get around corners - while we both hoped that it would hold until we got down the mountain. It was probably worse for Dawn as she was next to the steep drop down the mountain. After what seemed like forever we made to the bottom of the mountain where our Bundy Group was waiting in the first place you could pull off the road - we slid in behind the last car and gave it a bit of a love tap - everyone was relieved to see us and we were so glad to be there in one piece. After letting our brakes cool down, we were off again all keeping tight in our Bundy Group until we reach Dargo. While the camping was a bit rough, there were no showers or hot water, there was a monumental feast awaiting us will excellent hospitality by the Dargo Pub, music and games before hitting the sack for the last time on the rally.

After 6 days, thousands of kilometres, dust, dirt, corrugations, laughs, questionable hygiene and more adventures than we could have imagined, we were getting very close to the finish line.

One more day to go… Melbourne, here we come! 🏁💛

08/08/2026

📖 THE FINAL CHAPTER — FAST & FABULOUS 💛🏁

And so, our Sh*tbox Rally adventure comes to an end…

After seven extraordinary days, more than 3,400km of dust, dirt, corrugations and country roads, countless laughs, a few mechanical dramas, very questionable showers and more memories than we could ever fit into a Facebook post — we finished the rally in one piece.

And, incredibly, so did Miss June! 🚗💨
Well… mostly in one piece. She did lose her bashplate along the way, but we think that just adds to her character. 😂

Miss June has now found a new owner and will continue her life as a rally car, hopefully bringing plenty more adventures and raising even more money for the Cancer Council. We couldn’t be happier that her story gets to continue.

And what a way to finish ours…

💛 $8,450 raised for the Cancer Council 💛
That’s through the incredible generosity of everyone who donated, plus the proceeds from the auctioning of Miss June.

To every single person who donated, sponsored us, followed along, shared our posts, sent messages, cheered us on, put up with our rally stories and generally encouraged two slightly mad women to drive an old gold Magna from Port Douglas to Melbourne…

Thank you. Truly. ❤️

To our wonderful sponsors, family, friends and colleagues — we couldn’t have done it without you. Your support meant the world to us.

It really was an adventure of a lifetime. We set out with a gold car, a vague plan and a determination to have some fun and raise some money. We came home with dusty clothes, a very dirty car, a few stories that probably shouldn’t be repeated in polite company… and memories that will stay with us forever. 😂❤️

We’ll leave the Fast & Fabulous page open for a while, so you can wander back through our exploits, meet some of the amazing people we travelled with and perhaps experience a little of the madness all over again.

And now, after an unforgettable chapter, it’s time to close the book on the Autumn Sh*tbox Rally 2026.

Thank you for coming along for the ride. 💛

Go well, Miss June. 🚗
And go well to all our fellow Sh*tboxers.

With love and very happy hearts,

Dawn & Fiona
💛 Fast & Fabulous 💛
Autumn Sh*tbox Rally 2026

The adventure may be over, but the memories will last a lifetime. 🏁❤️

29/07/2026

# # Day 8 – Farewell Miss June, Party Time

Our final day of the Sh*tbox Rally adventure began bright and early as we set off to deliver Miss June to the auction house for one last goodbye. Naturally, we took a few wrong turns on the way—proof that Fiona's rally driving skills don't necessarily translate to navigating Melbourne's city streets first thing in the morning!

It was bittersweet handing over the keys. After more than 3,400 kilometres of adventure, dust, laughter and memories, it was time for Miss June to begin her next chapter.

While we waited for the auction to begin, Miss June attracted plenty of attention. Various people wandered over to inspect her, ask questions and admire her battle scars from the journey. Fiona was proudly showing one of the potential buyers the engine bay when we made an unexpected discovery — we had lost our bash plate somewhere along the way! The evidence was pretty clear… we could actually see the ground where it used to be protecting the underneath of Miss June. 😂

She was auctioned alongside 11 other Sh*tboxes and raised another **$950** for the Cancer Council. We were absolutely delighted to discover she'd been purchased by Anth, a previous Sh*tbox Rally participant, who plans to enter her in another rally next year. Miss June lives on! Anth also arrived with his gorgeous dog, Sugar, so we figured anyone who travels with a dog that cute has to be a good bloke. We can't wait to follow Miss June's next adventure.

