Some stories aren’t written behind desks or drawn on vision boards. They’re carved into red dirt trails, forged over campfires, and lived one ride at a time.
In this Conscious Journeys feature, Renae Kunda takes us deep into Far North Queensland, where she and her husband Roy turned a love for motorcycles and wild places into a pioneering eco-certified adventure company.
This isn’t luxury in the conventional sense. It’s something more profound: unfiltered connection, fierce respect for the land, and freedom that leaves you changed.
Cape York Motorcycle Adventures (CYMCA) – How It All Began
When my husband, Roy Kunda, and I started Cape York Motorcycle Adventures (CYMCA) back in 1990, we had no idea just how much this business would shape who we have become; it’s not just a job for us.
For Roy, it all started with a fierce passion for motorcycles and an even deeper love for the untamed beauty of “the Cape” in Far Northern Queensland, Australia.
This part of the world has a way of pulling you into its remote and vast landscapes, from its red dirt trails, lush green rainforests, and white sandy beaches that seem to stretch on forever.
It’s wild, rugged, and unapologetic. It’s home, and it’s our privilege to watch others discover its magic every day.
The Spark of an Idea
Roy’s idea for guiding tours didn’t come from a grand business plan.
It evolved from his adventures while traveling around Australia on the old iconic stock routes, ticking off his bucket list to decide where he would call home. Cape York was the last one, and he never left.
The Early Days
CYMCA’s early rides weren’t the polished itinerary that they have become. They were gritty, raw, and transformative.
Roy returned exhausted, covered in dust, everything was ochre-stained and sometimes battered and bruised, but the collection of stories has filled a book.
He noticed that the riders he was guiding came back changed. People were craving the kind of connection that trips like this could bring.
Connection to nature, to themselves, to their mates, they all felt the thrill of full immersion. That spark is what CYMCA endeavours to find, and it’s what has driven us for 34 years.
Riding Through the Challenges
Starting and growing this business wasn’t easy. The adventure tourism industry isn’t for people looking for shortcuts.
When we started out, motorcycles were NOT a commercial vehicle choice on anything! I’ve spent a career finding the work around and then creating little tick boxes on forms.
Every single day brings unique challenges. Running guided tours through remote wilderness is incredibly demanding, logistically, financially, and emotionally.
The weather is unpredictable, the bikes need constant care, and safety is our top priority. Especially in an environment where the risk is real.
Sustainability at the Core
Beyond that, we’ve always been committed to treading lightly, after all, this is our backyard and we want to be amazing every time we visit.
Creating an industry is a responsibility that we take very seriously, and earning the world’s first eco-certification for dirt bike tours in 2006 was a very proud moment for us.
It was proof that we could offer thrill-seekers the adventure of a lifetime without compromising the integrity of the environment. That principle has shaped every decision we’ve made ever since.
Transforming Lives Through Adventure
Through all the time and effort, the rewards have been immeasurable.
Roy has led thousands of riders across the Cape, and I’ve watched countless faces light up as they come back with skin bronzed by the sun, riding gear stained with red dirt that’s never coming out, and eyes glowing with a sense of freedom they’d almost forgotten existed.
Some have been experienced motocross riders, while others were first-timers, unsure of themselves but willing to give it a go. And by the end of their six days here, they leave not just as better riders but as part of the extended family we’ve created out on these trails.
The Deeper Meaning of Luxury
One of the most remarkable things for me has been witnessing how this business changes lives! There’s something powerful about being part of a community that shares your love for exploration.
Our riders often say they find pieces of themselves out here, away from the noise and everyday things. No phone reception, for one, is a unique luxury.
It’s not about extravagance or the superficial; it’s about having the rare opportunity to press pause, to engross yourself in nature and adventure, and to feel that adrenalin fuelled life inside your body.
One of our riders joked that becoming aware of your mortality through the day, when your focus is on the things that are out to get you, is one of the most mentally relaxing things he’d ever experienced at the end of each day.
What Luxury Means to Us
To us, luxury is the crunch of the dirt beneath your tires as you climb a trail with nothing but wilderness stretched out before you.
It’s the feel of leaning into the curves of an endless dirt road, or the sweat drying on your back.
It’s in the simple pleasure of sitting around a fire at night, sharing stories with people who were strangers that morning but feel like old friends by night. It’s imperfect, unpolished, and unmistakably authentic.
A Life Transformed by Travel
This business has given us so much more than a livelihood. It’s educated and connected us in ways we could have never imagined, and it’s introduced us to a global family of riders that inspire us every day.
For Roy and me, success isn’t about counting numbers or awards. It’s about those moments when we see someone stargazing for the first time and recognising the Southern Cross, or breathing in the view, or those evenings when the armchair racing has laughter echoing across the camp.
It’s about the sense of accomplishment people carry with them when they leave. Feeling stronger because they conquered the challenge, yet lighter than when they arrived.
Looking Back With Gratitude
Looking back, every challenge, every triumph, every kilometre ridden has been worth it. The Cape isn’t just the backdrop to our tours; it’s the heart and soul.
It teaches you to be humble, to embrace unpredictability, and to stay present in the moment. We never wanted CYMCA to be just business, for us, it’s always been a lifestyle and a bridge between people and our part of the world.
Raw and real and changes you forever. That’s a gift we’re honoured to share, one ride at a time.
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