From Off road Newbie to riding 1100 miles to the Tip of Australia

“If someone had told me six months ago I’d be riding a dirt bike to the northernmost tip of Australia, I would’ve laughed.”

Not because I didn’t want to, I just wouldn’t have imagined it possible. I’m Marie, 27, freshly arrived in Australia from France, and while I’ve spent plenty of time on road bikes, I’d never touched an off-road motorcycle until this trip.

But here I was: six days, 1100 miles and one Gas Gas EC350F later, completely hooked.

As I was looking for an off road motorcycle tour for beginners, I joined a guided dirt bike tour with Cape York Motorcycle Adventures, riding from Cairns all the way to the tip of Cape York. This wasn’t just a holiday; it was a full-blown adventure. Every single day felt different. We crossed through World Heritage rainforest, the iconic CREB Track, countless crystal-clear creeks, the legendary Old Telegraph Track, sandy trails, red dirt, mud holes, and even remote beaches where we’d glide across the shoreline like something out of a movie.

As a total off-road newbie, I was a bit intimidated at first. But the crew? Top-notch. Two experienced guides rode with us and gave me just the right amount of coaching to build my confidence. Jordan, our lead guide, knew the Cape like the back of his hand and helped me pick the bike up a few times (yep, it happened). By the end, creek crossings that stressed me out on day one became second nature. There were about 12 riders in the group, mostly experienced blokes who’ve been on bikes longer than I’ve been alive, but I never once felt out of place. In fact, it was the opposite. Around the campfire each night, with a cold beer in hand and stories flowing, it felt like being part of a proper riding family. We camped in remote bush spots and sometimes stayed in beachfront cabins or bush lodges and every night we were greeted by the truck crew who had cold drinks and cooked dinners on the spot.

For someone who’s done long-distance road trips before, this was nothing like it. It was raw, remote and real. You’re not just passing through the landscape, you’re in it. Riding through terrain that changes by the hour, disconnecting from phone reception and reconnecting with the moment.The best part? I never once felt unsafe. The tour was well-organised, with backup support and bikes that were prepped to handle anything the Cape threw at us.

About Cape York

Before this trip, I’d never even heard of Cape York. I knew about the Outback and the classic white-sand beaches of Australia, the usual clichés. But Cape York? It blew me away. The variety of landscapes up there is unreal, and every day felt like we’d crossed into a new world. We started in Cairns, already a stunner with the Great Barrier Reef just offshore and rainforests climbing into the hills. You can take reef cruises or even scenic flights to see the reef from above, which I highly recommend. But the real magic began once we hit the dirt. We rode north through the Daintree, the oldest rainforest on Earth! over 180 million years old, where moss-covered trees towered over red clay tracks. Then came the infamous CREB Track, a steep, technical stretch where the mud seems to have a personal vendetta against you.

Just when you think you’ve conquered the rainforest, you’re crossing open farmland, followed by rolling green hills that reminded me of something out of Teletubbies, only with more wheel spin and less singing.
As we pushed deeper into the Cape, it got even wilder. Swamps, open savannah, dense bushland, towering termite mounds, and tracks that seem to disappear into nowhere. There were long red dirt highways where we barely saw another soul, just the usual 4×4 or other riders. Wildlife popped up too, wallabies watching us from the side of the trail, curious cows, a few snakes slithering across the track, and the boys even spotted a small crocodile lurking in one of the creeks.

Then came the legendary Old Telegraph Track, tight turns, tree roots and stretches of sandy flow where the bike just dances beneath you. It’s raw and rewarding, a proper test of skill and stamina. And when we finally reached the northernmost tip of Australia, after all that, it felt like something sacred. Just a short walk to the very edge of the continent, where we shared the moment with the crew and our new riding mates. The last stretch included an epic beach ride and one final technical push through rainforest trails before rolling into a beachfront campground. That night, we swapped the boots for flip-flops, cracked a well-earned beer, and kicked back in a spotless cabin overlooking the sea. Along the way, our accommodation had been a mix of classic bush pubs, remote campsites under the stars, and rustic iconic Aussie spots.

I came expecting a fun trip. I left feeling like I’d discovered a whole new side of Australia I never knew existed. So yeah, maybe I wasn’t the typical rider for this kind of tour. But by the end, I didn’t feel like a newbie anymore. I felt like someone who had just ticked off a life-defining ride before it ever made it onto my bucket list.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Next time, I’ve got my eye on Cape York Motorcycle Adventures’ 8-Day ride to Darwin but this time on adventure bikes.

Posted on July 9, 2025 by Renae - Travel Tips