Page 79 - Port Douglas Magazine 40

SADDLE UP!

Cycling is great way to see Port
Douglas and its spectacular
surrounds. Whether you want to
cruise around town, join a bike
tour of the rainforest or tackle a

challenging trail, there are heaps
of ways to have fun on two wheels. off your helmet and appreciate the stunning a steep, wide passage that traverses the rainforest

of Mowbray National Park and was, for many
mountain backdrop! As an alternative from Port

Douglas, turn left off the highway to Shannonvale, years, the only link between Port Douglas and the

where the road is (mostly) shady and flat, and you hinterland. Along the way, you’ll get to experience

can stop off at the Tropical Fruit Winery and the the stunning natural beauty of Port Douglas, as
Australian Chocolate Farm to rest your legs. well as enjoy the thrill of riding your bike through
There are also local group rides run by some challenging terrain. Check in at the Bike
WORDS by Sara Mulcahy the Rainforest and Reef Cycling Club (rrcclub.com. Shop and Hire for more information.
au) that welcome occasional visitors. Participants
need their own bikes, helmets and weather-
little sliver of silver lining to come out of pandemic Highway to town via Crystalbrook Marina, so you don’t ever have RAINFOREST SELF-GUIDED RIDES
lockdowns (if we’re allowed to say that) is how many to share the main road. appropriate clothing plus plenty of hydration Ready to ride a rainforest trail? Whether you’re a
A Aussies fell back in love with their bikes. Take a ride around the outskirts of town and discover its parks, and nutrition. More info about these rides can hardened MTBer looking to shred the best bush
be found at the Bike Shop and Hire, where you
Add to that our renewed interest in exploring our own back yard, lakes and wetlands along with the cafés and pubs. Get to know can have a chat to a local rider who will fill you and forest trails, or a recreational rider wanting

and recreational cycling is enjoying a starring role on the holiday the fascinating history of the area by touring the local sights of St in on the local etiquette and guides to keep to explore the beauty of the rainforest at a more
stage — nowhere more so than the tropical Far North. Mary’s Church, the Sugar Wharf and Flagstaff Hill. And of course everyone safe. leisurely pace, the Bike Shop and Hire has a

Committed cyclists may like to travel with their bikes, but for a ride along Four Mile Beach is a must! This glorious stretch of self-guided tour to suit. Covering between 18
most of us, that’s not a requirement. At the Port Douglas Bike rainforest fringed coastline is one of the few places in the world and 50km, routes pass by waterfalls and streams
Shop and Hire (bikeshopandhire.com) you can hire bikes for the where you can cycle on tightly packed white sand for 4km — and SOCIAL MTB RIDES with views of the tropical coastline out to the
whole family for a few hours, or a few weeks. And with a choice back. Social mountain bike rides for cyclists of all ages Great Barrier Reef. Watch out for wild brumbies,
of road bikes, mountain bikes and e bikes, you might not even and skills leave regularly from the Bike Shop cassowaries and tree kangaroos! Enquire at the
have to pedal (much). ROAD RIDES and Hire, depending on the season and trail bike shop about a range of self-guided tours that
include dual suspension MTB or electric-MTB,

The combination of cane fields, mountains, rainforest and valleys conditions. Whether you’re looking to improve your detailed maps, emergency kit and a shuttle to your
riding skills, make new friends, or simply enjoy a
TOWN RIDES around Port Douglas takes road riding to another level. Head day out on the trails, these rides are the perfect chosen local trail.

Exploring by bike is a terrific way to get to know Port Douglas. north out of town and turn right off the Captain Cook Highway to opportunity to get on your bike. Rides typically Many rides end with a descent of the Bump Track.

The town is well set up for cyclists with an interlinked network Cooya Beach and Bonnie Doon, then on to Mossman township last a few hours, taking in some of the best trails
of flat and wide cycle paths stretching from the Captain Cook and the serenity of Mossman Gorge. Don’t forget to stop, take in the area including the famous Bump Track,