Cape York Luxury Bike Tour 2011

A day to unpack your bike, relax, swim in the pool and explore this exciting cosmopolitan city. In the afternoon we will go out for a quick skills ride and check over the bikes, before sharing a drink with the riders.

The adventure begins! We leave the bustling city behind in our 4WD safari vehicle and enjoy the fantastic coastal views as we head to Mossman Gorge. Take a walk through dense tropical forest and maybe a refreshing dip in the cascading waters. We pass through the sugar town of Mossman and make our way to the Daintree River, where you might just see a saltwater crocodile or the Cassowary bird.

The ferry will introduce you to another world, the road from here climbs and winds its way through the world heritage rainforest. The perfect place to get on your bike to cycle to Cape Tribulation, where we will be staying at our beautiful resort on the beach, complete with swimming pool, all set in a natural bush setting.

This morning we tackle the famous Bloomfield track, where lookouts, waterfalls, virgin rainforest, clear streams, pristine beaches and unique mountain ranges are some of the special experiences to reward your hard work on some incredibly steep tracks.

We get the bikes back on the vehicle after spending some time watching the thundering waters of the spectacular Bloomfield Falls. We pass through Cedar Bay National Park to the historic Lions Den Hotel for lunch and a look at the artefacts and entertainment by the local snake man.

If the legs have the strength there is the option of a leisurely ride on some bitumen to Cooktown with the major on-route highlight the mysterious tower of granite boulders that make up Black Mountain. A place so different from its surroundings several species of animals exist only within the edge of these eerie black rocks.

We leave the hotel in the morning and drive to Isabella Falls. A magic spot. As we head inland we enter rugged outback country of woody eucalypt forest and palm lined streams. The riding gets more exciting, bumpier and dustier with some great weaving downhills through Battle Camp Range.

Our camp tonight is on the banks of the Normanby River complete with showers and toilets, where you can kick back and enjoy the bush setting.

Lakefield National Park is a haven for waterbirds. During the wet season its many rivers flood the plains making this country inaccessible. As the rivers retreat they leave behind chains of waterholes and billabongs. Look out for these on your ride as they are home to the stately Jabiru Stalk and the beautiful Brolga Crane that can sometimes be seen having their courtship dance on the open plains. After a rest at the cool waters of the Hann River we make our way to Musgrave which began its existence in 1887 as a telegraph station.

This morning we enjoy one of the many advantages of this bike and bus tour, by getting a lift up the road and avoiding the climb up Bamboo Range. The bikes hit the dirt again and after dodging a few bulldust patches you get to ride a stretch of blessed bitumen. The ride takes you through Mungkan Kaanju National Park where kangaroos, emus, Brahman cattle, lizards and lots of tropical birds are part of the scenery.

Tonight we stay at Archer River Roadhouse just up the hill from the Archer River which, during the dry season, becomes a pleasant stream bordered by a wide, tree-lined sandy bed.

We follow the road up the west of the Great Dividing range to Bramwell Homestead and begin the roughest, toughest and best part of the trip. If your legs have the energy you can spend the next two and a half days on your bike. It begins with a short ride to the beginning of the famous Old Telegraph Track (OTT) that follows the original telegraph line through the peninsula and for over 100 years provided those living in this remote part of the world with the only method of communication with the outside world.

Our camp tonight is on the Dulhunty River, where there are some lovely places to swim and is a great place for our moonlight cinema and camp oven dinner.

A terrific full day on the bike following the ancient forlorn looking telegraph poles north. The creek crossings are deep and frequent and you can enjoy watching 4WD vehicles struggling where cyclists saunter. Lunch is at Fruit Bat Falls and when the 40 metre tall paperbarks that line the rivers of The Cape are in flower, full of sweet nectar, you can see how the place gets its name. From one beautiful spot to another ride on to our camp at Eliot Falls where the favourite activity is swimming and lazing in the rock pools.

The morning challenge is the last stretch of the OTT. Over eight kilometres there are Canal, Sam, Mistake, Cannibal and Cypress creeks to cross. All offer their own sweet challenge.

We jump back in the 4WD safari vehicle to the mighty Jardine River where we cross by punt. We stop by a DC-3 bomber plane that crashed during WWII before heading to the Islander Settlement of Seisia for lunch. A great bike track follows the coast past Loyalty Beach with views of the Endeavour Straight to our accommodation for the night, Punsand Bay resort.

The end is near! Backtracks take us through the stunning peninsula before entering Australia's northernmost rainforest and an area marking the end of vehicle traffic. We walk the last couple of kilometres to the point that marks the very Tip of Australia. It's time to celebrate and have your photo taken next to the sign proclaiming you made it all the way to Australia's northern most point.

After enjoying morning tea and soaking up the atmosphere we return to camp for lunch and celebratory dinner.

Packing up the bike for the last time you finally get a chance to rest those legs and see the country you rode through from a little higher and a great deal more comfort. The 4WD safari vehicle will take us through Bamaga, a colourful and culturally diverse town. The vehicle follows the Bamaga road that bypasses the OTT. We will have some time to explore the historic Moreton Telegraph Station resting on the banks of the mighty Wenlock River.

