Guided Motorbike Tours - Sydney to Cairns

Note: The tour brochure available for download above is based on the self-guided tour option. The route is similar to that which we'll be riding on the guided tour, so will still give you a good idea about what to expect on this great ride!

Sydney to Cairns Guided Motorcycle Tour

A fantastic chance to experience some of the most spectacular riding on offer along Australia's eastern fringe, at a special discounted rate! Pay a visit to the Sydney Opera House, climb high into the Blue Mountains, experience the most famous Australian vineyards, ride through superb high country, relax on some of the best beaches on earth, explore the oldest rainforest on the planet and marvel at the Great Barrier Reef.

A huge range of fascinating regions to ride through, some of the greatest sights on earth and some fantastic bikes to enjoy, all at one time only reduced costs. Sound overwhelming? Don't worry, there's plenty of time for you to get the most out of everything en-route.

Please see the note [1] at the bottom of this section for important information regarding this special offer guided tour.

First Evening - Sydney
We'll all meet at the city centre hotel where you'll spend your first night. It's within walking distance of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour and many other attractions. You'll meet the BikeRoundOz team and your new co-riders, then we'll run through the tour briefing and answer any questions that you might have. A 10 minute walk will take us to Circular Quay and around to the 'Rocks' district where we'll have a celebratory first night dinner, complete with superb views overlooking the iconic Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The views at night are simply spectacular and it makes for a great start to the tour.

105km Day 1- Sydney to the Blue Mountains
After a leisurely breakfast we'll transport you to the bike depot about 10 minutes from the city centre, so you can collect your chosen motorcycle. We'll then bid farewell to the delights of Sydney and ride to the world famous Blue Mountains. You'll visit huge lookouts over the valleys, see the unique spectacle of the Three Sisters and take a jaunt on the steepest railway in the world to the valley floor at Scenic World.

 

 

 

It's a fairly short first days ride, but there's lots to see along the way and it eases us into the tour quite nicely. The lovely hotel accommodation for the night has some magnificent views over the valley below, watching the changing colours of the mountains as the sun goes down with a refreshing drink in hand is a great way to end the first day.

267km Day 2 - Blue Mountains to Hunter Valley
It's a prompt start the following day, so no lounging around in bed allowed. We'll wind our way through the brilliant curves of a stunning back road, complete with superb views through the Wollemi National Park. It was only 30 years or so ago when the now famous Wollemi Pine tree was discovered in this area. The route is one of the best biking routes in New South Wales and a closely guarded secret. As it flattens out you'll find yourself riding through the beautiful vineyards of the Hunter Valley, with a picturesque mountain backdrop in the distance.

We'll arrive in the early afternoon, right in time for a tour of a few local wineries - on a coach of course!

360km Day 3 - Hunter Valley to Armidale
Leaving the lush vineyards behind, we'll continue riding north twisting along a well known biking back road called Thunderbolts Way. There are welcoming country towns along the way which provide plenty of opportunities for regular breaks, plus some jaw dropping lookouts over the Great Dividing Range. Many people are surprised at the lush green valleys and towering mountains found along the route.

The overnight stay is in the town of Armidale, which is ideally located for the next day of riding along the lovely Waterfall Way.

152km Day 4 - Armidale to Coffs Harbour
The Waterfall Way is an amazingly scenic route, with many lookouts over the surrounding countryside and valleys. Not to mention of course, its fair share of waterfalls as well. The road meanders towards the coast through many national parks, past a plethora of waterfalls, over beautifully green rolling hills and into dense, atmospheric rainforest.

We'll stop at 'the smallest motorcycle museum in the world café' for lunch, then visit the rainforest centre at the top of the escarpment. A walk through the rainforest is a fascinating break from the motorcycle saddle. It's literally teeming with a multitude of birds and other animals, not to mention the tangle of plant life. The road down the escarpment through the rainforest is one of the finest biking roads in the country, ending with a ride alongside the river leading to the hotel for the evening.

