Course Info
2023 Course Overview
Who's excited for four days of the best trails and terrain around? We are! Each day’s stage has its own unique terrain and character to keep things interesting with a mix of fast flowing single trail, farm track, groomed downhill trails and fire trails – many through private land that can only be ridden while racing the Reef to Reef.
The 2023 course overview is below! Each stage is similar in nature to previous years, with a few fun new additions and tweaks to keep you on your toes! Courses are subject to change. Check back soon for stage details.
Click here for a more detailed map.
Reef to Reef courses can only be ridden in their full format at event time. Locals hero’s open up their gates and allow access to their private land for the R2R riders as the event benefits the community in so many ways. Please respect private property and make sure we are able to continue accessing these tracks by not pre-riding the course.
Terrain Overview
Cycle Trail/Single Track
Cycle Trails are purpose built and are a smaller version of a gravel road, with smooth hard packed riding surface. Single Track are purpose built trails to allow the rider to enjoy berms, with fast and flowy corners. Generally a hard packed dirt surface.
4WD/Farm Track
Typically formed for 4WD vehicles on farm properties, these tracks are largely comfortable surface track with some grass, rocks and ruts.
Sealed Road
A standard road with bitumen seal which creates a smooth and fast low friction surface.
Gravel Road
This is a standard gravel road, generally smooth with small aggregate used on the surface.
2023 Stage Details
All courses are subject to change up until race morning briefing.
Stage 1
START & FINISH: Smithfield MTB Park
DISTANCE: 18.5km
ELEVATION GAIN: 720m
A world cup mountain bike track seems like as good a place to start as any…
Located just 20 minutes drive north of Cairns Airport, Stage 1 returns to the iconic Smithfield Mountain Bike Park where you'lll tackle 18km of world class single track, steep climbs and fast, flowing descents. This stage is as iconic as always and will give riders a chance to blow out the cobwebs while also being a nice little intro into what’s to come over the following 3 days.
| Single Track | Farm Track | Gravel Road | Sealed Road |
| 75% | 11% | 11% | 3% |
Please see the 2023 Stage 1 Pair Seeding below.
Stage 2
Start & Finish: Davies Creek MTB Park
Distance: 39.5km
Elevation Gain: 800m
All the single trailers, all the single trailers…
Stage 2 will return to the dry bush of Davies Creek Mountain Bike Park. Davies Creek is just 45min to the west of Cairns up on the Tableland. You’ll be treated to hard-packed single trail sections that wind through scrubby bushland and granite-lined gullies. We’ll throw in a couple of short, punchy climbs but your reward after 39.5km will be free entry into one of the best natural plunge pools around.
| Single Track | Farm Track | Gravel Road | Sealed Road |
| 50% | 26% | 24% | 0% |
Stage 3
Start & Finish: Mount Molloy
Distance: 59km
Elevation Gain: 550m
A tropical trek through some of the most incredible rainforest trails. With a start line in Mt Molloy, you’ll roll down the main street of town before heading out onto Wetherby Road towards some of the most incredible rainforests on the planet. Creek crossings, stunning views and a shorter than previous years 59kms will have you pumped to get out onto stage 3, and not completely cooked by the end. We've taken out a few hundred metres of climbing compared to 2019 too (your legs can thank us later) so you'll be feeling fresh and fly coming into the final stage...
| Single Track | Farm Track | Gravel Road | Sealed Road |
| 27% | 34% | 36% | 3% |
Stage 4
Start: Mount Molloy
Finish: Port Douglas
Distance: 46km
Elevation Gain: 550m
Bumpety bump...
It's all about that finish line feeling but getting to the beach at Port Douglas takes you across and down some of the coolest trails you’ll ever ride. Cattle and cane country give way to a final blast through the rainforest. Then it’s down, down, down the famous Bump Track. The last hard packed sandy stretch up Four Mile Beach will live long in your memory (and legs)… and the finish line in front of the Port Douglas Surf Club will cap off an epic four days of riding. Now it’s time to sit back, relax, grab a burger and a beer and celebrate!
| Single Track | Farm Track | Gravel Road | Sealed Road | Beach |
| 22% | 35% | 24% | 11% | 8% |
All courses are subject to change up until race morning briefing.