We spend the night at Coen, a classic Queensland stilted pub, decorated with photos of floods, drought, fire & famine.

(Option to remain and explore Thursday Island and fly back. See 'Extras')

We travel the western route back to Cairns, through Laura and stop for a walk to one of the world's best and largest galleries of indigenous art. There are many fine paintings of animals and the Quinkan spirit figures that are unique to this part of Australia.

We continue through the gold rush town of Palmer River, stop at some magnificent look outs before we reach Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands. We arrive in Cairns in the afternoon where your Cape York Luxury Bike Tour ends, but you'll take home memories that will last you for a life time.

Ben,  Thank you for the CD bringing to mind, a great 11 days with you Andrew and Dan along with the other participating cyclists.  Thanks also for leading the trip so well.  Robert O (VIC),  Cape York Luxury Tour 2011

What a great experience. Certainly got the feel of the country, through all senses! Ben was a terrific leader, always cheerful, never impatient. His culinary triumphs with the camp ovens were amazing, and the extra hot breakfast at Cooktown was welcome & amusing. Andrew the bus driver was much more than that. A fountain of great info, who understood the country & the aboriginal history. Dan the mechanic always had a smile & an amusing anecdote - he was an expert on unusual native foods & enticed us into tasting the merits of green, or were they electric ants? Great company, terrific organisation, what more to say? Looking forward to the DVD. John R (VIC) Cape York Luxury Bike Tour.

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the trip to the tip of Cape York. All 3 support crew were fantastic as were the riders. Special mention to Ben for his great 4WD and culinary skills. Very well organised - I just wish it did not have to end. A big thanks to all involved from me.  Noel C (QLD) Cape York Luxury Tour

Dear Ben, Thanks again for the trip and, in particular, the great job you did leading it. I hope you had a safe and not too boring drive back.  Simon W (VIC) Cape York Luxury Tour

Just some feedback from my perspective of the trip. It was certainly something to have experienced . It was superbly organised and delivered. Ben had formidable organisational, culinary and personal abilities. To organise the delivery of Brian's monster painting bought in the middle of nowhere to Melbourne - well incredible!! Andrew was a very genial fountain of all knowledge and always thinking of extra experiences for us and exceptionally reliable. Dan was a lovely laid back character but knew his bikes and again was always there when wanted.  Altogether a superb crew.  Kate G (NSW) Cape York Luxury Tour

Just got back from the Cape York tour and wanted to say that “good” and “great” do not do justice to this tour. It was an EXCELLENT all round EXPERIENCE.  THANK YOU Phil for giving me the confidence so that I did not pull out due to injury. As it turned out, I managed the whole tour and my fitness improved as time went on. You are very lucky to have Ben on board and he was instrumental in making the tour the great success that it was. He was well backed up by Andrew and Dan.  I will have no hesitation recommending All Trails to my friends.  The trip was top class in all aspects including bus, meals, support and accommodation. I was also very impressed with my fellow riders and look forward to meeting them again on other rides. I guess that my only regret was that I had hoped to get rid of the extra weight that I had put on during my 3 weeks of inactivity. However, due to all the great food on the trip (and the odd beverage) I ended up putting on weight. Oh well, I’ll just have to do more riding.  Thanks again for a fantastic time. I now look forward to Pheels Phantastic Great Vic Bike Ride.   Gwyn W (VIC) Cape York Luxury Tour 2011

Feel free to contact us at any time through our website ‘Contact Us’ page, phone or email. We love what we do and want to get you on the best bike ride for you. Speak to us about what's on your mind and we'll help you make your decision.

Although the distances look fairly easy on paper, each day is a new challenge. Early in the ride you will cycle through rainforest with some short hills as steep as you’ve ever seen, and then later there is beautiful gravel intermittent with corrugations and sand. The different surfaces constantly test your skill and are sometimes equivalent to half as far again if you were on bitumen. The great thing about this tour is that you will always have the support of the luxury 4WD safari vehicle at the ready if you wish to have a break or a lift.

The chosen accommodation is the best available. Cape Tribulation accommodation is just out of town with upmarket beach cabins amongst dense forest, right beside an idyllic beach scene. Cooktown is luxury in the centre of town, Musgrave and Archer River are motel rooms and cabins, while Punsand Bay is cabins overlooking the beach. There are 4 nights on tour where we are between any sort of town or civilisation. On these nights we set up your large walk-in tents (and camp beds) next to beautiful creeks or amazing bushland. We have showers, water and toilet facilities for these nights.

On the online entry form you can nominate any travelling companions that you would like to share a room with and/or be accommodated close to so that couples or friends can be roomed together. This can be in a double bed or in twin beds. If you are travelling alone like many of our riders, you can choose to 'twin share' where single riders are paired with other riders of the same gender and sometimes changed at each accommodation to create interest in sharing rooms. Single Supplement is also available for those that would like their own room for the whole trip. If you are a chronic snorer or have other habits that may affect your fellow room-mates we suggest booking your own room.

