The Woman Who Walked Alone Across the Desert: Robyn Davidson’s Life-Changing Journey

In her 20s, Robyn Davidson walked 1,700 miles across the Australian desert. Her incredible journey inspired the bestselling book Tracks and brought her international fame.

Now in her 70s, Robyn has written another book, Unfinished Woman, where she reflects on the experiences and personal tragedies that shaped her extraordinary life, including the early loss of her mother.

A Tragic Beginning

Robyn Davidson’s story starts with heartbreak. When she was just 11 years old, her mother, Gwen, took her own life. On that fateful day, Robyn left for school after an argument with her mother about wearing gold sandals. Her mother asked, “Aren’t you even going to kiss me goodbye?” Robyn, feeling triumphant about winning the argument, walked out. When she returned home, her mother was gone.

Robyn admits she didn’t process her mother’s death for many years. “From the day she died, I didn’t think about her once,” Robyn says. In her family, Gwen’s death was never spoken of. Suicide was considered shameful at the time, and her mother’s name was blackened. Robyn buried her feelings so deeply that she couldn’t face the impact of the loss for decades.

Writing Unfinished Woman

Robyn’s new book is partly about her mother’s life and death, but it is also about her own life. She admits that memory can be unreliable, but writing the book helped her explore the connection between her mother’s death and her own life choices.

One key memory stands out for Robyn: as a child, she experienced an overwhelming sense of loneliness and meaninglessness. “I was out on the golf course behind our house,” she recalls. “Suddenly, the world disappeared as a world. It felt like a purposeless storm of energy. It was as if I was in hell.” This feeling stayed with her and influenced everything she did, including her famous desert journey.

The Desert Journey

In her late 20s, Robyn decided to walk across the Australian desert alone. She traveled 1,700 miles with her dog Diggity and four camels to carry her supplies. It was a daring journey that most experienced travelers wouldn’t attempt, but Robyn was determined to prove herself. She spent two years preparing, learning how to survive in the harsh environment.

Starting with only six dollars when she arrived in Alice Springs, Robyn learned to track, hunt, and care for camels. “You can’t be lazy with camels,” she says. “They’re big animals, and one mistake can be fatal.” She developed a deep bond with her camels, finding them straightforward and trustworthy compared to humans.

A Difficult Compromise

Robyn wanted the journey to be entirely her own. However, she didn’t have enough money for the equipment she needed. A photographer named Rick Smolan suggested she sell her story to National Geographic to fund the trip. The magazine offered her $4,000, and Smolan joined her occasionally during the trek to take photos.

Although the funding allowed her to complete the journey, Robyn felt it came at a cost. “I had nothing but contempt for *National Geographic,” she says. “It felt like selling out. Suddenly, the trip didn’t belong to me anymore.”



Robyn and Smolan briefly became lovers, but their relationship was tense. She describes him as a “terminal dick” but acknowledges they became close friends later. “You can’t do something like that with someone without either loving them or killing them in a dune,” she jokes.

The Challenges of the Journey

The trek was physically and mentally exhausting. Robyn faced dangerous situations, including a water shortage near Uluru (Ayers Rock). At one point, she had to walk 10 days to find the next water source, unsure if it would even be there. “I remember thinking how embarrassing it would be to die such a stupid death,” she says.

Another time, she encountered three aggressive male camels. She had been warned to shoot if this happened, and she reluctantly killed two of them. The third camel escaped but likely suffered a slow death. “It was awful, but you do what you have to do to survive,” she says.

Despite these hardships, the journey brought her immense joy. “The desert made me feel at home in the world for the first time,” she says. The vast, beautiful landscape changed her perspective on life. “Your consciousness gets bigger and bigger. I hate the word ‘spiritual,’ but that’s how it felt.”

Fame and Reflection

Robyn’s trek ended after nine months when she reached the Indian Ocean. By then, she was famous. Media outlets called her the “camel lady,” and photographers surrounded her at the finish line. Her private journey became a public spectacle. Robyn wrote about her experiences for National Geographic and later turned the story into her book Tracks. Published in 1980, it became a bestseller and was made into a film in 2013.

Looking back, Robyn feels conflicted about the attention she received. She never intended to inspire others to escape the “rat race.” For her, the journey was personal—a way to prove her strength and refute the feelings of inadequacy she had carried since childhood.

