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Region:

FNQ 

Length:

75 km 

Duration:

1 hr 

Submitted By:

Motorcycle Rides 

Ride Summary

This ride is approximately 75km along the Captain Cook Highway, through interesting and varied scenery with bits of inland cane fields and vast coastal expanses, a National Park, and Port Douglas.

Ride Description

Leaving Cairns, take the Captain Cook Hwy heading north. You’ll begin to see more built up areas around Smithfield where the road forks off NR1 to Kuranda, but you go straight ahead. You’ll stay on this road till you reach your destination at Mossman, but it will be a most interesting day with all the touristy possibilities along the way.

After passing Smithfield, the ride really begins to get interesting as it continues inland for awhile, but past Buchan Point, it begins to hug the coastline and stays that way for about 40 km. Take time to stop in at the Hartleys Creek Crocodile Farm for an up close (but safe) look at some of the critters which are to be found in some creeks and rivers of FNO.

The road is fast but unfortunately has slow traffic and less opportunities to overtake than you would like but hey, no worries! Just follow the pace of the traffic.

Past Pebbly Beach, the road turns inland again, through cane fields (in season). You could stop in at Port Douglas. A lot of the Great Barrier Reef tour boats leave from here too.

Finally, when you arrive at your destination of Mossman, you’ll find lots to do. There are beaches to the east, the Gorge to the west, and all of Daintree National Park to the north.

Directions

From Cairns, follow the Captain Cook Highway north to Mossman.


View QLD – Cairns to Mossman in a larger map
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Best Thing About This Ride

There is such a variety of scenery and off bike activities that it is an excellent combination of motorbike riding and tourist trekking.

What Else To Look Out For

There aren’t as many opportunities for overtaking as you might like, so mind the slower traffic. Check with the locals before trying to tackle the Daintree track to Cooktown as it may or may not be passable.