Warrnambool books make the long journey to outback schools

But it is not just the children that are getting something out of the trip, for Ms Anderson the joy of giving is just as rewarding.

"It's a real eye-opening experience," she said.

"You don't realise how lucky we are. I walked away wanting to cry. We wish we could do more."

Ms Anderson set out from Grassmere to follow the Variety Bash route and deliver the 128 books that had been donated by the Warrnambool community.

While the annual charity drive was cancelled, Ms Anderson said she was determined to make good on her promise to give the books to outback schools.

She said the first school she delivered books to were so thankful. "They were so excited for these books. It was unbelievable," she said.

"Some of the books are so old they still have cards in them," she said, referring to the days when library books still had cards which needed to be stamped when you borrowed them.

Ms Anderson said that floods had made it hard for children at the small school in Yunta to actually get to the classroom.

Flooding has also meant many of the roads along the Variety Bash route were closed a week ago, and they are having to check at the local pubs just to make sure the roads are OK to take.

Ms Anderson said the route would take them via Oodnadatta and Birdsville.

The original plan was to take an old car that she got children to cover in stickers at Gateway Plaza earlier this year but with no support crews along for the journey she decided to take her own much more reliable car.

She has fitted out her car with appropriate 4WD equipment for the journey including a bash plate, new tyres, long-range fuel tank, a pod and satellite phone. And it wasn't a cheap exercise.

"I didn't keep a tally but it was a lot of money," Ms Anderson said.

"It's good to finally be on the road."

Ms Anderson is travelling with a friend and her granddaughter.