If there's time when we arrive then there is no better way to end a warm day of riding, than to swim in a crystal clear pool and take in the steep mountain scenery of the Promised Land near Bellingen.

318km Day 5 - Coffs Harbour to Ballina / Byron Bay
In the morning we ride back up that superb biking road we came in on, up to the top of the escarpment, before making our way down through dense rainforest and along tightly twisting roads to the vibrant coastal towns of Ballina and Byron Bay. Once a centre for 'alternative lifestylers', Byron Bay has clung on to that unique atmosphere and generally chilled out approach to life. You can relax on the beach, visit the famous lighthouse, enjoy the goings on in town and visit the most easterly point of Australia at Cape Byron.

340km Day 6 - Ballina / Byron Bay to Toowoomba
The ride through the northern New South Wales hinterlands is simply stunning. Nimbin is the hippie and alternative lifestyle capital of Australia and psychedelic shop fronts dominate the village centre. There's superb scenery all the way to Toowoomba, known as Queensland's Garden City, on top of the Great Dividing Range.

343km Day 7- Toowoomba to Rainbow Beach
In the morning we drive past Somerset Dam and along parts of the fantastic Blackall Range Tourist Drive before eventually arriving at the lovely coastal village of Rainbow Beach. You'll stay in a really fabulous hotel with rooms overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Cool off in the pool or walk across the road to the superb beach. With views along the coast to Fraser Island, a great hotel bar next door and another over the road with views along the coast it's the perfect place to spend two nights and to relax before and after the busy Fraser Island 4WD tour.

Day 8 - Fraser Island
The Fraser Island 4WD tour is exciting, fascinating and a little bumpy at times! A 4WD coach and expert tour guide will help you discover the largest sand island in the world. You'll visit shipwrecks, swim in crystal clear streams, be driven through narrow tracks in the rainforest, see wild dingos (if you're lucky!) and spend an hour or so on the most perfect white beach at a pristine cobalt blue freshwater lake. There are no 'roads' on the island with the main route being the 80km long beach, so 4WD is the only way to see the best of what the island has to offer.

There's also the option to take a short plane ride, which takes off from the beach no less, for a nominal fee and lunch is included with the tour of the sand island. It's a great day out and one of the highlights of the tour for many.

375km Day 9- Rainbow Beach to Gladstone
The ride up to Gladstone is via picturesque pine plantations before stopping for breakfast at Tin Can Bay. Here the endangered wild dolphins swim into knee deep water to interact with the visitors. You can say hi and thank them for the experience with a fish breakfast if you like! The café overlooks the beach and we’ll enjoy more traditional fare before riding to Maryborough for morning coffee and a wander around this character filled country town.

From there we wind our way north threading through expansive fields of towering sugar-cane, which much of the areas wealth relies on and up past the town of Bundaberg - home to the famous 'Bundaberg Rum' or 'Bundy' as it's referred to locally, before continuing on to Gladstone for a night spent sheltered in Port Curtis.

500km Day 10 - Gladstone to Eungella
Eungella National Park is a truly ancient and spectacular environment and our ride up, whilst a relatively long day in the saddle, is well worth the effort! Prowl the 'Land of the Clouds' in search of the famous Platypus, roam through the dense rainforest which provides the ideal hiding place for some of Australia's more bashful wildlife. There are some lovely walking trails through this area to get you deep into the thick of things and help you explore off the bike. Rangers are on hand to help you discover more about the original aboriginal inhabitants, 'bush tucker' and the flora and fauna of the region. A spectacular contrast to the palm tree-lined coastline just a few kilometres away.

190km Day 11 - Eungella to Airlie Beach
A short ride down from Eungella National Park, back towards the coast and something really breathtaking awaits. Those castaway islands you've seen in films? Here they are! A beautiful series of incredible 'paradise islands' just off of the small coastal town of Airlie Beach where we’ll stay for two nights on this motorcycle tour. During the second day (Day 12) it's well worth indulging in a cruise (see pricing below) around some of the most perfect coral islands in the world, situated a fast catamaran ride from the Great Barrier Reef itself.

