Frequently asked questions.

CAPE YORK FAQ’S

  • Our fleet of hire bikes are all Honda CRF450RLs. We keep our bikes in tip top condition and have a stringent maintenance procedure after each tour. They are all registered and are in full road worthy condition. Before your tour commences, we run through your bike with you to make sure you are happy with it and adjust anything to suit personal preference.

  • Yes! We can lower our bikes via a lower link or a lowered cut out seat which brings it down to around 33 inches seat to hip height.

  • We supply tents with air mattresses that are all cleaned and sanitised each tour, we hold a VERY high standard when it comes to cleanliness so don't worry, you won't be sleeping in an old mouldy swag!! There are some nights along the tour you can upgrade to a room with a bed to rest those weary bones after some big days on the bike. To upgrade is an additional cost and can be arranged directly with the establishment before the tour or when we get into camp that night - depending on availability of course.

    You can also bring your own tent/mattress if you prefer - we are limited to room so unfortunately we can't fit a big swag. Please inform us in advance of anything you’d prefer to bring yourself.

  • We LOVE food, each night is either a pub meal, camp oven roast, home made dinner, steak and salads, burgers, fish and chips etc.

    It is difficult to cater to some food allergies in remote areas so please contact us if you have any concerns and we will try our hardest to work through them.

    Breakfasts most days are cereals, toast, fruit, yoghurt and some days bacon and eggs.

    We have limited space in the fridge so please inform us in advance if you have specific dietary requirements and we will make room for your food.

    We have wraps with left overs for lunch the next day and plenty of trail snacks to take in your backpack to get you through the day. Some days, time dependant, we stop for lunch at pubs and a sneaky coldie.

  • A decent level of fitness is required, you will be on a bike for around 8 hours a day. Nothing compares to being bike fit so getting in as much seat time before the tour will make your trip much more enjoyable.

  • We can cater for almost all skill levels by splitting the group in certain places. Some tracks are more challenging than others and it depends on what you are up for on the day. If you're keen for a challenge and to hit some single trail, sand, bull dust, rocky river and creek crossings then the "Breakout" track option will be a good choice. If you are keen for more scenic riding and something a little less technical then our "Main route" track option will be a good choice.  If you're the type that just wants to ride to the Tip of Australia the easiest way possible with nothing challenging, we can also make that happen.

    We have tons of experience riding everywhere we go and have break out routes if you're feeling a bit pooped and need out!

  • We supply you with:

    • Honda CRF450RL Hire Bike

    • Spacious tent and air mattress

    • Breakfasts, dinners, trail snacks

    • Camping each night (showers and toilets available at each spot)

    • Fuel for the whole trip

    • Fully equipped support vehicle carrying all our gear that we have access to each night

    • Flights from Horn Island to Cairns once the tour is completed

    • Ferry fees

    • Permits

    • SAT phones and EPIRBS

    • Highly experienced lead and sweep riders who are first aid trained

    • The BEST tracks and trails in FNQ - exclusive access to private cattle stations and Aboriginal land

    What I need to bring​:

    • Sleeping bag or blanket and pillow

    • King single sheet to go over your air bed

    • 3ltr Hydration backpack big enough to carry daily snacks

    • Towel

    • Clothes, toiletries 

    • Cash for washing machines, souvenirs etc.

  • This is normally the first question we get asked - YES there is beer available every night and its icey cold!!

  • We have limited room and we need to carry gear for about 20 riders in our support vehicle so we please ask that you not bring big gear bags and limit your packing as much as possible.

    We ask you to keep your luggage within a 15kg weight. We recommend transferring your gear into large plastic carrier bags that you can pick up for cheap from Bunnings or Kmart (Sometimes your gear bag can weigh 3-5kgs itself!).
    You can use your hydration backpack as your carry on bag for the flight home.

    There is opportunity to wash clothes and gear almost each night so you only need 1 set of gear for the tour.

    Bring a few pairs of socks and jocks and shorts and T-shirt with thongs are all you need in Cape York.

    ​If you are staying at Rydges they allow you to leave luggage there until you return back to Cairns if you have excess gear. Alternatively, you can leave some luggage at our warehouse to collect post tour.

  • Yes, we will arrange pick ups from your accommodation in Cairns. 

    We recommend staying at Rydges Esplanade the night before (you will get 20% off the best price with them when you book a tour with Ellwood) this makes pick up's much quicker and easier which means we get out on trail quicker the first day. However you are welcome to stay anywhere in the Cairns central area. Please let us know where you will be staying in advance and your pick up will be arranged for around 7am on the morning of your tour. Please have breakfast before you are picked up. 

