Tropical Itineraries

Not sure where to start? We’ve put together some itineraries to help make mountain biking a part of your Tropical North Queensland holiday.

Cairns adrenaline MTB weekend

Cairns isn’t known as the adventure capital of Australia for nothing, and if it’s a hit of adrenaline you’re after, there’s no end to the choices, from bungee jumping to night-time Hummer tours.

But really, there’s no better way to scare the hell out of yourself than with two wheels, a shuttle, and a solid helping of gravity. Here’s our suggestions for an action-packed weekend in Cairns.

Start with something different at the Reef Terminal, just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of the tourist strip, where you’ll find Bad Fishy Jet Boating and Patrick, your stunt driver, who’s ready to take you for a high-octane rip through Cairns’ otherwise placid waters. Get ready for spins, high-speed wake surfing, and come prepared to get wet. Sunglasses are a good idea, but don’t bother wearing a hat.
Once you’re done on the water, dry off and head to Kuranda downhill trail. Not for the faint-hearted, it’s important to come equipped with some reasonable bike skills. If you’re after gear hire and a shuttle driver, check out Cairns Mountain Bike Tours for a range of packages.

Bunk down for the night right in the thick of things at The Mantra in Cairns. Try out one of the lively eateries lining the Esplanade, visit the night markets, or tuck into a steak at one of Cairns’ pubs, but don’t stay out too late, because you’ll want to head over to Smithfield MTB Park early to take advantage of a day on the trails. Anyone can ride the entire Mountain Bike Park, except the World Cup Downhill course. For access to this you’ll need to get in touch with Cairns Mountain Bike Tours, who are the only private operator with access to this rare experience.

Top off the afternoon with zip-lining at Cairns Adventure Park, right near the airport or on your way home from the trails. Zip-lining might look a bit like a flying fox you rode in the park as a kid, but Cairns Adventure Park’s 300m Flying Leap Megazip is a horizontal bungee jump down one of Cairns’ iconic hillsides. A four-wheel drive Polaris will shuttle you to the top of a steep climb where you’ll be strapped into a harness and before you know it flying free-fall over the tops of the rainforest, reaching speeds of up to 70km/hr.

The Port Douglas nature MTB weekend

There are few places in the world where two World Heritage areas collide, but in Port Douglas you’re perfectly placed to explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and the beauty of the Daintree Rainforest. Port Douglas is about a 45-minute drive from Cairns along one of the most scenic stretches of road in Australia – the Captain Cook Highway weaves between rainforest and beaches offering spectacular views of the coastline and the towering plateau to the west.

Once you reach Port Douglas, take some time to wander on the beach, enjoying the powder-white sand or a dip, or even take the bikes for a spin on this pristine stretch of coastline. Once the sun starts to go down, hook up with Steve from Bike ‘n Hike Adventure Tours, whose night-time tours of the Bump Track are the perfect intersection of mountain biking and spotlighting.

Check into your bungalow at Thala Beach Nature Reserve and enjoy sleeping to the sounds of mysterious bird and wildlife and chirping cicadas at this top eco rated accommodation hidden in the rainforest on its own private headland. Wake to the symphony of a tropical dawn chorus, and enjoy a breakfast of fresh tropical fruit and local coffee, then squeeze in a birdwatching or nature walk if you’ve got time. For the day’s main event head over to the Marina for a Calypso Reef Cruise, which will take you to three incredibly rich sites on the reef for snorkelling or diving, and treat you to an on-board lunch and talks about the secret life of coral and the reef’s fascinating marine creatures.

If you’re heading back to Cairns as your weekend draws to a close, don’t miss the chance to visit Skyrail, and soak up views of the oldest rainforest in the world and the spectacular Barron Gorge from the best possible angle, while learning about local flora and fauna.

Atherton Tablelands foodie MTB weekend

Visitors to the tablelands are well and truly spoilt when it comes to experiences to light up your taste buds. Perfect then that there’s also plenty of mountain biking to keep you hungry enough to fit all the gourmet activities in.

Atherton takes just over an hour to reach from Cairns, so once you’re there you’ll need to stop immediately to refuel. Gallery 5 is a fabulous café on the main street of town right near the trails and offers home-made cakes, great brekky choices, and impeccable coffee. Once you’ve recharged, head out onto the trails to work up an appetite for round two.

