2021 Discover South Australia
Visit the home of the Santos Tour Down Under.
Enjoy the ideal time to ride in South Australia, with incredible Autumn colour.
Winery visits, famous climbs, stunning ride routes.
7 days
Adelaide, South Australia
Popular
Tour Departs
Adelaide, South Australia, September 7, 2021
Tour Finishes
Adelaide, South Australia, September 13, 2021
Tour Style
Group Size: 15 guests – 3 staff
Rides: Sealed roads, some bikeways – an option to take a gravel detour on some days
Challenge Rating: Some hills
Accommodation: 3 to 4 star hotels, twin share, optional single supplement when booking
Trip Suitability
Social Riding and Leisure: We understand that your cycling holiday is a HOLIDAY! We understand that you don’t normally ride everyday at home. Our ride routes cherry-pick the best areas.
Experienced Riders: Your cycling holiday is all actually about the bike! Our epic and challenge ride options seek more vertical metres and longer miles.
Meals Included
Buffet breakfast every day, 2 dinners and 1 gourmet lunch
Tour Inclusions
- Professional and experienced cycling guides
- Travel in air-conditioned vehicles
- Transfers from designated collection and drop-off locations
- All meals (as listed on itineraries)
- Mechanical assistance with your bike
- Ride nutrition (including drinking water, sport powders and bars / muffins and fruit)
- Tour ride jersey and bib-shorts
- Ride files and detailed tour itinerary
- Entry fees (as listed on itineraries)
Why we Love this Tour
- Travelling in a small group of cyclists on carefully designed ride routes that maximise your safety, enjoyment and challenge
- Mechanical and vehicle support for peace of mind
- Escape by bike on the same roads used for the great Santos Tour Down Under Tour
- Explore the scenic locations of Hahndorf, Adelaide beaches, MacLaren Vale and Victor Harbor
- Choose from the challenging ride option or the easier ride option each day
- Off-bike activities include wine tasting, Adelaide Zoo and iconic Hahndorf
Pricing
Price: AUD $3,400 (twin share)
Single Supplement: AUD $660
Note: All trip costs are per person, not including airfare and based on two persons per room. If travelling alone we will match you with a person to share. Alternatively, you may choose to have a room of your own by paying the single supplement.
Note: It is a requirement of Bikestyle Tours that you have Travel Insurance for your trip.
A cycling adventure that explores the best ride routes of the Santos Tour Down Under
We’ve been fortunate to host guests at every edition of the Santos Tour Down Under. We even have tour guides that have won the Tour and a bikeway named in their honour. Given any opportunity, we return to Adelaide to ride our bikes and continually discover more fantastic roads to ride. We’ve developed an itinerary to discover the very best places to ride and visit from Adelaide.
Ride the Adelaide Hills and discover Adelaide, McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Peninsula on our Discover Australia bike tour that starts and finishes in Adelaide, South Australia. We’ve chosen the most idyllic time to ride, with cooler weather than the often scorching January tour. Timed also to make the most of the vibrant Autumn colours, and some cooler nights beside a warm fire with a warm glass of red.
South Australia Bike Tour – Daily Itinerary
Welcome to South Australia, Home of Santos Tour Down Under
Tuesday, 30 March 2021
Adelaide, South Australia
Welcome Dinner (incl. Wine)
Arrive today in Adelaide, one of Australia’s great cities. Once known as the city of churches, it is now more renown for its thriving arts and culture scene and host to some of Australia’s biggest sporting events, including the Santos Tour Down Under.
Your staff will meet you at the Adelaide Airport, and transfer you to our Adelaide Hotel. Our team mechanic will assist you with assembling your bike as we prepare for our afternoon ride to the beaches. This evening we have our welcome dinner including some local wine at a local restaurant.
Your staff will meet you at the Adelaide Airport, and transfer you to our Adelaide Hotel. Our team mechanic will assist you with assembling your bike as we prepare for our afternoon ride to the beaches. This evening we have our welcome dinner including some local wine at a local restaurant.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
- Arrive Adelaide
- Explore the Adelaide Beaches
TODAY'S RIDE
This afternoon we head through the city and follow the great Torrens Bikeway to the Adelaide Beaches. As we depart the city we pass the iconic West End brewery and enjoy the shaded bikeway as it snakes its way to the beach. We then make our way to Henley Beach, with its famous jetty and many cafes. We’ll return to the city via Glenelg.
Gorge Road and the Corkscrew – Koala spotting as we head for the hills
Friday, 30 April 2021
Adelaide, South Australia
Breakfast
This morning we’ll enjoy a scrumptious breakfast, helping us fuel up for our ‘koala-spotting’ ride. As we head for the hills we’ll also seek out some of the infamous climbing locations of the Santos Tour Down Under.
