Location
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Race website
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Time of year held
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June
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Approx Athlete Numbers
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700
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Does it typically sell out?
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No
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One word description for the event
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Beautiful
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Good for first iron distance race?
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Yes
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Tips for overseas athletes getting to the venue:
- Fly direct to Cairns and hire a car if you want to explore.
SWIM
One word description for the swim
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Messy; Turbid
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Video link for the swim course
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Single or multi-lap course?
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Single, with beach exit halfway
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Typically wetsuit-legal?
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Yes
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Swim course description
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Ocean, rolling start
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Swim tips
- Practice ocean swimming and sighting, the course is about as messy directionally as you can get.
BIKE
One word description for the bike
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Stunning, Rolling.
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GPS map link for the bike course
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Map link
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Video link for the bike course
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Single or multi-lap course?
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Combination
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Bike Course description
- Coastal ride, hilly in places, can be windy, roads pretty good.
- Course heads north to Port Douglas along the (closed) Captain Cook highway before returning south partway to a turnaround. Riders then return to Port Douglas for a second turnaround before riding all the way back into Cairns.
- Rolling hills, nothing dramatic. Can be windy heading back into Cairns but the scenery makes up for it.
Bike Course tips
- Check out the climbs.
RUN
One word description for the run
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Flat
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GPS map link for the run course
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Video link for the run course
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Single or multi-lap course?
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3 laps
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Run course description
- Flat and boring but good crowd support in Cairns town centre.
- 3 laps out and back along the Esplanade in the centre of Cairns.
Run course tips
- Mentally chop into 3 bits or you will die of boredom.
SUPPORTERS
Tips for supporters get the most out of watching the event?
- Stick to the town centre for the run.
- For the swim start you need a car or have to rely on public transport, Palm Cove is 20+ km from finish line.
Great places to eat:
- Lots of cafes and bars in Cairns town centre.
Best bike or tri shop in town:
Best pick for accommodation:
- All much of a muchness, most within easy reach of the finish line. If you want something different and are mobile, Palm Cove (where the swim starts) is beautiful and quiet.
- Cairns Harbour Lights
- BreakFree Royal Harbour
Best things for the kids to do:
- Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
- The Cairns Esplanade pool is fantastic for littlies.
- Australian Butterfly Sanctuary at Kuranda
Cool things to do after the race:
- Take the Kuranda Scenic railway or gondola up to Kuranda
- Great Barrier Reef boat trips for diving and snorkelling. Seastar Cruises is great if you like smaller numbers on the boat (but make sure you book well ahead).
- Visit Port Douglas.
Any warnings that people should know about before entering:
- Beaches aren’t all safe, crocodiles live in this area. Beware of all water holes.
OVERALL
General tips:
- The weather can be hot, humid and sunny or wet and cold. Be prepared for both extremes.
- T1 is approx 20km north of Cairns – take the opportunity for an easy ride out there to rack your bike the day before and check out the swim course. There are shuttles available to bring you back into town.
Best thing about this race:
- It’s in a beautiful part of Queensland.
- It’s a great destination race and a perfect location to bring the family to for a holiday while you race.
- On a sunny day the bike course has to be one of the most scenic on the Ironman circuit.
Anything negative about this race:
- It’s tropical rainforest so weather can be a bit wild and unpredictable.
- While the location is tropical it is still the middle of winter, so be prepared for wet and cold conditions.
- The swim course has so far never looked as appealing as the “postcard” images!
RACE REPORTS AND OTHER VIDEO LINKS SUPPLIED
- 2014 Race Report by Toni Hodge
Have you done this race?
Thank you to the following people who have contributed content to this page: Annette Lee; Toni Hodge
