Great Barrier Reef – August 2020 (10 Days)

Sunday August 2
Today’s ride : 3 pm departure | Post travel recovery ride of 42.5km / 26 miles – 246m / 807 feet

Included Meals : Dinner

We will greet you at the airport and provide transport back to our hotel. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring Cairns or perhaps get a few cheeky kilometers in the legs.

Monday August 3
Today’s ride : 8am departure | 87.8km / 54.5 miles – 1,389m / 4,557 feet

Included Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

A solid day awaits as we take in some of the most popular cycling routes for the locals. First we will enjoy the climb out to Copperlode Dam, followed by a rolling hill journey around to Crystal Cascades. Then it’s out to Barron Gorge before heading back to Cairns for lunch in town before arriving back at our Hotel.

You’ll then have the rest of the afternoon to explore Cairns before enjoying dinner at one of the many beautiful restaurants in town.

Tuesday August 4
Today’s ride : 8am departure | 84.3km / 52.4 miles – 359m / 1,177 feet

Included Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today we will visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Far North Queensland! After riding north we will enjoy a cold drink overlooking the stunning Palm Cove beach. We will then wind our way back to Cairns via all the beautiful beach locations along the way. We will also stop at Trinity Beach to see where the Australian troops practiced their WW2 D-Day landings right here in Australia. Then it’s back to Cairns for a quick bite for lunch before heading out to the Cairns Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at 12.30pm.

The iconic Skyrail experience is a must do Cairns attraction that provides a truly unique perspective of Australia’s World Heritage listed tropical rainforest – you will be immersed in the sights, sounds, smells and tranquility of one of the most botanically fascinating areas on earth.

Dinner will be at another fantastic Cairns restaurant!

Wednesday August 5
Today’s ride : 8am departure | 90km / 56 miles – 550m / 1,804 feet

Included Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After a huge day yesterday a shorter flatter ride will be just what we need. Once again we will head south out of Cairns before making a left turn into the cane fields. This beautiful quiet country road winds it’s way through the cane fields as we make our way out to the coast once again. For those that are crazy enough, you can also climb the 2.4k climb at 20%, while the rest of the team waits at the base. Then we’ll ride back to Cairns to enjoy a beautiful lunch at the best cafe in Cairns, Cafe 3060.

A short walk to dinner will be welcomed as the legs might be feeling a little tired after 4 days on the bike.

Thursday August 6
Today : 7.15am departure | No ride today

Included Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Following 4 solid days on the bike you’ll be ready for a rest day. But this is like no rest day you’ve ever experienced! Today you will travel out to the Outer Reef of the Great Barrier Reef.

Lunch is provided on the boat and you should arrive back at Cairns Marina around 4.30pm.
The tour includes:
– 2 Outer Barrier Reef locations (chosen from a selection of 16 sites on a daily basis)
– Fresh, healthy and tasty buffet style lunch
– Morning & afternoon tea
– Quality masks, fins & booties
– Top quality scuba equipment & dive computers
– Lycra suits for all in the warmer months (no charge)5mm ‘shortie’ wetsuits all year round (no charge)
– Free prescription mask hire
– Free Guided snorkel tour
– Reef Talk & presentation
– Introductory Diving – Optional Extra  Trip + 2 Intro Dives (Cruise, Guide, Dive Equipment & Instruction) AU$125.00 per person

After everyone has enjoyed a nice cold shower when we return from the reef we’ll all head out for our final dinner in Cairns before we head north up to Port Douglas the next morning.

Friday August 7
Today’s ride : 7am departure | Option 1) 204km / 126.8 miles – 2000m / 6,561 feet or Option 2) 123km / 76.4 miles – 1,250m / 4,101 feet

Included Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The longest ride of the tour! Are you up to the challenge? We will offer 2 options today and you can choose which distance that you’d like to ride in the morning. The longer option will see you ride just over 200km’s and climb 2,000m or the shorter option where you can join the ride in Atherton and ride 123km & climb 1,250m.

We will head south from Cairns and then climb the famous Gillies Range Rd up and over to Atherton in the FNQ Tablelands. We then head north for Mareeba to enjoy a well earned lunch before dropping down to Port Douglas. A long day but you’ll enjoy every moment with amazing views from the top of the climbs and be rewarded with a beautiful resort in Port Douglas!

