A champion surfer is trading wave power for pedal power to travel home to Australia from Ireland.

Former Australian bodyboarding champion Kate Moloney (27) was drawn to Strandhill, Co Sligo, last June because of its surfing.

Now the graphic designer is planning the journey home but instead of flying, she intends navigating the 17,000km trip by trains, boats and her trusty bicycle, with the aim of raising €100,000 for charity.

“I want to see beautiful landscapes, so cycling enables me to do that. It's a challenge,” she explained.

Kate is putting the finishing touches to her route, which she estimates will take up to six months to complete.

Setting out from Strandhill on her bicycle in May she will get a ferry to France and then cycle into Italy and Greece. Further cycling and ferries will take her to St Petersburg, where she hopes to catch the trans-Siberian train, cycling again from Beijing to Hong Kong, where she will catch a freight ship to Brisbane. In all, she will cover around 8,600km on her bicycle.

Her progress can be followed on her website: www.katescycle.com.