Cairns & Far North Queensland Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour

Far North Queensland is the one place where the rainforest runs down to the reef, and these short self-guided rides out of Cairns go straight into it. Two, three or six days, depending on how much time there is.

The coast road north is the headline. The Captain Cook Highway runs between the rainforest and the Coral Sea to Port Douglas, with the water on one side and the hills on the other, and it is regularly named among the best short drives in Australia. Beyond it the Daintree, the oldest surviving rainforest on earth, is reached by cable ferry, and the road continues to Cape Tribulation where the forest meets the beach.

Inland is the cooler option, in both senses. The Atherton Tablelands sit above Cairns at altitude, and the waterfall circuit there links a series of falls and crater lakes on quiet roads through farmland and remnant rainforest, which is a complete change of temperature and character from the coast.

BikeRoundOz provides the bike of your choice, accommodation in three and a half to four star hotels, a detailed itinerary document, digital maps and pre-tour route advice. A pillion stays free on the accommodation. Fuel, meals, park entry and insurance are separate, and the season runs March to November. The two-day option is the cheapest way into their range and the six-day version gives time to reach further north. For anyone already heading to Cairns for the reef, it is a very easy few days to add onto the trip.