On the second day we go north to the Australian Alps, where some peaks reach higher than 6,000 ft. Canberra, the capital, is our next destination. In Sydney we will have our first rest day and it will be hard to decide what to do. Sydney is an extremely lively city and Darling Harbour, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge are only some of the many attractions. A rest day ride to the Blue Mountains with scenic roads and waterfalls is also an option.

On our ride north to Brisbane, we have the choice every day between the coast with its endless beaches, and the Great Dividing Range, which offers a taste of the “outback” and some beautiful National Parks. In Brisbane we will have our second rest day. The Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, both with super beaches, are just out of town. Colored Sands National Park, a sandy beach with many different colors, as the name implies, is one stop on our way north. Over Rockhampton we head to Proserpine. This part of Queensland is famous for the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world.

But snorkeling has to wait until our rest day in Cairns. Going from Ingham to Cairns, we will visit the highest waterfall in Australia, the Wallaman Falls, which boasts a 912 ft drop. Our last day on the trip will be the rest day in Cairns, where you will have time for the Great Barrier Reef or for a really nice ride to Atherton Table Land, a unique tropical landscape with gorgeous waterfalls, and to Daintree River National Park, where you can explore dense rainforest and enjoy spectacular views over the coastline. After these 16 riding days it is hard to say good bye to Australia and the friendly people living there.