From there it was off to the post-rally party. The boys disappeared to enjoy a few well-earned beers before joining us after lunch, while we spent the day catching up with our Buddy Group 16 teammates, the incredible support crew and so many of the people who had made the past week such an unforgettable experience. There were plenty of stories shared, laughs relived and promises to catch up again somewhere down the track.

To our complete surprise, the Fast & Fabulous Team received nominations for two awards—**Most Authentic Sh*tbox** and **Best Dressed Team**. We didn't take home either trophy, but just being nominated amongst so many fantastic teams was a real honour and gave us a good laugh.

We stayed in Melbourne for a couple more days to unwind before saying our goodbyes and heading back to our respective homes. It was the perfect chance to reflect on everything we'd experienced together.

What an extraordinary week it had been. Over seven unforgettable days we travelled more than 3,400 kilometres, crossed rivers, tackled dusty outback tracks, climbed mountains, made lifelong friends, laughed (sometimes so we didn't cry), and watched Miss June conquer every challenge thrown at her.

Most importantly, together with every sponsor, donor and supporter, we helped raise vital funds for the Cancer Council—honouring those we've lost, supporting those still fighting, and helping fund the research that will one day make cancer a thing of the past.

To everyone who followed our journey, donated, sponsored us, sent messages of encouragement or simply cheered us on from afar—thank you. Every kilometre we travelled was made possible by your generosity and support.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for coming along for the ride.

Fast & Fabulous may have crossed the finish line, but the friendships, memories and experiences we've gained will stay with us forever.

And as for Miss June... she's not retired—she's simply getting ready for her next adventure. 💛

29/07/2026

Day 7 – The Downhill Run

Dargo to Melbourne
309km – 275km sealed, 34km unsealed
Via Briagolong, Maffra, Heyfield and Newborough

Our final day of the Sh*tbox Rally began with the now familiar morning briefing, but today there was something a little extra. Before we hit the road, all the women participating in the rally gathered for a group photo.

It was heartening to hear that the Box Rallies are actively encouraging more women to take part. In a typical Sh*tbox Rally there are usually only three or four all-women teams, but this year there were 11 all-women teams (including us Fast & Fabulous). The group also included women co-drivers rallying alongside their male partners, as well as several of the incredible women from the Box Rallies support crew. It was a wonderful reminder that this adventure really is for everyone.

After the photo, Dawn and I were asked if we'd be interviewed on video about why we chose to do the rally. We'll share it if and when we manage to track it down! I have to say, after seven days on the road, sleeping in swags and living in a permanent cloud of bulldust, we were looking particularly fetching in our full "feral chic" look.

As we prepared to leave Dargo, thoughts also turned to what would happen after the finish line. Teams who wanted to keep their cars could pay $250 to take them home. The remaining cars—including our beloved Miss June—would go under the hammer at the charity auction the following day, with every dollar raised going to the Cancer Council.

We left Dargo and wound our way through the last of Victoria's magnificent High Country (Eastern Rosella country, take a look at this video, 'eastern rosella song' https://share.google/o8n80BYb8ufYfbKYC)

Our final 34 kilometres of unsealed road were a little rough in places, but after everything Miss June had tackled over the previous week, it barely rated a mention.

Partway along we heard yet another strange noise, adding to the soundtrack of our now permanently screaming fan belt. We couldn't work out what it was, but the car was still driving well, so we did what every seasoned Sh*tboxer does—we kept going!

The mystery was solved the following day when one of the support crew told us they'd seen our bash plate come flying off somewhere along the road. They stopped to retrieve it and discovered the heavy-duty mounting bolts had completely sheared off. We were incredibly grateful it had stayed attached for as long as it did because it had certainly earned its keep protecting the underside of Miss June throughout the rally.

As we descended from the mountains onto the plains, we drove through beautiful native forests. It was impossible not to feel a little saddened as we passed convoy after convoy of fully loaded logging trucks. A little further on we came across an area that had recently been logged, and seeing the stark landscape made us appreciate even more the forests we'd just travelled through.

After passing through a handful of small country towns, Buddy Group 16 reluctantly split up for the final drive into Melbourne. We regrouped just outside the city for one last convoy into the finish line, with Miss June proudly leading the way.

