Escape to Cape York
2021(MTB)
TOUR I: May 30 – June 18 2021 (*Fully Booked)
TOUR II: July 11-21 2021 (*Fully Booked)
TOUR III: Aug 1-11 2021
TOUR IV: Aug 21-31 2021
2021 Tour Overview
The Topbike 2021 ‘Escape to Cape York’ will be 11 days (10 nights) fully supported, off the tourist route where possible, riding 40-110k a day (noting that there’s only one day over 100k), starting and finishing in Cairns.
We will take an inland route, after starting with the Bloomfield track, through rainforests, past beaches, through Cooktown, along old telegraph tracks finishing with a visit to the coast and the very top of Cape York, and a final night on Thursday Island, before your flight home (included) from Horn Island.
Camping wise, you’ll need a sleeping sheet and pillow, we’ll have all the rest.
Group size will be limited to 13, with 3 staff. There are plenty of opportunities for extra riding, if the planned day’s ride may not be enough for you.
2021 Tour Dates
ESCAPE to CAPE YORK (MTB)
I | May 30 – June 18 2021
II | July 11-21 2021
III | August 1– 11 2021
IV | August 21– 31 2021
2021 Tour Price: $6950.00 (AUD) (Per person)
Image Credit: Tourism & Events Queensland
Your tour guide/host for this tour, David Olle, spent most of the 1980’s working out of Cairns in the Northern Prawn Fishery, all around the Cape. Covering the east coast, Torres Straits and Gulf of Carpentaria. In the early 2000’s he raced the Crocodile Trophy, twice, traversing some of the roads we use in this tour.
We recommend a mountainbike or an Ebike (MTB) with at least 2.2” tyres as standard. Hire bikes/Ebikes can be organized at an additional cost.
Topbike Hire Bikes & Electric Bikes
Topbike Hire bikes can be organized at an additional cost. We have ten 2017 full carbon handmade Italian Casati bikes, all with di2, disc brakes and compact gearing. There’s also new Wiliers from 2018 and 2019.
Topbike Electric Bikes are also available: E-Bikes are a great option for those occasional riders or partners of riders who want to come on tour. All of Topbikes’ Cycling Tours are achievable by anyone on one of our E-Bikes.
We have ten Garmin 800s (with euro maps) available to use while on tour.
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Destination
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Tour Start / Finish
Cairns, QLD -
Pick Up
Cairns Hotel / other location, TBA -
Drop Off
Cairns Airport -
Cycling Fitness/Experience
Any + E-Bikes Available
1
2021: Day 1 | Cairns to Wujal Wujal (55k)
July 11 | Aug 1
We’ll have an early start, and after pick up, in Cairns, transport up across the Daintree river, to Thornton Beach. Here we’ll set up our bikes and set out on our first ride, embarking up the Bloomfield track. It’s a mainly gravel road, that will lead us past a few beaches, all the way to Bloomfield, and beyond.At Bloomfield we will turn left, and head inland, with a short killer climb coming before we reach our goal of Yindilli campground. Here we will enjoy a ‘Welcome to Country’ and Rainforest Walk, led by two of the local traditional owners of the land. The Walk includes freshly made damper with homemade jams, tea and coffee.
2
2021: Day 2 | Wujal Wujal to Cooktown (85k)
July 12 | Aug 2
Today we head back down the killer climb, taking care on the descent, to the Bloomfield track. Here we’ll be turning left at the coast and riding through the Cedar Bay National Park.
After 55k we’ll arrive at the Lion’s Den Hotel, for a longish lunchbreak. It’s not far into Cooktown from here, not more than 35k, so you can choose to either ride, or after taking full advantage of the wares and services at the Lion’s Den Hotel, catch a lift in the back up vehicle. Accommodation tonight is a four-star hotel in the centre of Cooktown.
3
2021: Day 3 | Cooktown to Horseshoe Lagoon Camping Area (92k)
July 13 | Aug 3
After the most luxurious breakfast that we will have on tour, we depart Cooktown, heading west on ‘Battle Camp Rd’. If the name of the ‘Dirt Highway’ doesn’t give it away, we are seriously on the road, engaging in the battle of riding to the top of Cape York. Bush camp tonight, at Horseshoe Lagoon, otherwise known as the middle of nowhere.
