The regions of Cairns and Port Douglas is set to host what has been touted as Australia's answer to the famous Hawaiian Ironman, with a triathlon event called the Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns, involving a grueling  3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42km run.

The Cairns triathlon aims to attract around 1,000 athletes from all over the world to our tropical destination, and the record prize money on offer will be a great incentive for the world's best to head to Far North Queensland.

Challenge Cairns will be held for the first time on 5 June 2011 incorporating race events between Cairns and Port Douglas on the spectacular coastal road that is the Captain Cook Highway.

Local athlete and Hawaiian Ultraman World Champion Mike Le Roux will compete in Challenge Cairns this coming June which will see athletes ride through the lively party atmosphere waiting for them in Port Douglas.

“I personally believe that this race will further establish Cairns as the sporting and outdoor adventure capital of Australia,” he said.

The  Challenge Cairns festival will also include the RRR Mountain Bike Race, a Great Barrier Reef Swim – Green Island and the GBR OC - Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge.

Rolling into its 21st year, the RRR (Rural, Rainforest & Reef) cross country, endurance mountain bike race is the longest running 'point to point' race in Australia and attracts around 400 entrants each year to Port Douglas to where the finish line is on Four Mile Beach.

Another unique adventure race that appears in the program will see Palm Cove beach come alive as the starting line for the inaugural 'Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge' on Sunday 29 May.

The 40km ocean race will see OC1's, 2's, 6's and surf skis battle it out in the 'mother of all surf legs' and head north with the wind toward the famous Port Douglas, Four Mile Beach finish line.

Still on the water, the Quicksilver Reef Swim will offer a 1.5km or 3km swim that has the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef below the surface. The delights of colourful reef fish, turtles and a variety of corals will come alive as competitors navigate one of the most amazing reef swims in the world.

Following the swim, competitors and spectators are invited to relax and enjoy the white sandy beaches, emerald rainforest and beautiful coral reef at Green Island.

Other festival events will also include a 10km and 5km Fun Run and Challenge Junior (kid’s triathlon).

For more on this event please click here: http://www.tourismportdouglas.com.au/Triple-thriller-for-Adventure-Festival.5233.0.html