    It is best to be geared up and ready to rock and roll but you are welcome to get changed when you arrive at the Ellwood HQ.

  • Ours tours are covered by a 20 million dollar public liability and insurance policy. You will be required to sign onto the event and also sign a liability waiver before your tour commences.

    It is up to each individual to get personal travel insurance/income protection and ensure you have ambulance cover before you come on tour in case of an emergency/injury.

THE KIMBERLEY FAQ’S

  • We supply tents with air mattresses that are all cleaned and sanitised each tour, we have a VERY high standard when it comes to cleanliness so don't worry, you won't be sleeping in an old mouldy swag!! There are some nights along the tour you can upgrade to a room with a bed to rest those weary bones after some big days on the bike. This is an additional cost and can be arranged before the tour or when we get into camp that night - depending on availability, of course.

    You can also bring your own tent/mattress if you prefer - we are limited to room so unfortunately we can't fit a big swag. Please notify us in advance if you’d like to bring your own camping gear.

  • Ours tours are covered by a 20 million dollar public liability and insurance policy. You will be required to sign onto the event and also sign a liability waiver before your tour commences.

    It is up to each individual to get personal travel insurance/income protection and ensure you have ambulance cover before you come on tour in case of an emergency/injury.

NEPAL FAQ’S

  • Basically, it will be three easy steps and we take care of the rest.

    1. Once you have booked, you will need to make sure you have a valid passport with an expiry date of at least 6 months after the end of the tour.

    2. You will need to purchase an international driving licence prior to your travel to Nepal which is an easy online process. 

    3. And lastly you will need to purchase a travel insurance policy which includes travelling on large capacity motorcycles. Most policies will cover you for almost any situation except a change of mind. 

    It is up to each individual to get personal insurance/income protection and ensure you have ambulance cover before you come on tour in case of an emergency/injury.

  • We recommend the only water you drink is bottled water which is readily available everywhere. We also recommend using bottled water for brushing teeth etc, to ensure you have no problems. Before ordering any drinks with ice make sure to check with our guides that the ice is made from bottled water. 

    Every hotel chosen whilst on tour has a western standard toilet and shower like you would have at home. The majorty of restaurants we visit will also have western toilets. On the odd occasion, you may have to use a local toilet. If you are not comfortable with doing so, just let the guides know and we can find you another alternative.

  • From the second you arrive at the airport until your departure you will have an Australian guide to help you with anything you need. The other guides on tour will be locals but also speak English.  

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    The local people are extremely friendly towards foreigners. They realise that foreigners bring a lot of tourism revenue to their country, so there is rarely any problems. There will be local guides with you every day who speak both their local language and English so you can feel safe anywhere you go from enjoying some shopping in the big cities, enjoying a few drinks and the nightlife, or visiting the local sites. As English is taught at an early age in school, most of the local people can speak basic English which makes it easy to communicate with almost everyone. Most of the signage and information is in English.

  • When you are at the higher altitudes the temperatures can become quite cold and you may encounter rain or even snow when riding.  We recommend packing some thermal under layers, wet weather jacket and good quality gloves for the odd chance you run into some cooler weather. The temp range in March ranges from -10 degrees C to 25 degrees C.

  • Wi-Fi will be available at all accommodation and at most restaurants throughout the tour. 

  • The main religion in Nepal is Hinduism practiced by around 80% of the population. However, there are quite a number of other religions practiced in the country. When we visit any of the temples and religious sites, we will always have a local guide to answer any questions and advise of anything required whilst at cultural and religious places. The most important thing is to be respectful of their cultures and beliefs.

  • In the unlikely event of an accident or injury, our guides are all trained and experienced in First Aid. There is rescue helicopters available for emergency situations in Nepal and our Australian guides travelling to Nepal will carry our fully equipped first aid kits and medical supplies.

    You must have travel insurance to cover costs of any emergency or accident.

  • We recommend bringing the equivalent of $300-900AUD cash for drinks, extra meals, shopping and tips.

    It is a good idea to arrive with some Nepalese Rupees which is easily purchased from any money transfer service in Australia. 

    ATM’s are becoming increasingly popular in most big cities and towns but it is recommended to carry cash.

  • Nepal is a very safe country for tourists. Crime rates are very low and the people are extremely friendly to foreginers. Tourists from all over the globe frequently visit Nepal for all sorts of reasons like trekking, hiking, religion and of course motorcycle adventures.

    Nepal officially opened its doors to tourism in 1951 therefore quite a lot of the local Nepalese people rely on the tourism revenue so there is rarely any problems.