10 years of bicycle tours across Australia

Cairns to Cape York (BOOKED OUT)

Off Road MTB Adventure

June 1 - 22 2008

21days 20 nights 3 rest days, includes accommodation 4 nights camping 16 nights, with more accommodation packages available - Includes tea breaks & snacks, 20 breakfasts, 17 lunches, 17 dinners.

ALL MEALS PROVIDED ON TOUR

he meals are plentiful, with exceptionally good food, sometimes 3 course meals in restaurants sometimes around the camp fire, always fantastic – we spoil you completely.

Includes full back up support, mechanic, luggage transport.  Includes taxi then flight from Cape York to Cairns, to enjoy the views from a different angle. Includes all National Parks permits.  Includes all the fun and adventure you could imagine! 

NOT included: Mountain bike, airfare to & from Cairns, accom. 20th & 21st June in Cairns, optional ferry to Thursday Island.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1  Saturday 31st May 2008
Arrive Cairns

Arrive Cairns, one of the fastest growing cities in Australia. An exciting cosmopolitan place with tourists from everywhere, looking for fun. Enjoy yourself with a swim in the pool, share a drink with the riders and get ready for the trip. Overnight in tropical type motel.

Day 2  Sunday 1st June
Mossman 90km

Early start and gradual climb to Kuranda, then watch out for the Cassowary birds as you weave through the bush tracks of the Black Mountain Reserve and down to Mossman.

Day 3 Monday 2nd June
Cape Tribulation 50km

The Gorge is worth an early morn swim before sugar plantations give way to coastline cruising and Daintree National Park. The ferry will introduce you to another world at Cape Tribulation, where you stay in the tropical forest by the beach.

Day 4 Tuesday 3rd June
Bloomfield 40km

Sunlight through the forest canopy shows you the ups and downs of this eerie coastline heaven. Explore the water falls and rivers, and keep a sharp eye for nature’s surprises and the undulating terrain in this steam atmosphere.

Day 5 Wednesday 4th June
Cooktown 64km

Through the Cedar Bay National Park, the reality of jungle makes you marvel at nature. The Lions Den Pub will fill your belly and your mind with artifacts and thoughts of what has happened here in the days gone by, before a leisurely ride to Captain Cook’s landing point along the coast and a swim in the azure blue water.

Day 6 Thursday 5th June
Cooktown Rest Day

Explore this out of the way little town with history happening on every corner. The beaches, port, hills, light house & museum make you reminisce about pioneers of 200 years. An interesting group walk along cliff tops, to a special beach and a swim is yours if you wish.

Day 7 Friday 6th June
Bend NP 87km

Enjoy the bitumen, cos after the oasis at Endeavour Falls, the dust and bumps are your constant friend. Lunch with your feet dangling in crystal clear water spoils you in this rugged outback country, before our campsite overlooking the lagoon.

Day 8 Saturday 7th June
Camp Kalpowar NP 54km

Lakefield National Park is a haven for waterbirds, and “Old Laura” shows you how hard the early settlers toughed it out. The long grass and swamps keep your mind alert and the variety of wildlife and plants will amaze you.

Day 9 Sunday 8th June
Crossing NP 50km

The Normandy River sets the scene before crossing dry floodplains, littered with Australian native Leichhardt tree, gums and the like, interspersed with giant ant hills and invaded at night with little red flying foxes. This swimming area is as good as the best.

Day 10 Monday 9th June
Camp Musgrave 80km

Another early morn swim, tackle the corrugations and enjoy the last of Lakefield. Your body is now used to this way of life, the k’s slip by with your interest in tackling the overland telegraph line.

Day 11 Tuesday 10thth June
Coen 103km

A night at this classic Queensland stilted pub, decorated with photos of floods, drought, fire & famine, before you tackle your own nightmare or dream on the long road to the tip, where you are sure to rock n’ roll.

Day 12 Wednesday 11th June
Archer River 65km

This little gold mining town is the last supplies. Undulations, creeks, Mungkan Kaanju National Park, kangaroos, emus, Brahman cattle, lizards and lots of tropical birds will watch your progress as you toil with your friends to the very top of Australia.

Day 13 Thursday 12th June
Moreton Telegraph St 124km

The Archer River is big, and today is your biggest day’s ride. Ignore the turn off to Weipa, the aluminum bauxite mining town in Albatross Bay. We are heading for Moreton Telegraph Station on the mighty Wenlock River.

Day 14 Friday 13th June
Moreton Telegraph St Rest Day

Well earned rest day, swim the waterhole, chase a pig, ride a trail, look for crocs, do some washing, play footy, cricket or just chill out. This friendly homestead on the Overland Telegraph Line, is still the centre for “goss in the gulf”.

