A 100km ride to recover from the day before.

Day 3 and it’s time to head up the hills, as the 6 Pack makes its way from the coast to the northern end of the Tablelands.  Head up the Rex Range, pausing for views across the Far North coastline.

The 100km takes a stopover at Mt Molloy pub, before having a small taste of the Quaid Road with its views across the Quaid Dam to the west.  Continue to Mareeba, with a little detour to the Golden Drop Winery with its famous Mango wines.

From Mt Molloy, the 200km ride heads northwest along the Mulligan Highway through Mt Carbine.  The turnaround point is at the Desailly Range lookout.  It’s a stiff little climb, but the amazing views are well worth the effort before starting the return journey to Mt Molloy and on to Mareeba.

6 Pack Day 4 - Start the day with something different.  After a few kilometres of leg warming, test yourself with some laps of the professional racing circuit of the Mako Track near Mareeba, before continuing on your way.  Take your laps as fast or slow as you please, and enjoy the chicanes, hot-dog turns and hot-mix surface of this closed circuit raceway.

The 100km ride then heads up to the greener scenery of the southern Atherton Tablelands, past the new windfarm at Mt Emerald and through the Kairi farming country, before arriving in Atherton – our base for the next few days.  Take the 50/50 option, and have a break at Mt Uncle Rum distillery – if you dare.

The 200km takes a loop out to the farming country of Dimbulah, then heads north to Lake Tinaroo and Yungaburra before arriving in Atherton.

A social ride followed by a coffee somewhere interesting on Montague Rd

Day 5, and the 6 Pack riders head out for a day of sightseeing on the 200km or the 100km Tour of the Tablelands.  Visit Tolga, Kairi, Yungaburra, Peeramon and Malanda, with plenty of stops for coffee and photos.  Check in at theNerada Tea Plantation, where you have a great chance of spotting a tree kangaroo.

50/50 riders can break their journey at the tea plantation visitors centre, with plenty of time to visit the factory and sample the local tea and scones before returning to Atherton.

It’s a leg tester for the 200km, with a visit to Watsonville and Herberton, then a stop-over at Nerada Tea Plantation for some quick tree kangaroo sighting.  Enjoy some little side-trips around (or up-and-down) the backroads of Topaz Range for the best views of Mt Bartle Frere and Mt Bellenden Ker – Queensland’s two highest mountains.