About the Route
Rock to the Reef
Stage One
You will start day one at the icon of Australia’s outback, Uluru. This monolith has become the most recognisable of Australia’s many and varied wild places, and the 15km ride within the Uluru/Kata Juta National Park is one of the most memorable mini-stages of the entire route. From here you strike east, and continue on a slight incline of the first day. This is a great eye opener, and also a time to get that much needed fitness that will be drawn upon for the long leg across the Barkly Highway at the end of the week.
The first deviation is at Erldunda, a Roadhouse where those small purchases, (chicken and chips anyone?) can make great deal of difference to happiness levels. A big left turn takes you in the northerly direction towards Alice Springs. More slight incline is the order here, and head winds are often strong enough to make you glad you’re not riding alone. Teamwork is crucial, where the fitness levels are not at their peak, and a little soreness is enough to distract you from some incredible countryside.
Alice Springs is a real hub! Its population is a multi-cultural mix of permanent residents, tourists and Indigenous people, making a vibrant and impressive community. The deep, yet dry rivers make you understand why people have congregated here for centuries - it is an incredibly impressive place, in the middle of nowhere! Riding out of Alice is many people’s favourite mini-stage. As you clear the city limits, the dedicated bike lane allows you freedom to look and enjoy the gnarled rock formations, and the twisted dry trunks of low trees and shrubs. The tailwind that can blow may allow you speeds of 40+km/h without too much effort, as you will start to enjoy your elevated fitness.
Riding a winding path over dry and near dry creeks and rivers is a feature of this next leg. Heading for Ti-tree and Barrow Creek can give a sense of the remoteness and harshness of this landscape. Barrow Creek especially gives a sense of melancholic beauty, with lonely mountain ranges and a wind that can blow a chill of sadness through your body. This is heads down-bums up country. You will rely heavily on those around you to enable you to cope with the many challenges you will uncover as you progress. You can keep in your mind the wonders ahead, notably the Devils Marbles. Here you will experience a rare treat, and camp right beside one of the most underrated regions Australia has on offer. This motley crew of boulders, (which you can ethically climb) shows a variety of dancing colours, and affords an elevated view of the surrounding landscape.
Breaking through the 1000km barrier will be the feature of the next leg. You can stop and stare at the landscape in silent reverie, or whoop it up at your achievement thus far. You will also hit the dreaded Barkly Highway, which will show you what you are truly made of. Passing through the fun city of Tennant Creek is a highlight of this leg. The community has an exceptional number of interesting characters and stories to tell. If you happen to meet a fellow traveller, they will have a story of their own, usually starting with a comment about the “Three-ways”, and the epic Barkly Highway. The initial celebrations at ‘turning the corner’ for Queensland will soon be dampened by the obvious challenge that the Barlky poses. You will feel like you are getting nowhere, that this is all too much. You can say to yourself though that you will have your own story to tell about this seemingly endless strip of bitumen. The sense of achievement at the end of it will give you such an empowered feeling that you will believe like anything in life is possible, with determination, mental and physical strength, and the support of your incredible riding team and support crew.
Saying goodbye to the Territory is one of the most conflicting moments on the tour. Your body will be physically wrecked from the Barkly, but also surprisingly light and full of energy because of the fitness you have developed. Your mind will be a mixture of desperation at the bleak and often bland nature of some of the countryside, and yet you will still have visions of Uluru, the Devils Marbles and the haunting Barrow Creek. The welcome NT/QLD state border will fill you with joy and remorse, a feeling that can’t be described, only felt. It will signal however, the approach of the final leg of Stage 1.