Life After the Desert

After the desert journey, Robyn continued her nomadic lifestyle. She lived in India with a Rajasthani prince and trekked with camels there, though she didn’t bond with them as she had with her Australian camels. She also spent time in literary circles in London, living in a flat offered by author Doris Lessing.

Her personal life included ups and downs. She had a brief relationship with writer Salman Rushdie, which ended badly, and battled severe depression in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Despite these struggles, Robyn continued to write and travel, always searching for purpose and understanding.

Discovering Her Mother

In writing Unfinished Woman, Robyn explored her mother’s life in depth. She learned that Gwen was talented, funny, and loving, even though her life had been overshadowed by struggles. Robyn says she now understands how much she and her mother actually liked each other.

Reflecting on her younger self, Robyn feels a sense of pride. “How the fuck did you do that?” she asks herself. “Where did you get that chutzpah from?” Her journey across the desert taught her resilience and gave her a sense of belonging in the world—lessons she continues to carry with her.

A New Chapter

Now in her 70s, Robyn lives in a house near Melbourne, surrounded by friends, kangaroos, and a garden she loves. She is done writing about herself and ready to focus on living fully. After decades of searching, Robyn has found peace with her past and her mother’s memory.

Robyn Davidson’s life is a testament to courage, self-discovery, and the power of the human spirit. Her story reminds us that even in the face of tragedy, we can find purpose and strength by taking risks and following our dreams.

FAQs About Robyn Davidson and Her Journey

Who is Robyn Davidson?

Robyn Davidson is an Australian writer and adventurer best known for her 1,700-mile solo trek across the Australian desert in 1977. She documented this experience in her bestselling book, Tracks, which was later adapted into a film.

What inspired Robyn Davidson to cross the Australian desert?

Davidson’s motivation stemmed from a combination of personal struggles, including the tragic early loss of her mother, and a desire to challenge herself. Her journey was also influenced by a yearning for freedom, solitude, and a connection to nature.

How long did Robyn Davidson’s trek take?

The journey took approximately nine months to complete. Davidson was accompanied by her dog, Diggity, and four camels that carried her supplies.

What challenges did Robyn face during her journey?

Davidson faced numerous challenges, including:

• Harsh desert conditions.
• Limited access to water.
• Encounters with dangerous animals, such as bull camels.
• Intense physical and mental exhaustion.

Why did National Geographic sponsor Robyn’s journey?

Davidson agreed to a sponsorship deal with National Geographic to fund her trip. In exchange, she allowed photographer Rick Smolan to document parts of her journey, which led to her story gaining global attention.

What role did her mother’s death play in Robyn’s journey?

Robyn’s mother died by suicide when she was 11 years old, a tragedy that profoundly shaped her life. Although the direct connection to her trek isn’t entirely clear, Davidson admits that her mother’s death had a significant impact on her sense of identity and purpose.

How was Robyn Davidson’s journey documented?

Her journey was captured through:

• A photo essay in National Geographic.
• The memoir Tracks (1980), which became a bestseller.
• A film adaptation in 2013 starring Mia Wasikowska as Davidson.

What is Robyn Davidson’s book Unfinished Woman about?

Unfinished Woman explores Davidson’s life, including her mother’s death, her upbringing, and the emotional complexities of her desert journey. It provides a deeper look into her motivations and personal history.

How did Robyn Davidson prepare for the journey?

Davidson spent two years training for the trek in Alice Springs. She learned essential survival skills, including:

• Tracking and navigating.
• Training and caring for camels.
• Hunting and preparing food.

What did Robyn Davidson learn from her journey?

Davidson’s trek helped her develop resilience, confidence, and a profound appreciation for the natural world. She described it as a life-changing experience that taught her to connect deeply with herself and the environment.

What was the significance of Robyn’s relationship with her camels?

Davidson formed a deep bond with her camels, which played a crucial role in her journey. She admired their intelligence and loyalty, describing their relationship as straightforward compared to the complexities of human interactions.

Where is Robyn Davidson now?

Davidson currently resides near Melbourne, Australia. She continues to write and reflect on her experiences while enjoying a quieter life surrounded by nature.