Planning a trip to Tropical North QLD?

[debandee]

:ausflag:
My fiance & I were managers of a hotel in Port Douglas and we still have many contacts in the area.
The area is very well known for the incredible rides and the coppers haven't really caught on that bikers knw about it. ie, they're out and about but not the plague like the coast road between Sydney & Newcastle.
If a group is coming up we can arrange good prices on group bookings as well as tours etc for Great Barrier Reef trips etc.
I believe hire bikes are available (not sure cost) so a fly here and back home will still make sure you can enjoy what the area has to offer serious riders.
Derek

[Missy_Moo]

Hi Derek,

My man & I are planning on riding up that way (from Mackay) and it would be handy for accom or advise of a secure place in cairns to leave our busa's if we visit Thurs Is.

Can you let me know any accom in PD that you could reccommend?

Cheers Missy_Moo (Margot)

[BUSGO]

Damm, I forgot about Derek's offer and just got back from a week in PD.
We had a ball and the weather was overcast for a couple of days and then a terrific 28c for the last two.
Had a hoot.
The road from Cairns to PD. is splendid but a bit crowded and the one from Cairns to Karunda is terrific too and looks like it has only just been resurfaced in Bitumix.
We didn't get to do everything that we wanted so we will BE BACK for more!

[debandee]

Sorry it's taken so long to post... just returned from the Home of the Hayabusa - Japan
Funny thing though - we didn't see any bikes bigger than an ZZ1100 & one 400cc kawasuki. All the rest were 50's or scooters.

As for accommodation in Port Douglas... we're in our high season so everywhere is fairly busy in a sleepy town way. The accommodation you'll need will depend on your budget (doesn't it always?) What were you looking for?
In the meantime have a look at the following hotel websites:
The Newport on Macrossan
Reflections of Port Douglas
Meridian Port Douglas
there are a few more but I'll wait to hear from you

You can leave your bikes here at our place in Port Douglas; it'll depend on how you get to Thursday Island of course. But if you're going to stay in Port you can drop your bikes off and get a transfer bus to the airport or Reef Fleet terminal in Cairns

[debandee]

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.

[Louwai]

Sorry it's taken so long to post... just returned from the Home of the Hayabusa - Japan
Funny thing though - we didn't see any bikes bigger than an ZZ1100 & one 400cc kawasuki. All the rest were 50's or scooters.

Not sure if it's changed, but when I was living in Tokyo (1991) it was illegal to have a motorcycle larger than 400cc on the road.

At that time the only ones any bigger than 400cc were owned by richer people who flogged them on the track. That's why the 2nd hand bigger bikes from Japan are usually flogged to death, they've only ever been on the track by part timers who have very little riding experience.

[debandee]

I did see the one 1100ZR or ZZ... it looked like an older model but definitely a big bike. We were only in Osaka for about 5 days and only saw the city streets. Inner city traffic moves at a slow constant pace and is more suited to bicycles and scooters than anything else. I certainly wouldn't park my pride & joy anywhere near a sidewalk or pavement - kamikaze cyclists are everywhere! Bikes are jammed together with little regard for what they rub up against or how far they stick out into the pavement... or whether they've just knocked 3 others over.