Visit the stunning bleached white sands of Whitehaven Beach, snorkel in protected bays over teaming coral gardens and observe the fascinating array of marine creatures that are privileged to call the Whitsundays home.

Day 12 - Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands exploration
Day 12 is a local area day to allow for time spent exploring the Great Barrier Reef, Whitsunday Islands or just the area around Airlie Beach. There's plenty to see and do so you won't be wanting for entertainments, or it's also a fantastic spot to just kick back, relax and enjoy the tropical scenery.

505km Day 13 - Airlie Beach to Mission Beach
A reasonably long day this one but you'll be energised and reinvigorated after a day off exploring around the Whitsundays and Airlie Beach so the kilometres will fly past as we head north, tracing the coastline as we go. Through Townsville, past Magnetic Island and up into the National Parks and State Forests. Tree blanketed mountains on the left and pristine beaches to the right make for a picturesque ride as we approach the outskirts of Mission Beach, before we finally turn west towards the Coral Sea and the islands of the Reef to our overnight stop in Mission Beach itself.

165km Day 14 - Mission Beach to Yungaburra
Today we turn inland to ride away from the coast and head up into the Atherton Tablelands. A fertile plateau with smooth, rolling green scenery, leisurely curves and lazy hills to ride around and over. Some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Australia can be found on the aptly named Waterfall Circuit. The truly ancient 500 year old Curtain Fig Tree near Yungaburra is a wonder of nature and well worth a visit. Superb riding around every corner on the roads of this region, where rainforest and farming blend seamlessly into one another.

The lovely town of Yungaburra plays host to us for the evening, with the nearby Crater Lakes being a great spot to stretch the legs after a day in the saddle enjoying the ride up.

270km Day 15 - Yungaburra to Port Douglas via Cape Tribulation
The coconut lined beaches of Cape Tribulation back straight onto verdant rainforest, a sight that apes many a scene from films involving castaways on tropical island paradises. There aren't many places on earth you can sit and listen to the soothing bird and insect calls of the forest, whilst taking a picnic on the beach as your motorcycle rests under a palm tree! Captain James Cook beached his damaged ship 'The Endeavour' here to make repairs, after spectacularly failing to navigate around the reefs off shore, hence the name 'Cape Tribulation'.

A relatively short day of riding but one that's packed full of palm trees, pristine beaches, turquoise waters and quiet back-roads.

Port Douglas itself is a petite tropical town just north of Cairns who's permanent population of under 1000 people, is regularly bolstered by visitors drawn by the many natural attractions on offer in the area. We'll add to those figures for our penultimate night on tour before heading south the following day to arrive in the capital of Queensland, Cairns.

100km Day 16 - Port Douglas to Cairns
A brief ride down the coast from Port Douglas will see us arrive into Cairns with plenty of time to get settled and explore. The final night in Cairns and a celebratory dinner after the tour is included in the cost, but if you find yourself seduced by the lifestyle and warm ambience, we can arrange a few more nights in Cairns after the ride as well. Just ask!

[1] NOTE:
This is a very special, one-off, not likely to be repeated guided tour offer. We are combining this tour with the relocating of some bikes up to Cairns for the start of our Savannah Way guided tour with Simon Pavey being held soon after this tour completes, which is why we're able to offer this ride at such a substantial discount on the normal prices (see details below). If you've ever considered a fully guided motorcycle tour up the eastern fringe of Australia, then this would be the perfect opportunity to indulge at a discount!

A note about the weather: In the northern part of the country where we'll be for the latter two-thirds of the tour it will be the dry season, with clear skies and beautiful 25-30dC days; perfect weather for riding and the high season for tourism. However for the first few days of the tour we'll be further south and will ride inland via the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley and New England. This area is at a reasonable altitude meaning that it can get cool at times, 10-15dC would be a typical day in the mountains with a reasonable change of rain showers despite it being the dry season. Come prepared with an extra layer or two for the evenings off the bike would be the best advice!

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