After three years on the road and clocking up 26,000 kilometres in his tractor, Sam Hughes has finally made his last stop.

The 21-year-old, known as the Travelling Jackaroo, left his Sunshine Coast home in 2021 to have a gap year and raise a few thousand dollars for rural charities.

That gap year turned into an epic three-year lap of Australia and the fundraising total ballooned to an eye-watering $260,000.

On Sunday Mr Hughes fired up his tractor one last time to drive the last homeward stretch.

He received a hero’s welcome home as hundreds of people cheered him down the main street of Maleny before embracing him when he arrived at the showgrounds.

“It feels bloody fantastic,” Mr Hughes says.

“It’s really nice to see the town has come out to support me and say g’day.

Man on a mission

Mr Hughes, in his trademark floppy Akubra hat and orange high-vis shirt, is impossible to miss.

His rig is a bright orange Chamberlain 9G tractor called Slim, after Slim Dusty, with a tinny and a gyrocopter on the roof.

During the journey, the tractor towed a trailer with an aeroplane fuselage on top.

The entire thing is adorned with stickers, hats and other mementos gathered during his travels.

Travelling at 40 kilometres an hour, Mr Hughes got used to being overtaken.

So, he thought it was amusing when he was the one to pass two grey nomads in a caravan.

But Mr Hughes had a serious reason for his long, slow road trip — raising awareness about mental health and reducing suicide rates.

“I chose all my charities because they relate to helping people in the bush,” he says.

“[Mental health] used to be a bit more of a taboo subject than it is today, but especially in western Queensland it’s quite a severe problem.

“More needs to be done about the healthcare infrastructure they have out there in regards to mental health as well as physical health.”

Family ‘so proud’

After a “long three years,” Isobel Hughes says she feels proud to see hundreds of people celebrating her brother’s return.

“It’s amazing, it’s really cool to see how many people have turned out to support my brother,” she says.

“When he first gave us the idea we were hopeful and believed in him, but I had no idea it would get this big.

Family friend Yvette Barnes organised the welcome home party.

“I’m just a crazy local hairdresser that had lots of contacts to pull it all together,” she says.

“It’s been pretty remarkable for Sam to welcome him home and have recognition for what he’s done … making a difference in so many people’s lives in so many ways that he’ll probably never know.”

Ms Barnes says Sam probably underestimated his own ability at the start of his journey.

“It’ll be hard to come down from this today,” she says.

“Going back to the farm for peace and quiet, hanging out with the cows down in the bottom paddock.”

Money raised for three charities

Mr Hughes raised $260,000 for three bush charities: Drought Angels, Dolly’s Dream and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

Drought Angels founder — and 2021 Queenslander of the Year — Natasha Johnston says she met Mr Hughes last year when he was nominated as Queensland’s Young Australian of the Year.

“The work he’s doing is incredible … we’re so incredibly grateful,” she says.

“To have that young generation aware of mental health in rural Australia is encouraging.”