Vascular surgeon’s 18,000km solo motorbike trip to honour Australia’s first female surgeon

Dr Igor Banzic took on the epic journey for adventure and to shine a light on a forgotten pioneering surgeon.

A lone rider, an unforgiving landscape and 18,000km of road — Dr Igor Banzic, a vascular surgeon, took on a testing solo challenge: circumnavigating Australia on a motorbike in just one month.

Battling scorching heat, unpredictable wildlife and terrifying storms, he powered through the journey not just for the adventure but to shine a light on a forgotten pioneer of Australian medicine.

“In the first week, it is fantastic. You are super motivated. You are enjoying seeing crazy things,” Dr Banzic tells 6minutes of his lap of Australia.

“Second week, you are still enjoying it, but then you start to feel numbness and pain in your bum.