Dinner will be in the resort as we are sure you won’t want to be walking too far after such a big day on the bike.

Saturday August 8
Today’s ride : 7am departure | 110km / 68.4 miles – 450m / 1,476 feet

Included Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We will head out early today and ride mostly flat roads out to the beautiful little town of Daintree Village, on the edge of the rainforest. Following lunch back in Port Douglas you will be back at the resort with plenty of time to shower & get ready for our half day Daintree River & Mossman Gorge tour.

We will spend the afternoon cruising down the mighty Daintree River to spot crocodiles, snakes, beautiful birds and butterflies, frogs and many more indigenous Australian animals and also migratory one’s too. See the ferocious crocodiles cruising the river looking for an opportunity to pounce on prey and see the myriad of birds and butterflies that soar above your head, the Daintree River is alive with action. From here it is off to afternoon tea and to see beautiful Mossman Gorge to walk on the new elevated boardwalk to see the full majesty of this rainforest Gorge and learn about its history and its people. Whilst here enjoy a lovely afternoon tea at the visitors centre before hopping back in our vehicles to return to the resort in Port Douglas. Whilst at Mossman Gorge you can even take a dip in the refreshing mountains waters so if you feel like cooling off just make sure you bring a towel.

After another exciting day there will be plenty to talk about over another beautiful dinner at the resort.

Sunday August 9
Today’s ride : 8am departure | Option 1) 154km / 95.7 miles – 1700m / 5,577 feet or Rest Day (drive along the famous Captain Cook Hwy)

Included Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today we check-out of the resort in Port Douglas and make our way back to Cairns. Today we have 2 options. You can either ride your bike back to Cairns or take a rest day and travel in the team vehicle back along the beautiful Captain Cook Hwy. Unfortunately this road isn’t bike friendly so we don’t ride along here, but it’s truly one of the most beautiful roads in Australia. So if you’d like to see this from the comfort of our team vehicle and enjoy a rest day, then please feel free to join the crew. You’ll get to sleep in and enjoy lunch in Palm Cove on the 1hr 30min drive back to Cairns.

But for those that are keen we will ride back up the climb towards Mareeba where we will stop for lunch. We’ll then ride back to Cairns via the Kuranda Range where we will enjoy the descent back into Cairns.

With so many restaurants in Cairns there are still many more to choose from!

Monday August 10
Today’s ride : 8am departure | Option 1) 3 1/2hr Mountain Bike Ride (Bike Hire Included) Option 2) 111km / 69 miles – 440m / 1,443 feet

Included Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today you will have the option of exploring the 2017 UCI World Championship Mountain Bike course in Smithfield, Cairns or stick to the road bike and enjoy an 111k ride. The MTB adventure includes bike hire and we’ll guide you around the extensive mountain bike trails in Smithfield, where you’ll have green, blue and black trails to choose from. After being fitted to our bikes we’ll head off at 9am and return at 12.30pm. We’ll then load into the team vehicles and drive back into Cairns to meet the road riding team for lunch.

The road riders will head south today and ride through the quiet roads surrounded by sugar cane. The only people to use these roads are the farmers who live there, so we are guaranteed to have very quiet roads, with few, if any cars. We should enjoy a nice tailwind on the ride back to Cairns as the south-east winds will be blowing.

Following lunch with the MTB team it’s back to the hotel to relax around the pool before heading out for our final dinner.

Tuesday August 11
Today’s ride : 7am departure | 50km / 31 miles – 500m / 1,640 feet

Included Meals : Breakfast

After another yummy breakfast at the hotel, for those that want to, we’ll duck out for a quick spin before we have to check-out. We’ll do a loop around town and be back in time to pack the bags! Maybe a quick swim too!

Then it’s time to say farewell and head to the airport. We are more than happy to help you with any further travel plans.

Twin Share accommodation

All transport including airport pick-up and drop off
All ground transportation during the tour.

Support vehicle and mechanical breakdown support on each ride*

All breakfast, lunch and dinner during the tour. See itinerary for more specifics.

Airfares to and from Cairns

A single supplement is available for AUD $900

Any accommodation before or after the tour

Activities that are not organised and scheduled by Connect Sport

Bikes, helmets, shoes, pedals, drink bidons and other cycling equipment.
Mountain Bike hire is included.

Make sure you have adequate Travel Insurance for yourself and your bike.

Laundry services are available at the hotel