Waiting for us at the finish was Phil, camera in hand, who captured the moment we crossed the line. Joe's flight had been delayed, but he arrived just minutes later. It was so wonderful to see our husbands again after such an incredible week—even if Dawn and I probably looked (and smelled!) like we'd spent the past seven days living in a dusty paddock... because we had.

From there it was straight to the hotel for what can only be described as the best shower of our lives. Layers of dust disappeared down the drain, replaced by clean clothes and the feeling of being almost civilised again. We celebrated with a fabulous dinner at Rockpool before happily collapsing into bed for one very long, very deep sleep.

27/07/2026

** Day 5 💛🚗 **📍Louth to Narrandera**
**578 km | 398 km sealed | 185 km dirt**
**Via Cobar, Mount Hope, Euabalong & Lake Cargelligo**

Day 5 began with our usual morning briefing, but this one carried a much more sombre tone. Overnight we had watched the first rally car casualty arrive back into camp on the back of a flatbed, and sadly the morning confirmed that there was nothing more that could be done. After giving it everything, that brave little Sh*tbox had reached the end of the road in Louth.

One of the things that makes this rally so special is the incredible support network. There are mechanics everywhere - our own Buddy Group alone had several - plus the dedicated support crews, the overnight triage team who work miracles while everyone else sleeps, and the legendary SBR Air Force and Air Support who keep tyres inflated and anything air-related running. They all had a busy night, but sometimes even their magic isn't enough.

While the car's rally was over, the team's adventure certainly wasn't. They were welcomed into other Buddy Group cars to continue the journey, and at the morning briefing they were presented with a commemorative medal in honour of their faithful Sh*tbox. It was a touching reminder that while the cars may come and go, the friendships and camaraderie are what really keep this rally moving.

Today marked a real turning point in our adventure as we left the red outback behind and headed towards the lush farming country of the Riverina.

It was another big day behind the wheel, with around a third of the journey still on some pretty challenging dirt roads before we hit the bitumen. The scenery changed dramatically as we travelled through the historic mining town of Cobar and into endless fields of canola and wheat, vegetable crops, cattle and sheep. After days of open ranges and wandering livestock, seeing fences again felt almost strange!

We made a few quick but memorable stops along the way—the beautifully preserved mining town of **Cobar**, the classic country pubs at **Mount Hope** and **Euabalong**, and of course the infamous water tower art at **Lake Cargelligo**.

By the time we rolled into Narrandera it was dark, and the rally route seemed determined to take us on a grand tour of every suburban street in town! We even managed to get a little lost before finally finding the finish... much to the amusement of ourselves. Thankfully, some locals lining the streets with cheers and applause gave us a much-needed boost after another long day.

Our accommodation for the night? Let's just say the Narrandera Race Club wasn't exactly the Ritz! 😂

The ladies' amenities consisted of a single cold-water shower, so we unanimously voted for the deluxe "Bush Spa Package"—otherwise known as a packet of wet wipes! Dinner was also an adventure. By the time we reached the serving line, most of the food had disappeared, leaving us with pumpkin and rice. Thankfully we tracked down some sticky date pudding, which instantly improved everyone's outlook on life! Others weren't so lucky and spent another half hour waiting in the cold for the next batch of dinner.

There was a roaring bonfire and plenty of revellers still celebrating well into the early hours, but after nearly 600 km we were completely spent.

The final adventure of the day? Both of us separately getting hopelessly lost trying to find our swags after a late-night trip to the loo! 🤣 Wandering around a freezing, dark campground isn't nearly as much fun as it sounds, and finding our little campsite again felt like winning the lottery.

Thankfully, our trusty swags once again proved their worth—keeping us warm, cosy and (mostly) dry through another chilly country night.

One more day closer to Melbourne... and one more unforgettable day in Miss June! 💛🚗

26/07/2026

**🚗🦄 Sh*tbox Rally – Day 4 | Toompine to Louth**

📍509 km (189 km sealed, 320 km dirt)
Via Thargomindah, Hungerford & Wanaaring

Day 4 was a proper outback driving day... and boy, did the dirt deliver! Corrugations, red dust and endless roads stretched out beneath those magnificent big blue skies. Once again, the weather gods smiled on us—not a cloud in sight.

