The Best Places for Bike Rental in Cairns, Australia

Easily explore with the wind in your hair on an electric bike hired from this rental store on the Esplanade. Its SmartMotion Essence E-Bike hits 29kph (18mph) and comes with puncture-resistant wide tyres, a speedo/computer and built-in lights. For families, there’s a tricycle alternative, which has a rain-resistant front-end “cargo bay” big enough for two kids. Whichever you choose, the motor will do most of the work, so pack a picnic and head to the beach or ride to Crystal Cascades for a swim.

For a budget-friendly way to get around the city, Cairns Scooter and Bicycle Hire is a fantastic choice. Its cheapest range of bikes are single-speed, or you can invest a little more for gears. Children can ride solo on a mini two-wheeler or sit in a baby seat or tag along. If you want an adventure, there are free maps in-store, or you could grill the knowledgeable staff. Cairns Botanic Gardens is close by for an easy ride. Alternatively, you can venture into the rainforest to Barron Gorge or get salty taking the coastal route to picturesque Palm Cove or Trinity Beach.

Operating near the Smithfield Regional Park entrance, this bike rental outlet is heaven for thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies. Experienced riders can journey through the park solo on one of the full-suspension or electric mountain bikes, while rusty riders can join a guided mountain bike tour. Whichever you choose, you can ride through 300ha (741 acres) of tropical rainforest and view the Great Barrier Reef from above.

If you’re a newbie to the area, a guided bike tour might be the thing you need to get acquainted with Cairns. Here, you’ll find pro-led tours for small groups (up to five people) on pedal-assisted dual-suspension electric mountain bikes, suitable for all fitness levels. It covers more than 400km (249mi) of mountain bike trails in Smithfield, Atherton, Davies Creek and Port Douglas, allowing you to choose your own adventure through rainforests and beaches, past waterfalls and lookouts. Pack your swimmers for swimming stops along the way.

Dan, a former professional mountain biker and Cairns local, has been guiding mountain bike tours through Far North Queensland since 1993. He was the first operator with a permit to take mountain bike excursions through the area’s World Heritage-listed rainforest, Wet Tropics of Queensland, and today, he offers adventures catering to all levels. Choose from trails in Smithfield, Pilba Peak, the Crocodile Trail and Minjin Falls, Cape Tribulation and Mission Beach, or if you’re brave enough, go on a night ride through the rainforest.

For a Tour de France-lite adventure, this Canberra-based tour company takes biking enthusiasts on an 11-day ride across the northern tip of Australia, from Cairns to Karumba. Each day you’ll ride between 45km and 94km (28-58mi), cycling 550km (342mi) in total. This epic journey goes through the varied Queensland landscapes, from tropical coast and rainforest to the Gulf Savannah and Outback. The tour is taken in winter so that it’s not too hot, and there are support vehicles every day so that you can ride as much or as little as you like.