Four years later, aged 70, Mr Johnson embarked on another cross-country journey, this time walking from the east coast to the west.

This year, aged 75, the adventurer will embark on what may be his most daring journey yet: driving his Nissan LEAF electric car the 15,000 kilometres around Australia.

What may sound like a straight-forward trip is in fact not. His electric car can only travel 100km a day before it needs charging.

After a full charge overnight, Mr Johnson will set off the next morning for a one to two-hour hour drive. He will then stop for the day and re-charge from a 240 volt general purpose outlet for six hours.

Following a late afternoon drive, he will arrive at his next overnight stop and start all over again. Mr Johnson’s upcoming trip, which is expected to take him five months to complete, enthralled Medowie Public School students on Friday, April 30.

The students were treated to a special presentation by Mr Johnson and his older brother, Bill, at the Medowie school last Friday.

“The kids ask such great questions,” Bill, a resident of Stockton, said.  “They’re so inquisitive about the car and ask the most remarkable things.”

Mr Johnson, a lover of technology, saw the LEAF at a car show in Cameron Park about two years ago. He bought the LEAF about six months ago, picking it due to its affordability. The LEAF costs $30,000 verse $130,000 for a Tesla.

Asked why embark on such a long journey, which will raise money for the Newborn Emergency Transport Service, Mr Johnson said it was about the adventure.