But this wasn't just any rally day... it was **🦄 Unicorn Day!** Somehow, around 200 rally crews managed to transform the Australian outback into the world's most remote unicorn convention. Horns, tutus, rainbow wigs and plenty of sparkle made for some very confused cattle, kangaroos and the occasional road train driver! 🌈✨

The recent rain had transformed the landscape into something truly magical. Instead of the usual dry, sparse outback, we were treated to lush green grasslands sprinkled with tiny wildflowers. The contrast against the brilliant red dirt roads was simply breathtaking. We had a quick stop for a photo at the NSW border and continued our journey through the stunning countryside.

Of course, this is still cattle, goat, emu, roo and road train country! We had one particularly heart-stopping moment when a very large red roo decided to test Miss June's reflexes. We missed him by mere millimetres... we're pretty sure he hopped away muttering something about rogue unicorns! 😅

Being **Tuesday**, we also learnt about a long-standing rally tradition—**Tequila Tuesday!** We pulled into the **Royal Mail Hotel** with our awesome Buddy Group, ready to join in the celebrations... only to discover the pub hadn't quite got the memo. No tequila anywhere! 😂 Not to be deterred, we improvised with some *very* rough vodka instead. It may not have been authentic Tequila Tuesday, but it certainly earned its place in rally folklore!

That night we rolled into the delightfully named **Louth Turf Club**. "Rustic" would be a generous description of the facilities! Dawn bravely tackled what looked suspiciously like the jockeys' shower block—with a very chilly shower as her reward—while Fiona later discovered the luxury of a hot shower in another amenities block. Timing is everything!

Dinner was a 1.3 km trip away, and after a long day behind the wheel we happily accepted the shuttle bus rather than hoofing it. The local CWA absolutely outdid themselves with an incredible feast and enough desserts to test everyone's willpower. Country hospitality really is something special.

The entertainment came courtesy of a group of young blokes raising money for a school excursion by selling chocolates. Their sales pitch was enthusiastic, but their understanding of business was a little questionable—they even tried to give some of the money back to one of our Buddy Group because he was "such a good bloke!" 😂

To round out another unforgettable day, we wandered over to the legendary **Shindy Inn**, enjoyed a beverage (or... perhaps two 🍻), swapped rally stories around a roaring bonfire, and then crawled into our swags, dusty, exhausted and already wondering what Day 5 had in store.

**Fast & Fabulous are still rolling... one dusty kilometre (and one unicorn horn) at a time!** 💛🦄🚗

25/07/2026

**Day 3 – Outback adventures, corrugations and a little bit of magic ✨🚗🌵**

**Aramac to Toompine**
📍 568km | 281km sealed | 287km unsealed
Via Barcaldine, Blackall, Adavale and Quilpie

The alarm clock didn’t get a chance to complain today — we were up before sunrise! The air was cool, the skies were still, and Miss June was absolutely sparkling in the morning light… looking every bit the golden girl ready for another big day on the road. 🌅✨

And what a day it was! The dirt roads certainly kept us on our toes with plenty of corrugations, mud, stones and some seriously challenging sections that tested both driver and trusty old Magna. But Miss June powered on like the legend she is (with a little encouragement from her Fast & Fabulous crew, of course!). 💪🚗

The outback wildlife kept us company along the way — kangaroos, emus and plenty of other beautiful birds. One adventurous soul even claimed to have spotted a cassowary… although there were questions raised about whether that sighting may have been influenced by a few drinks around the campfire the night before! 😂

We made a couple of important “research stops” (aka photo shoots 📸) in Barcaldine and Blackall, capturing some of the amazing country we are travelling through. Then it was on to Adavale for a well-earned refreshment break at the iconic pub before heading through Quilpie for fuel and supplies.

The final stretch took us into Toompine, where we rolled into the pub camping area, quickly set up camp, and enjoyed the luxury of a cold shower (which definitely woke Fiona up!) before being rewarded with an excellent dinner, a few well-earned drinks and stories shared around the fire 🔥

Another huge day of driving, another 500+ km of incredible landscapes, and another reminder of why this rally is so special — the places we see, the people we meet and the adventures we share.