Adelaide Hills is home to a resilient koala population, and in the cool of the morning you’ll often see the koala’s move between their favourite eucalypts. Our guides over the years have developed a keen eye for spotting the koala’s in the gums, so we can take a steady pace and help you search for them in their natural habitat. Even if the koala’s are a little elusive today, you’ll have a chance this afternoon to visit the Adelaide Zoo, a great place to visit with a diverse range of animals. It is one of my favourite zoos to visit and so close to the city.
Adelaide Hills is home to a resilient koala population, and in the cool of the morning you’ll often see the koala’s move between their favourite eucalypts. Our guides over the years have developed a keen eye for spotting the koala’s in the gums, so we can take a steady pace and help you search for them in their natural habitat. Even if the koala’s are a little elusive today, you’ll have a chance this afternoon to visit the Adelaide Zoo, a great place to visit with a diverse range of animals. It is one of my favourite zoos to visit and so close to the city.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
- Spot Koalas
- Ride Corkscrew
- Visit Adelaide Zoo
SHORT RIDE
LONG RIDE
Our ride has a gradual incline as we depart the city of Adelaide. The best part of this, is that our return back hardly requires a pedal stroke! It does provide us with a good warm up before hitting any of the infamous climbs. For a short option, we will climb first Gorge Rd before taking the Corkscrew. Our longer ride however, takes in the steeper Torrens Hill climb before returning to the Corkscrew. After climbing the Corkscrew, both of our rides return to Adelaide.
Adelaide Hills – Famous strudels and a Hahndorf Bierhaus
Thursday, 1 April 2021
Adelaide, South Australia
Breakfast
Another fuelling breakfast this morning before we head for the Adelaide Hills once more. This time we head toward the South East of the City to one of our favourite spots to visit when at the Santos Tour Down Under, Hahndorf. Colonisation was an important part of South Australia’s history, especially for its prosperity. Hahndorf plays a big part in contributing toward South Australia’s wealth, even to this day. Lutherans fled the persecution of the King of Prussia in the mid 19th century, and many arrived at Hahndorf to settle.
Hahdorf has iconic streets lined with chestnut, elm and oak trees. You’d easily be mistaken for being in Europe. Oh, the German’s also brought with them their ability to make great apple strudel, wurst and bier. There are many craft stores and tea houses throughout Hahndorf, a great spot to pick up some locally made products and enjoy lunch as well as some shopping.
Hahdorf has iconic streets lined with chestnut, elm and oak trees. You’d easily be mistaken for being in Europe. Oh, the German’s also brought with them their ability to make great apple strudel, wurst and bier. There are many craft stores and tea houses throughout Hahndorf, a great spot to pick up some locally made products and enjoy lunch as well as some shopping.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit beautiful Hahndorf
- Twist and wind through Adelaide Hills
- Capture soring views from Mt Lofty Summit
SHORT RIDE
LONG RIDE
We head toward Mount Lofty Ranges taking the enjoyable climb up Norton Summit before reaching the Mount Lofty lookout where we have a spectacular viewpoint across the City of Adelaide and pause for a morning coffee. We continue on through the Adelaide Hills to pass several apple orchards and wineries before our arrival into Hahndorf.
King or Queen of Old Willunga Hill – perched over the McLaren Vale wine region
Friday, 2 April 2021
McLaren Vale, South Australia
Breakfast, Lunch (incl. Wine tasting)
We’ll depart from Adelaide today and head for the Fleurieu Peninsula for the next couple of nights. It’s a great opportunity for us to base ourselves in one of Australia’s famous wine regions, McLaren Vale. Every cycling tour has a queen stage – the stage that is most significant toward winning the race. For Santos Tour Down Under, this is invariably the Old Willunga Hill stage and undoubtedly the king of this climb is Richie Porte, who appears impossible to beat on it.
McLaren Vale produces predominantly red wine, most often using Shiraz as the main constituent. It is a world class wine region, and their premium wines often feature Grenache and Cabernet. Producers have become household names, such as Wirra Wirra, d’Arenburg, Hardy’s and Coriole. This afternoon we will taste a few varieties after our ride on Old Willunga Hill.
McLaren Vale produces predominantly red wine, most often using Shiraz as the main constituent. It is a world class wine region, and their premium wines often feature Grenache and Cabernet. Producers have become household names, such as Wirra Wirra, d’Arenburg, Hardy’s and Coriole. This afternoon we will taste a few varieties after our ride on Old Willunga Hill.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
- Spot koalas
- Ride Old Willunga Hill
- Winery lunch
- Wine tasting
TODAY'S RIDE
Having explored the Adelaide Hills to the East over the last two days, we’ll head south through Unley and climb Belair Road which offers another great perspective over the City of Adelaide. We then have an undulating ride through to Clarendon, our gateway to McLaren Vale. Be on the watch for more koalas today, as they are common through the undulating section of our ride. We can pause for morning coffee in Clarendon before we follow the wine trail into the heart of the wine country. We’ll regroup in McLaren Vale for a final refuel before we join onto the Shiraz trail into Willunga and start our climb of Old Willunga Hill. On reaching the summit we can freshen up and enjoy a delightful lunch overlooking the valley and tasting the wines of the region.