4
2021: Day 4 | Horseshoe Lagoon to Kalpowar Crossing (85k, 150m)
July 14 | Aug 4
Leaving Horseshoe lagoon, we’ll shortly turn north, leaving behind Battle Camp Rd, and heading for Lakefield National Park. Here we are on one of the stages raced in the 2002 Crocodile Trophy, noting that the stage start was in Laura, but the finish line, at Kalpowar Crossing Campground, remains the same. The campground has a small lake and spillway, and signs warning of Crocodile sightings. We saw crocodiles here in 2002, so while it’s nearly two decades ago, with no predator, their numbers could have only increased. Needless to say, no swimming here, or going anywhere near the water’s edge. Cold showers available in the campgrounds (bonus!).
5
2021: Day 5 | Kalpowar Crossing to Musgrave Roadhouse (113k)
July 15 | Aug 5
Day 5, and we have our biggest day on the bike, the one, and only, over 100k. We’ll be riding to Musgrave Roadhouse, on the main road up the Cape (the PDR or Peninsula Development Road). An early start will give us an advantage against the heat. Out on the road we’ll head north, towards Princess Charlotte Bay. Before we reach the bay, we turn west, stopping for water at Lotus Bird Lodge. After that, it’s just the final 28k leg towards Musgrave Roadhouse.
6
2021: Day 6 | Musgrave Roadhouse to Moreton Telegraph Station (?k)
July 16 | Aug 6
Hump day, and it can be a rest day, if you want it. Musgrave Roadhouse is on the PDR, and we’ll transport from here, up to Moreton Telegraph Station (300k), to avoid the busiest section of road on the Cape. You can choose to ride into Moreton from any distance you want, if you still feel the need to ride?
7
2021: Days 7, 8, 9 | Moreton Telegraph Station to Seisia (<220k)
July 17-18-19 | Aug 7-8-9
Now we have three days to cover 220k to Seisia, on the Gulf, and it’s the penultimate stop, before the Cape. We’ll swim where we can, visit roadhouses and select the best and most suitable camping sites along the route.
8
2021: Days 7, 8, 9 | Moreton Telegraph Station to Seisia (<220k)
9
2021: Days 7, 8, 9 | Moreton Telegraph Station to Seisia (<220k)
10
2021: Day 10 | Ride to the TOP (70k)
July 20 | Aug 10
The big push north. For our final day of riding, we aim for the top. Or the ‘tip’ if you prefer of Cape York. It’s 35k up the road, so we have the morning to ride up the cape, and return for lunch before catching an afternoon ferry to Thursday Island for our final evening of the tour.
11
2021: Day 11 | Thursday Island to Cairns
July 21 | Aug 11
After breakfast, it's time to pack up and head for Cairns.
Our plane departs from Horne Island, so after breakfast we’ll pack up and take the ferry over to the airport and take an afternoon flight to Cairns.
Horn Island. Image Credit: Tourism & Events Queensland
Included in your tour is all transport from Cairns to Cairns for you, your bike and one bag, accommodation, all breakfasts and all dinners. You will also receive a full 5 piece Topbike kit. Also included are your experienced and knowledgeable guides, maps, training tips, coaching (if required) and mechanical back-up for your bike. Please also see our recommended list of things to bring (bring a couple of warm pieces of clothing, just in case).
NB: The itinerary above is to be used as a guide only, as Topbike Tours are well known for making use of all (and creating some extra) opportunities, expect that variations from the above can happen at any time. Please note all distances are approximate and subject to change.
2021 'ESCAPE to CAPE YORK' (MTB)
Cairns - Cairns
The Topbike 2021 ‘Escape to Cape York’ will be 11 days (10 nights) fully supported, off the tourist route where possible, riding 40-110k a day (noting that there’s only one day over 100k), starting and finishing in Cairns. We will take an inland route, after starting with the Bloomfield track, through rainforests, past beaches, through Cooktown, along old telegraph tracks finishing with a visit to the coast and the very top of Cape York, and a final night on Thursday Island, before your flight home (included) from Horn Island. Camping wise, you’ll need a sleeping sheet and pillow, we’ll have all the rest.(*NB: Locations shown above are approximate and intended as a guide only.)
