🚴Cairns to Karumba – Australia’s Premier Long-Distance Cycling Adventure

Ride the legendary 780km journey from coast to outback. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist, a weekend warrior, or an adventure seeker, the C2K Bike Ride offers an unforgettable experience across Queensland’s stunning landscapes.

🌟 What Is C2K?

The Cairns to Karumba (C2K) Bike Ride is Australia’s longest event ride, stretching across five Shires at the base of Cape York. It’s more than just a ride—it’s a week-long celebration of community, challenge, and connection.

  • Ride at your own pace—full distance or selected sections
  • All-inclusive support: meals, luggage transport & logistics
  • Enjoy breathtaking sunsets, outback skies & warm hospitality
  • Join riders from across Australia and around the world

🚵 Who Can Join?

C2K is suitable for all levels of riders—road cyclists, e-bike riders, and social riders alike. If you’re moderately fit, you can take part. And if climbing isn’t your thing, support vehicles assist with tougher sections like the Kuranda Range.

🌍 A Global Cycling Community

Riders from England, Germany, Ireland, Holland, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, the USA—and every corner of Australia—have joined the adventure. Many return year after year to relive the camaraderie and magic of the ride.

🏕️ Your Outback Holiday on Two Wheels

Forget the stress of planning. With our dedicated volunteer crew, you’ll enjoy:

  • Three delicious meals daily
  • Hot showers and comfortable campsites
  • Seamless navigation from town to town
  • A week of fresh air, freedom, and unforgettable memories

🤝 Supporting Local Communities

We encourage you to drop some funds (preferably the folding kind, rather than the noisy kind 😉) into the tins of the local community groups that cater for us along the route. C2K proudly supports these communities by paying for their catering services during the event.

There are so many incredible charities out there that we aren’t aligning with just one – the choice is yours! You don’t need to fundraise to take part in the ride, but if you’d like to make a difference, you can select a charity from the wide range available on the Grassrootz platform.

You’ll have the option to choose your charity when you register, or you can [click here] to start fundraising now.

🎉 Ready to Ride?

Whether you’re chasing a personal challenge or simply want to explore Queensland’s outback in a unique way, the C2K Bike Ride is your ticket to adventure.

👉 [Join the Ride]

👉 [Explore the Route]

👉 [Join C2K STRAVA Club]

🌟 Typical Day on C2K

TIMEACTIVITY
6.00 – 6.45AMBreakfast is served. Bring your eating utensils and lunch box to prepare lunch as well
7.00 – 8.00 amJoin your pack, jump on your bike and start pedalling
LunchOn route, about half way
Anytime before 4.30 pmArrive at the campsite, find your luggage, pitch your tent and relax
5.00 pmC2K HQ setup and ready to answer any questions
5.30 pm – 6.00 pmEscort Drivers, Drink Stop Crews & Pack Leaders’ Daily Briefing
6.30 pmGenerally this is the time for dinner & when the bar is open
7.30 pm – 9.30 pm Entertainment varies daily.

🚵 What’s Included?

Including hot showers, mechanic support, centrally located kitchen area, C2K HQ, unlimited tea and coffee.
Including escort vehicles, pack leaders, first aid support, radio support team, rest & drink stops and luggage truck
For unsupported riders, we transport your luggage between towns on our dedicated luggage truck.
Our information marquee, known as C2K HQ, with information about the daily schedule and local tourist attractions.
Including campsite activities like trivia, karaoke, games. Music each night. Calcutta in Georgetown, No Talent Quest in Mount Surprise or Balance Bike Race in Mount Garnet have been a few popular events.
If you join the event as a rider, you’ll receive a FREE short or long sleeve event jersey. If you are a pack leader your kit will include a jersey and bib shorts. If you join as a volunteer, you’ll receive a Ride Support Crew T-Shirt. You can purchase additional jerseys from the online shop or C2K HQ along the way.
An in-depth guide with lots of info to help you prepare. This contains route maps, profiles and lots of info about each town.
Electronic newsletters prior to the ride provide lots of detailed information of what you can expect. Daily SMS updates sent each day on ride reminders.
Our fantastic volunteers making it all happen. Buy them a beer or a soft drink when you can.
Yeah – we’ll include this too…Friends, fresh air and fitness, and your opportunity to pedal away from the everyday.

🏕️ Optional Extras..

If you are an unsupported rider, you’ll need one of these for your return trip to Cairns. We don’t want to leave you stranded in Karumba.
Why not go on a scenic trip aboard the Gulflander from Croydon? Train departs at 5.00pm and returns at 6.45pm – just in time for dinner.
If you are planning to return from Karumba on Saturday early morning, best to pre-purchase your breakfast. If you are returning on the bus – this is a must.
Purchase online before the ride or at C2K HQ during the ride. Jerseys, polos, hats, drink bottles, T-shirts and even buffs.
Bike mechanics are available at each campsite. Pump n Pedals one of our major sponsors provides this service to all riders for a donation. Please be generous as Pump n Pedals donate all money back to the charity, at the end of the ride.
The coffee van is with us from the very start. They set up near C2K HQ or the kitchen area, depending on the campsite.