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29-07-2008, 08:40am
Hi Busgo
The roads around here are very good; certainly better than Sydney and probably on par with Victoria.
When I felt the need to kill bugs the fast way I'd take a trip 'around the block'.
Basically it's riding in a big square.
From Cairns you go up the Kuranda Range road from Smithfield. The road is windy and as you saw, a nice new surface. Unfortunately the cops know that we know and they keep an eye on it (usually weekends or when they're bored). Once past Kuranda (it's a good place to visit if you've never been to Cairns region but a little off the track if all you want to do is ride).
After that it's a mellow ride to Mareeba with few tight bends; more like sweeping curves and gentle dips. Your speed can get away from you and the coppers watch this stretch as well (I lost 3 points on this bit). Half the coat of arms will be on the road during winter on this bit as well, so it's better to keep a check on the throttle anyway.
As you head into Mareeba follow the signs to The Coffee Works for some great coffee. The grind and bag it there for you and can ship as well. If you want a good old fashioned outback brekkie then give that a miss and go through town. There's a little cafe with pavement tables (I forget the name but it's the only one on the right) that'll fix you up with a good basic feed.
If you turn left just after Mareeba for a longer ride (watch your fuel) you can head out into some very pretty countryside. God knows where it goes but the roads aren't bad.
Going straight through from Mareeba (North) is wide open road and time to reach the top end of 6th gear. I've maxed out on this stretch and haven't passed a car going in either direction for miles. The turn toward the coast is well signposted; miss that and you'll head towards Cooktown.
The road through Julatten starts to get windy and the scenery changes from Outback to Rain Forest fairly quickly. The end of the fast bit comes up pretty quick and then it's knee draggin time again; downhill this time. Apparently the coppers do watch the area but I've never seen them... then again, I never go on Sundays which is the locals bike run day.
At the bottom of the hill, turn right towards Port Douglas and keep your finger on the trigger. There's a new highway patrol car and I've heard it's pretty quick. Past Port and follow the coast road to Cairns - if you pick you time of day right, there's no cars and it's knee draggin time again; get the time wrong and the rubber-necking tourists will end your fragile grip on sanity. It's not the Great Ocean Road but it's definitely in the top 10.
All up it's about 190km around the block and takes about 2 - 2.5hrs.
There's a Figure-8 pattern which is about 350-400 km which would take in the Gillies highway; apparently one of the twistiest roads in the Southern Hemisphere with plenty of 1st gear corners, hairpin bends and foldback corners. That trip is a must for bike tourists as it will take you all day to finish and show you some of the best countryside the Tropical North has to offer.
The roads around here are very good; certainly better than Sydney and probably on par with Victoria.
When I felt the need to kill bugs the fast way I'd take a trip 'around the block'.
Basically it's riding in a big square.
From Cairns you go up the Kuranda Range road from Smithfield. The road is windy and as you saw, a nice new surface. Unfortunately the cops know that we know and they keep an eye on it (usually weekends or when they're bored). Once past Kuranda (it's a good place to visit if you've never been to Cairns region but a little off the track if all you want to do is ride).
After that it's a mellow ride to Mareeba with few tight bends; more like sweeping curves and gentle dips. Your speed can get away from you and the coppers watch this stretch as well (I lost 3 points on this bit). Half the coat of arms will be on the road during winter on this bit as well, so it's better to keep a check on the throttle anyway.
As you head into Mareeba follow the signs to The Coffee Works for some great coffee. The grind and bag it there for you and can ship as well. If you want a good old fashioned outback brekkie then give that a miss and go through town. There's a little cafe with pavement tables (I forget the name but it's the only one on the right) that'll fix you up with a good basic feed.
If you turn left just after Mareeba for a longer ride (watch your fuel) you can head out into some very pretty countryside. God knows where it goes but the roads aren't bad.
Going straight through from Mareeba (North) is wide open road and time to reach the top end of 6th gear. I've maxed out on this stretch and haven't passed a car going in either direction for miles. The turn toward the coast is well signposted; miss that and you'll head towards Cooktown.
The road through Julatten starts to get windy and the scenery changes from Outback to Rain Forest fairly quickly. The end of the fast bit comes up pretty quick and then it's knee draggin time again; downhill this time. Apparently the coppers do watch the area but I've never seen them... then again, I never go on Sundays which is the locals bike run day.
At the bottom of the hill, turn right towards Port Douglas and keep your finger on the trigger. There's a new highway patrol car and I've heard it's pretty quick. Past Port and follow the coast road to Cairns - if you pick you time of day right, there's no cars and it's knee draggin time again; get the time wrong and the rubber-necking tourists will end your fragile grip on sanity. It's not the Great Ocean Road but it's definitely in the top 10.
All up it's about 190km around the block and takes about 2 - 2.5hrs.
There's a Figure-8 pattern which is about 350-400 km which would take in the Gillies highway; apparently one of the twistiest roads in the Southern Hemisphere with plenty of 1st gear corners, hairpin bends and foldback corners. That trip is a must for bike tourists as it will take you all day to finish and show you some of the best countryside the Tropical North has to offer.