Day 15 Saturday 14th June
Dulhunty River 38km

This telegraph line, studded with forlorn looking poles, takes us past Bramwell, the bar in the bush, then the real 4WD sandy track of the outback. Deep creeks, will have you pedaling furiously before lifting your legs and rolling to a stop in the middle, or finding granny and grunting to the other side. A cuppa watching the others get wet, will whet your need for more.

Day 16 Sunday 15th June
Eliot Falls 53km

What a life! Lovely waterfalls, swimming holes, 4WD vehicles struggling where cyclists saunter, mud baths waiting to remove those wrinkles. The days are easy, the weather is warm, the friendships likewise. Fruit Bat Falls & Eliot Falls are playgrounds along this famous Overland Telegraph Line.

Day 17 Monday 16th June
Jardine River 60km

We leave the 4WD track and enter the aboriginal reserve of Mapoon. The road cuts through massive trees and forest before you are stopped once again this time by the mighty Jardine. We camp by the river before crossing by ferry in the morning.

Day 18 Tuesday 17th June
Seisia 54km

The race is on. Everyone wants to get to the top. The corrugated sandy road takes us to Bamaga, Australia’s most colourful and culturally diverse town. Lunch and linger before an easy ride to the coast.

Day 18 Tuesday 17th June
Seisia 54km

The race is on. Everyone wants to get to the top. The corrugated sandy road takes us to Bamaga, Australia’s most colourful and culturally diverse town. Lunch and linger before an easy ride to the coast.

Day 19 Wednesday 18th June
Seisia 70km

Everyone is anxious to reach their goal. Backtracks take us through stunning coastline before entering dense tropical jungle and an area marking the end of vehicular traffic. We walk and ride the last couple of ks to a precious point on the very Tip of Australia, Cape York (Pajinka) where we celebrate with champers and lunch and return to a massive celebratory dinner.

Day 20 Thursday 19th June
Seisia Rest Day

A well earned rest day, your choice to visit Thursday Island with it’s history and museums, fish on the pier or hire a boat and catch the big ones, or simply laze back on the beach and relive your recreation ride.

Day 21 Friday 20th June
Extra Cairns

Today the first group fly out to Cairns in the morn, while the others explore town. The afternoon flight takes the last ones to Cairns, then transferred to the Rainbow Inn, where we reunite for a big night.

Day 22 Saturday 21th June
Extra Cairns

Everyone relaxes doing the touristy things of shopping, cruising the Great Barrier Reef, riding the Sky Rail or whatever. The bikes and luggage arrive late in the afternoon. Congratulations, you’ve ridden from Cairns to Cape York, the dream of most mountain bike riders.

Day 23 Friday 22th June
Fly Home

Head for Home or stay and enjoy more of Cairns.

2005 Ride Report

The rain kept coming, saturating our track ‘till it was near impassable. Then Sunday arrived, the start of our ride, the sun was shining for 21 days when 21 cyclists left Cairns, headed for the tip top of Australia, Cape York.

They loved the climbs as steep as you can imagine, the water holes, the slippery dips and of course the corrugations and sandy roads!

Cape Tribulation rain forest didn’t disappoint, with snakes, native birds, crystal clear creeks and slight trepidation of what lay ahead.

Riders of all ages from all parts of Australia loved the campfire cooking, didgeridoo dreamtime and at the Lions Den Pub, snakes alive from 4 metre python to deadly brown.

Susan’s food was exquisite, replenishing energy and creating moments of interaction and laughter while relaxing from the constant push to the tip. The entire group were really inspired by the dedication and tenacity of the cyclists, to continue on despite the adverse cycling conditions.

Creeks and rivers are an integral part of far north Queensland and handlebar high crossings created excitement and encouragement from onlookers.

Serious riding was called for in the 10 km time trial through twisting tracks, bulldust patches and sandy banks, before the Morton Telegraph Station track, flipped a few riders over the handlebars.

Crocodiles were always nearby, sometimes sunning themselves near our campsite and restricting our swimming.

Indigenous folk at Seisia put on a Hungie, we were treated to a concert with traditional dancing by young men in full costume.

The ultimate last day push to the top was rewarded with a helicopter photo shoot of us all and a champagne cheer. We started as many and finished together as one. Every cyclist, crew and film crew member was exceptional in ensuring we all made it to the TIP TOP together.

Congratulations, we are proud of you all.

You will Need

• A well maintained bicycle
• A spare tube
• Light coloured, comfortable clothing
• Some training!
• Some spending money
• A positive attitude

Prices

Standard: $5,250 4 nights accom 16 nights camping
Deluxe: $6,500 13 nights accom 7 nights camping
Single Supp: $7,500 12 nights accom 8 nights camping
$500 deposit secures your place.