Most people who travel across Australia use a trusty old camper van, but Darren Braithwaite isn't most people. The 32 year old adventurer plans to circumvent the country hopping for 5,000 miles dressed in a giant kangaroo suit.

The stunt follows previous endurance efforts by Braithwaite which saw him walk the Great Wall of China carrying a hod of bricks, and attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a Venetian Gondola.

His latest attempt was designed to 'draw attention to the plight of Australia's aboriginal people'.

  Braithwaite's costume is surprisingly realistic

Braithwaite admits that the task will be physically demanding, especially in some of the hotter climates, and he's concerned that the impact of hopping every day for a year will have on his knees, however 'you only live once,' he cheerily told Mr Damian.

In order to warm up for the challenge he's planning to pogo stick his way along America's Route 66, saving the pressure on his knees, but getting his inner ear used to the constant bouncing and his body used to the heat.

'One things for sure,' the scamp smirked, 'on this trip the only woolly jumper I'll need is the one I'll be dressed as.'

Posted by damian at April 21, 2006 04:48 PM