Pack the bikes in the car and track back along the Kennedy Highway for about 15 minutes and follow the signs to Mt Uncle Distillery. At first famous for its liqueurs and spirits, Mt Uncle is also making a name for itself in the gluten-free world with its green banana flour. Take a few minutes to explore its gorgeous tropical gardens before dropping into Bridges café for a lunch of fresh, local, seasonal foods including some great pizzas, home-made soups, and fabulous fresh salads. Apart from all this, Bridges has the best value desserts in the north, with mouth-wateringly moist sticky date pudding made with their special green banana flour, and a light and delicious orange polenta cake with spiced syrup among our favourites. Plenty more gluten-free options are available.

Drop into the distillery for a taste or two, but not too many, before you head over to Lake Barrine to cool off in its pristine fresh water. Share a Devonshire tea at the Teahouse before motoring on to the historic town of Yungaburra where, after a quick explore, tuck into an enticing French-Italian dinner at Flynns.

Spend the night at the award-winning Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat in a rainforest treehouse and recharge for day two.

After yesterday’s adventures you’ll be in need of some strong motivation, and motivation to ride is best served hot and strong with steamed milk and a sprinkle of cocoa. Skybury Coffee is a short drive from Mareeba and you can enjoy your beverage of choice from their gorgeous timber balcony overlooking the valleys below.

Drop in at Davies Creek Mountain Bike Park for a solid hour or two of trails before rolling back down to Cairns. The toughest part of your visit will be getting back down the range without stopping at the roadside stalls, farm doors, and cellars that dot the highway on your way home.

Mission Beach family MTB weekend

No holiday is complete without a roadtrip to the beach and Mission Beach is one of Australia’s best. Throw the bikes, the kids, and all the gear in the car and drive two hours south of Cairns to this ideal family holiday destination.

Trips like these can be more about the journey than the arrival, so it’s worth pausing on your way down to visit the natural wonder of the Babinda Boulders, and take the brief detour to see Paronella Park, a castle nearly 100 years old built in the middle of the rainforest, complete with a working private hydro-electric plant, wild gardens to explore, wildlife, and an incredible story.

With Mission Beach’s four gorgeous beachside villages to explore, dotted along 14 kilometres of perfect coastline, families can spend time swimming, fishing, wandering through shops or eating by the water, but bike riding is still one of the best ways to get around this friendly coastline, especially when the tide is out.

Mission Beach is open to bikes and at low tide its firm sand is great for mountain bikers of all ages and abilities – even if there’s the odd spill or two the sand easily soaks up the impact! Spend your first afternoon exploring the beachfront, and finish up with a barbeque or a takeaway on the water’s edge, followed by icecream and a twilight dip.

Treat the kids (and yourself) to a night at Castaways Resort and Spa, with beachfront access and lots of places to unwind, and wake up refreshed to tackle your second day on the coast.

After a leisurely breakfast and a stroll, head to the Wongaling Beach for ‘Fozzy’s 3 hour, 3 island tour’ with Mission Beach Dunk Island Water Taxis. This trip will take you to visit another Family – the fascinating Family Group of islands off the coast – and is full of history, interesting facts, and plenty of chances to go ashore and laze about or swim in the azure waters of your own private beach.

If you’ve got any energy left ride up to Bingil Bay and lock up the bikes while you walk around the Bicton Hill track. Enjoy spectacular views of the rainforest and the islands you’ve just visited before rolling back down to Mission Beach at sunset.

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Take me to Palm Cove
If Cairns has too much hustle and bustle, bunker down at The Mantra Amphora in Palm Cove. Private suites have easy pool or beach access and are mere steps from cafes and restaurants.
mantra.com.au

Get to the trails
If you need precise trail details don’t miss looking at the Ride Cairns website. It’s a great place to check for any trail closures, and specific details for trail lengths and expected difficulty.
ridecairns.com.au

When to go
Head up after April and before November to avoid the wet season – Tropical North Queensland makes an ideal winter escape!

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Words: Imogen Smith  Photos: Dave Acree, Tim Bardsley-Smith, Kath Bicknell and Melissa Popov