At 90 Mary Taylor does not miss a beat at 17 laps of Australia and counting on marathon mission to see Australia

Amazing Mary Taylor has completed 17 laps of Australia.

Mary Taylor has returned from her 17th trip around the world’s biggest island in her yellow Honda Jazz – and she is already planning her next one!

This time her journey took to many destinations around Australia including Broken Hill, Longreach, Katherine, Broome, Perth, Ceduna and Mildura, covering over 16,000 kms.

Age seems no barrier for Mary and at 90 years young, she loves the freedom driving brings and the open road. “You’ve got to experience the country,” Mary said on her return home.

Senior Director of Honda Australia, Lindsay Smalley told GoSee that both the Jazz and Mary seem to thrive on the challenge of another outback adventure, with neither of them missing a beat.

Mary appeared on the ‘9AM with David and Kim’ program on Network Ten on Tuesday, 8 July.

GoSeeAustralia first reported on Amazing Mary's driving marathons on October 20, 2006. Here is a flashback for Mary Taylor's many online fans who have  been in touch with us wanting to know where she is -

Driving solo around Australia for most of us would be an adventure in itself, but for 88 year old adventurer Mary Taylor it’s as routine as taking a morning walk.

Mary who lives in Mornington on the shores of Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay has just returned from her 13th trip around Australia, an arduous road journey of over 13,000 kilometres.

It all began with an impulsive response to the need to Go See Australia,

“I was driving from my home in Mornington to my daughter’s house in Armadale one morning and the thought occurred to me that instead of turning left to go to her place, what if I kept on going?” said Mary.

“That started me thinking about how to go about planning such a trip. Having been married to one of Australia’s most senior soldiers, I’d had some experience at planning. I bought road maps and started to plan. Something like a minor military exercise.”

Mary’s late husband was one of Australia’s top soldiers, Major-General Tim Taylor.

Not long after, Mary set off on what was to be the first of many adventures driving around Australia.

A keen author and photographer, Mary has also published a book about her outback adventures entitled "Baked Beans in the Outback and Curry in Kashmir". Mary's book has had another print run. It's available from: Mary Taylor PO Box 318 Frankston Vic. 3199 Or from Farrells bookshop, Mornington, and Robinsons bookshop, Frankston.

In 2006 Honda Australia told GoSeeAustralia Mary Taylor’s latest trip was in a new Honda Jazz supplied by Honda. The 13th time ‘Around The Block’ took Mary from Peninsula Honda, Mornington to Perth then on to Darwin where her car was serviced.

From Darwin she drove to Alice Springs and back to Mornington.

The Thai built Jazz is virtually standard, apart from an after market cruise control unit and a video camera which has been mounted on the passenger side of the dashboard.

The footage Mary shoots will eventually be included in a short documentary that explores her passion for driving. “This car, ” says Mary “ is the best I’ve driven, it’s quiet, very comfortable and very, very economical.”

“I usually aim to drive about 600 km each day so I rarely stop and sight-see” says Mary. “I’m already looking forward to the next trip, which will be my 14th.”

Mary’s taste for adventure came late in life following a 50-year marriage to one of Australia’s top soldiers, Major-General Tim Taylor.

After her husband passed away some years ago, Mary -- who despite having a licence had rarely driven -- decided to Go See Australia, and do it by road.

Editor’s note: Story and picture courtesy of AutoNews and Honda Australia.

For more information
contact: Garth Morrison
Editor Go See Australia and Go See New Zealand Directory
Email: garth@contact.com.au