Coastal views and rolling hills of Fleurieu Peninsula to Victor Harbor
Saturday, 3 April 2021
McLaren Vale, South Australia
Breakfast
Simply, the more we explore the Fleurieu Peninsula, the more we fall in love with it. Predominantly farmland, you are rewarded with stunning coastal views, fresh air and open landscapes. The often quiet roads and challenging terrain make it popular for local road races, including the South Australian state road cycling titles.
You’ll appreciate our support vehicle today as we meet up at several locations and help you maintain your ride nutrition. We source our produce from the Grand Central markets in Adelaide, an institution for quality produce and supporting many paddock to plate initiatives. Many of the local restaurants will deal directly with the stall proprietors. Our ride destination is Victor Harbor, a popular fishing and holiday village. There is also a great pub!
You’ll appreciate our support vehicle today as we meet up at several locations and help you maintain your ride nutrition. We source our produce from the Grand Central markets in Adelaide, an institution for quality produce and supporting many paddock to plate initiatives. Many of the local restaurants will deal directly with the stall proprietors. Our ride destination is Victor Harbor, a popular fishing and holiday village. There is also a great pub!
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit Victor Harbor
- Explore Fleurieu Peninsula
SHORT RIDE
LONG RIDE
Our main ride today goes to the coast and the township of Aldinga before heading south. We climb for some spectacular coast views and descend again into another quiet village of Myponga. Our ride then takes us through farmland along quiet roads. Each undulation rewards us with more great views. Our final descent into Victor Harbor is rewarding, as is the cold beer looking over the Southern Ocean to finish our ride.
Return to Adelaide – via Stirling and the Adelaide Hills
Sunday, 4 April 2021
Adelaide, South Australia
Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
We retrace some of our steps today and return to Adelaide. However, we’ll explore some more wonderful villages within the Adelaide Hills. Another one of our favourite locations is Stirling, particularly the cycling route that gets us their, depending on which you choose.
Stirling is a main commercial hub of the Adelaide Hills which serves the small farm properties that produce some of Australia’s finest. There are great laneways and a diverse commercial strip that has fashion, art, dining and great coffee outlets. A number of parks also line the main street adding to the charm of this great village. We’ll enjoy lunch in Stirling before descending back into Adelaide for the afternoon. This evening, we’ll enjoy a final dinner together and celebrate our adventure in the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula.
Stirling is a main commercial hub of the Adelaide Hills which serves the small farm properties that produce some of Australia’s finest. There are great laneways and a diverse commercial strip that has fashion, art, dining and great coffee outlets. A number of parks also line the main street adding to the charm of this great village. We’ll enjoy lunch in Stirling before descending back into Adelaide for the afternoon. This evening, we’ll enjoy a final dinner together and celebrate our adventure in the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
- Gravel Adventures
- Laneways of Stirling
SHORT RIDE
LONG RIDE
Our rides today give you the opportunity to choose the way you travel. For the adventurer, we have some fun gravel riding, no need for a gravel bike for this route - but a gravel road always adds to your senses when riding. We also have a scenic route should you wish to stay on the sealed roads. From Stirling, we take the SE Freeway bikeway, which keeps us away from traffic for much of the return.
Farewell from Adelaide – your cycling adventure through Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Peninsula
Monday, 5 April 2021
Depart, Adelaide
Breakfast
Sadly today we farewell our guests on our cycling adventure through the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Peninsula. We’ve chosen our most favourite rides to share from our years of experience at the Santos Tour Down Under as well as some unique adventures of the common routes.
We have various shuttles to the airport throughout the day, enabling you to connect with your preferred flight back home.
We have various shuttles to the airport throughout the day, enabling you to connect with your preferred flight back home.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
- Farewell adventures
- Airport transfers
NO RIDE TODAY
Why Book with Bikestyle Tours?
Because we understand the commitment to book in uncertain times.
A COVID-Safe plan
- All staff and guests must complete a pre-travel questionnaire prior to the start of the trip
- Bikestyle Tours complies with the QLD COVID Safe Industry Plan (Tourism and Accommodation, Bike Tours); such as controls for social distancing, cleaning and hygiene, vehicle transport.
Bookings are risk-free and guarantee you a spot!
Our covid-19 period booking system is a risk-free way to reserve your place. That means during the declared pandemic you are eligible to reschedule your trip or receive a full refund if due to travel restrictions enforced by Australian government jurisdictions you are unable to arrive at the designated start location on the date specified.
Are Trips Guaranteed Departures?
We make every effort to guarantee departures to give you peace of mind that once you’ve booked your trip – you’re going! We do not cancel trips due to insufficient numbers leaving you stranded.