Accommodation on 25th Sep and 6th Oct are not included in the tour. Motel rooms are available on these nights (before and after the ride) at $160 a room for single supplement, or $95pp twin share or double. We may arrive back into Cairns late on 6 Oct so we strongly recommend that you stay in Cairns for that evening although you do not need to stay with us at our hotel.

AllTrails vehicles depart Punsand Bay Wed 4th Oct with bikes. We'll plan to arrive in Cairns in the afternoon of the 6th Oct and would recommend arranging return flights the following day.

As you will be riding on most types of off-road surfaces, especially sandy tracks, try and practise on similar terrain, if possible. Once you have committed yourself to this great ride, start training with a promise to yourself to be as fit and skilled as you can be. Once on tour, your guide can instruct you further and help you gain more confidence so that you can handle all cycle variations comfortably.

A normal level of fitness is required to get the most out of this tour. The fitter you are the further you will be able to ride without fatigue and the more comfortable you will be. The support vehicles will be there if assistance is required.

We aim to allow you to ride as much or as little as you like with plenty of time for stopping, photos and swims.

The beauty of this ride is the total detachment from everyday life, propelling yourself through lush nature, the only sign of civilisation being the local store, your modern hi-tech life is only a memory. The reality is sharing your life with others, in outback Australia and enjoying missing your home comforts. (Internet & ATM available sometimes)

Vehicles will have CB radios and we will have at least one satellite phone enabling us to contact the outside world for any special reason.

Vehicles display signs “Caution Cyclists Ahead”. Food carried is refrigerated if need be and dishes are washed in hot water and rinsed before storage. We strive for a high standard of health and safety, while cyclists can enjoy the natural environment. Please help us help you.

Airport Transfers: Cairns Colonial Resort provides a shuttle bus for a cost of $5pp. Bikes can be carried in the bus trailer. Call 07 4053 8800 when you arrive at the airport (you do not need to be staying at the resort to use this service).

Average temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius with some humidity. The days have around 12 hours of daylight. There should be little wind, as most days you will be riding between rainforest or trees.

We don’t expect rain as this is the driest and one of the coolest times of the Cape year, but it is still wise to be prepared

The great part about your energetic holiday is that you share it with intrepid people, all ages, average about 40-50. The usual 60% male & 40% female composition makes for an interesting group of adventurous characters with a great variety of backgrounds, who come from all walks of life. Most riders come from Australia, some from New Zealand and a few from other overseas countries.

We provide all meals. We pride ourselves on good, healthy, well-balanced food for energetic people and plenty of it. Breakfast is a wide range of cereals, fruits and sometimes fully cooked. Lunch is sandwiches or something not too heavy and dinner is a good cyclist-sized meal.

The bike must be in excellent condition and recently serviced. Mountain bike or hybrid with wide tyres and wide handlebars. Front and rear suspension is good, but not essential. There are a few very steep, short hills, but mostly slight undulations so the amount of gears is your choice. Creek crossings will totally saturate your bike, or you can carry bike.

Bikes must be packed into bike boxes, bike bags or hard cases for transport. Prices vary between airlines and the combined weight of your luggage and bike. Contact the airline for details.

Take pedals off and carry them in your luggage. This allows for tighter packing and less likelihood of damage. Cardboard bike boxes can be found for free at most bike shops or purchased from some airlines. If you are unsure how to pack your bike box, at a fee your local bike shop can do this for you, or show you how to.

Once unpacked be sure to check brakes, wheel nuts, pedals, steering etc after transport and reassembly.

Yes, you can rent a Merin Bobcat Trail, or Merin Iron Springs for a cost of $300 AUD for 12 days.

We have a contact in Cairns that we are organising bike hire through. When you make your booking just tick the box for bike rental and we will organise it for you.

(You can also bring your own seat and/or pedals to give you that little bit of 'home comfort').

As we expect dry roads and sandy roads, past experience has shown cyclists prefer very little tread, allowing the bike to roll freely, not hindered by big knobbly, chunky tyres. However, any good tyre will get you there.

Welcome! Traditionally most of the clientele on our rides have been from Australia or New Zealand, but we also have had many riders from USA and UK/Europe. You just need to make sure that your passport and visas are in order and check the cost of transferring your bike to Australia, or rent one here.

Yes. Either Bicycle Network Victoria membership insurance, Cycle Queensland membership insurance or similar, travel insurance, or another personal accident insurance is compulsory on our AllTrails rides. We also strongly suggest travel insurance to cover cancellation fees and lost/damaged luggage.

We suggest you carry a spare tube, tyre levers, two full water bottles and your own personal goods such as camera, wallet and perhaps rain gear if it’s threatening. We transport your luggage, day packs, food & extra water. A detailed list of what is required and provided will be sent to you in your pre-tour info pack.