THE Mystery Box Rally left from Broken Hill’s Memorial Oval on Saturday Morning with 130 cars and more than 250 participants, crews, and support staff meeting under the rising sun as old cars fired up to travel across the backdrop of outback Australia.
Although it is a fun experience for all involved, there is a much more serious cause for the Rally.
The Mystery Box Rally aims to raise money for Cancer Council and dubbed “the mad younger brother of the Shitbox Rally.”
The event has raised more than $1.2 million alone in 2025, on top of the nearly $60 million its predecessor raised in the past 15 years.
For some, Cancer hits close to home and many participants have loved ones that have passed or are currently battling the disease.
Matt Munro has suffered two losses from cancer in the past 12 months, his mother in January, and his uncle 12 months ago.
“My uncle was very big in the Mystery Box Rally, or Shitbox Rally,” Mr Munro said. “My sister said, let’s do one a rally and we got into it.”
Mr Munro and his sister have so far raised $31,500.
For some the Mystery Box Rally offers a chance to reconnect.
Trent Duncan and his father, Wayne often spend time apart as Trent is a fly-in-fly-out diesel mechanic.
Their team, The Kraken, will be better looking next year in preparation for Trent’s rally in the winter of 2026.
“I’ve always been working away,” Trent said. “I don’t really see him that often. it’s good to actually spend some time with him for the next five days.”
Like many people across the world, Georgia and Rhys Llewellyn have spent many an enjoyable afternoon building Lego and were now ready to highlight that creativity into their car.
The G Force entry, nicknamed The Brick turned out so much better than we thought according to Georgia who spent a lot of time on Pinterest and Google looking at inspiration.
Tony and Sean in the TAGS ALONG entry are first time participants, and they admitted they “haven’t seen anything like it.”
Their 2000 Toyota Corolla was painted pink, in association with breast cancer.
Tony was originally going to participate in the rally with his wife, but unfortunately, his wife’s health declined, forcing her into staying home.
Fortunately, Sean was willing to step up for his mate while Tony’s wife still played a role in the rally, partnering with Sean’s wife to make the outfits for all five days.
“Fluro pink for day one and two and then a variety of questionable outfits,” Tony said on the girls’ selection. “When we get rid of them all and put our old clothes back on.”
Team Good Thanks featuring Scott and Ali, had taken their inspiration from another car.
The design of the Toyota Tarago wouldn’t have looked out of place in Radiator Springs. The iconic 95 and lighting bolt of Lightning McQueen instantly recognisable on the wagon.
“We did it last year,” Ali said, admitting they were back for more. “It was the time of our lives.”
“We recommend anyone give it a go. The comradery, the people you meet. It is something real special.”
The Shark car was looking splendid in the morning sun. Piloted by The Robbo’s, or Richard Robinson and Ashley Turner, the car is an BMW 316.
The boys revealed the inspiration came from “BMW’s being the car choice of the up-and-coming corporate hopeful, [or corporate shark],” Ashley said.
When entering a mystery rally, you only know where you will start and finish, but not where you end up each night.
People had hopes of going all in different directions and for Richard, he hoped to go west, into South Australia, to explore parts of SA he hasn’t seen before.
He would get his wish, the teams headed from Broken Hill to Arkaroola, roughly 260 kilometres northeast of the Flinders Ranges.
Before heading to Roxby Downs, Rawnsley Park Station, and Burra, and then finally turning back to Memorial Oval in Broken Hill, arriving Wednesday afternoon.