Miss June is still smiling… and so are we! 💛🚗✨

25/07/2026

**Day 2 – Outback adventures, big skies and a little bit of Star Wars magic ✨🚗🌌**

Today we left the Oasis Roadhouse and headed to Aramac via some truly spectacular outback country — taking in the incredible views at Porcupine Gorge Lookout, then rolling through Prairie and Muttaburra before arriving at our overnight stop.

**551km travelled today — 358km sealed and 193km unsealed** — which meant plenty of time getting up close and personal with corrugations, dust, cattle grids and the ever-changing beauty of the Queensland outback.

But today wasn’t just any rally day… it was **Star Wars Day! ⭐️** The rally crew embraced the theme with everyone dressing up, and of course the Fast & Fabulous team joined the forces of good as **Jedi Fiona and Jedi Dawn** (protecting Miss June from potholes and mechanical gremlins with our trusty lightsabers… or at least our sense of humour! 😂).

There were some absolutely brilliant costumes across the rally — Stormtroopers, characters from a galaxy far, far away, and plenty of creative interpretations. Including our buddy group with Tom dressed provocatively as Princess Leia and Clare as Chewbacca.

We’re pretty sure some of the locals in the tiny outback towns weren’t quite expecting a convoy of Sh*tboxes rolling through with a bunch of Star Wars characters behind the wheel! The looks of surprise were priceless. 🌟

The scenery was simply spectacular. The further west we travelled, the bigger the skies became. Endless horizons, red dirt roads and wide-open spaces reminded us why so many people fall in love with the Australian outback.

Tonight we camped at the Aramac Showgrounds, where the local community absolutely rolled out the welcome mat. The local schools’ P&C group provided outstanding country hospitality with a hearty dinner and breakfast, a few well-earned drinks were shared, stories swapped, and even hot showers were available — absolute luxury after a day on the dirt!

And then there was the sky… 🌌
Big sky country truly lived up to its name. With no city lights for miles, the night sky was simply spectacular — stars forever, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Another huge day for Miss June, another adventure ticked off, and another reminder of why we signed up for this crazy journey! 💛🚗✨

25/07/2026

**Day 1 – From Rainforest to Red Dust**

**Port Douglas ➡️ The Oasis Roadhouse**
**484km | 238km sealed | 246km dirt | 6 water crossings | Countless smiles (and a few white knuckles!)**

And we're off! 🚗💨

After months of planning, fundraising and preparing Miss June, it was finally time to hit the road. We waved goodbye to beautiful Port Douglas and Phil who had travelled up to help with sorting out the car and racks. And in what felt like the blink of an eye, traded lush tropical rainforest for the wide-open outback.

Our route took us through Dimbulah with a brief stop for lunch, Mt Surprise and Einasleigh, with a stop at the spectacular Copperfield Gorge followed by a quick stop at the famous pub. The scenery changed by the kilometre and reminded us just how incredibly diverse and beautiful Australia really is.

Then came our first taste of proper rally driving...

Six water crossings, hundreds of kilometres of dirt, and our first encounters with the legendary road trains. Let's just say seeing one of those monsters bearing down on you in a cloud of dust certainly gets the heart rate up!

As daylight disappeared, the driving became even more challenging. Dust hung in the air, visibility dropped, and the final stretch into The Oasis Roadhouse felt like it took forever. We rolled into camp well after dark, tired but grinning—we'd survived Day 1!

One of the unexpected highlights was getting our very first lesson in the fine art of **swagging** from our wonderful Buddy Team member, Tom. Without his expert tuition we'd probably still be wrestling with canvas and zips somewhere in Queensland. Thanks, Tom—you made every night after that so much easier!

Dinner was... well... memorable for all the wrong reasons. After arriving late there wasn't much food left for us, which was a little disappointing. Thankfully there were hot showers and proper toilets, so we counted that as a major win in rally life!

There was even a live band playing, but after nearly 500km on the road we had absolutely nothing left in the tank. We crawled into our swags, listened to the distant music for about 30 seconds, and were both asleep almost before our heads hit the pillows.

Unfortunately for some others their car needed attention and there were many helping hands who worked into the night.

**One day down... six adventures to go!** 💛