Camooweal is the beginning of the longest city road in the world, at 189km, and Mt Isa is the city that that road leads to. Mt Isa is secure in its place in the world, and understands its importance to the Australian economy. Big hats, bigger cars and massive trucks (road trains) are everywhere, and this will occasionally take your focus away from what is otherwise a spectacular landscape. You will not forget your trip to the Isa, as it has a way of getting into your soul. To begin at a place like Uluru and end in Mt Isa makes you understand the importance of both progress and industry, while showing the absolute necessity to preserve and conserve our natural beauty. The ride into Mt Isa is fantastic, with many sweeping turns around rugged mountain sides, big descents and moderate climbs. You will see Mt Isa residents out on their bikes, getting their exercise before they hit the pub for some beers and a chicken parmagiana. You will be saying goodbye to some of our riders who won’t hitting up Stage 2, and welcoming riders who will start from here.
Stage 2
The Red Heart Ride team are proud and excited to bring you Stage 2, a phenomenal journey from the vast and flat Gulf country, over the Great Diving Range to the tropical Far North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. The first leg will take you out of Mt Isa towards Cloncurry, the town at the forefront of Australia’s renewable energy solutions. The riding team’s rear wheel will be kept busy here looking out for the famous Road Train, 50 metre long truck and trailers that link the productive west with the coastal ports to the east. This is one of the most enjoyable rides of the entire trip, despite the challenge of the traffic, and reaching Cloncurry, a short 125km mini-stage, will seem to be over almost too soon. When you meet the Flinders Highway you will be going back in time, to a land of Dinosaurs, and the site of forgotten inland sea!
You are as likely to meet a visiting paleontologist, or student seeking to soak up the atmosphere of discovery as you are to meet a busy beef or sheep farmer on this next leg of Stage 2. There are many communities here who survive by supporting the pastoral industries. These communities are strong yet declining, a sad fate for the cornerstone of the Australian economy. The old adage that Australia’s economy was carried on the sheep’s back is less relevant today, yet you can still feel the deep and powerful impact that primary production has had on Australia’s 222 year post-settlement history. The rides on this leg are long, straight and flat, yet the magnificence of the horizon can leave you with an overwhelming sense of smallness. The best place to feel the vastness of this landscape is from you very own bike seat.
The next leg involves some climbing. You have skirted between some of the mountains which form part of the Great Dividing Range, but now you have all that fitness developed over the long straight stretches, you can test yourself in the hills. The Gregory Development Road takes you parallel with the coast, a mere 80km to the east. You are heading for Queensland’s highest town, the old sawmill town of Ravenshoe. Spectacular waterfalls, mountaintop vistas and lush rainforest will engulf your senses. It will be hard to contain your excitement as you see views of the coast. You must keep your mind on the job here though, as sweeping decents and winding roads will take all your concentration.
You will now take a detour off the Development Road and ride towards Millaa Millaa falls, one of Australia’s most beautiful waterfalls. You will visit the waterfall at Millaa Millaa for a rest stop, where you can swim, take pictures and enjoy the setting. You may even be lucky enough to have hundreds of tiny rock pool perch nibble at the hardened skin of your tired feet. From here you make for Atherton, a farming plateau that provides wide sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, including Queensland’s highest peak, Mt Bartle Frere.
Heading for the coast, you bypass the town of Mareeba, which is rich in tropical agricultural industries such as mango, coffee and sugar cane, and was once a source of high quality rainforest timbers such as Red Cedar (Toona ciliata), and the southern Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii). The trees still stand, in lesser numbers, but are largely protected against logging within National Parks. The zig-zag descent to the coast via Kuranda will provide a white knuckle ride as you begin to realise that you are close to the end of your adventure. You will cling to every experience now, and you will be amazed at the peak of your physical condition.
Riding along the Captain Cook Highway towards Port Douglas gives you a spectacular coast hugging experience never to forget. It is easy to lose yourself in the incredible scenery, but you’re not home yet! You will pass Palm Cove, a gorgeous and pristine white sand beach, and Mossaman Gorge, the famous tumbling stream with deep pools and fascinating Indigenous cultural heritage. Riding into the resort town of Port Douglas will give you a real thrill, and an overwhelming sense of achievement. You will enjoy a hot shower, a comfortable bed and gorgeous surroundings - you've well earned a rest. A few surprises are in store for you yet, though.