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Ride the small roads as only the locals can in Australia’s little Europe “The Adelaide Hills”.
Ride through the famous vineyards of the Barossa Valley and the McLaren Vale, Australia’s most well-known wine regions. You’ll be there to see all the race stages, including the decisive King of Willunga Hill finale.
Our Tour Down Under trips have SOLD OUT. Reserve your place on one of our 2020 tours with an Advance Booking.
No hidden Credit Card fees.
John Steffensen from Chanel Nine, Olympic Silver Medalist takes a ride with our group on the 2018 TDU.
Please note: Flights out after 8pm only If you’d like an airport transfer, bring your luggage and bike bag to our Team Hotel at 6.45am on the morning of the ride – Sunday 20th January. We have arranged with out hotel for secure storage for your personal bags, belongings and bike bags. We’ll assist you to pack your bike for your flight, or you can choose to stay an optional additional night at our Team Hotel, to relax and enjoy the last night of the TDU festivities. We can provide a 8am morning transfer to the airport on Monday 21st January if you choose to stay with us at our team hotel on the Sunday night (optional extra)
Ride the small roads as only the locals can in Australia’s little Europe “The Adelaide Hills”.
Ride through the famous vineyards of the Barossa Valley and the McLaren Vale, Australia’s most well-known wine regions. You’ll be there to see all the stages, including being at the finish line of the exciting “King of Willunga Hill” Final Stage.
We have four trips to choose from:
Pick up: Adelaide Airport
Airport pick up time: 10am – or meet at Hotel 11am
Our Arrival Day Ride: Start 12:30pm.
Distance: 40km. Climbing: 500m
Depart to watch race & Welcome Aperitif: 4pm
TDU Race: 4.45pm – 5.45pm Down Under Classic – City Criterium
Accommodation: Adelaide City Centre, Quest King William South – 4 Star AppartHotel
Take an early flight to the Adelaide Airport. The Ride International Tours team will be there to meet you at the airport at 10am, alternatively, we’ll meet you at 11am at our Team Hotel or choose to stay a night prior at our team hotel. We’ll assist in building up your bike then head out for a ride.
Explore our immediate south end precinct, or we have a tram stop directly in front of our hotel. Take a scenic tram ride in the direction of the Adelaide Oval, Festival Theatre, Museums, Art galleries, Rundle Mall shopping district or in the opposite direction head toward the beachside village of Glenelg, where you can take a swim, work on your tan, shop or relax on the golden sands of the beach.
Ask us for some options based on your personal interests, we have some great recommendations.
Ride starts 12.30pm. A short warm up ride to get the legs working on our Adelaide Hills Scenic Lookout and Waterfalls loop. You’ll get your bearings from this great secret lookout, you’ll have unobstructed views back over this beautiful cycling city and it’s superb coastline. Heart pumping, legs churning, we head up into a secluded river valley road to see Adelaide’s waterfalls and spring water source. We’ll traverse back through the city centre and stop by the City of Adelaide Tour Village to have a look at the largest Bike Expo in Australia, watch the team mechanics at work, or organise a test ride of the newest bikes with our friends in the village.
The ride distance although short today, we’ll be out for a few hours including the visit to the City of Adelaide Tour Village. We’ll be back at the hotel in time for us to freshen up, then head out to the Down Under Classic City Criterium in Adelaide’s East End. We’ll enjoy our welcome aperitif, where you will meet up with other guests, staff and talk about the exciting week of the Santos Tour Down Under ahead.
View GPS Route Map
The Down Under Classic – City criterium starts at 4.45pm – 5.45pm, it’s held in Adelaide’s East End district, a short distance from our hotel. We’ll watch all the excitement of the race.
VIP tickets are available if you fancy a first class all inclusive 5 Star Hospitality food, drinks package, an undercover grandstand seat to watch the first official race for the 2019 season, Click here to purchase tickets, price is $450.
View People’s Choice Classic Route Map
4pm: Meet in Hotel Lobby, depart for race viewing and Welcome Aperitif
Adelaide City Centre, Quest King William South – 4 Star AppartHotel
Breakfast: 7am
Our Ride: Start 7:30am.
Distances: 65km, 90km, 110km. Climbing: 1100m, 1500m, 1600m.
TDU Race: Rest day
No TDU today means a big day of riding and adventure in the Adelaide Hills. We’ll head into the southern ranges, then deep into the Adelaide Hills orchard valleys. We’ll descend back toward the city via the backside of Mt Lofty. Theres and option to head straight to our hotel or continue onto Glenelg Beach for a well earned swim in the cool Adelaideian waters before heading for home to our hotel.
View GPS Route Map
Free program to explore Adelaide, it’s restuarants, bars and eateries or relax and put your feet up in your spacious apartment and enjoy your favorite home cooking.
We’ve got plenty of great suggestions, we are based in the south end precinct where you can step out the door for great Italian, Greek, Asian, Gastro pub or Australian fusion food. Let us know your preferred food types, budget and dining style! We’ll point you in the right direction for great local places.
Adelaide City Centre, King William South – 4 Star AppartHotel Quest
Breakfast: 7am
Our Ride: Start 7:30am.
Distance: 50km, 60km, 100km. Climbing: 900m, 1050m, 1550m.
TDU Race: Stage 1 North Adelaide – Port Adelaide, 132km.
Apres Bike: 5.30pm, Meet Hotel Lobby. Welcome Aperitif, 6 Day and 8 day trips.
Straight up into the Hills via one of our favourite climbs Norton Summit, then deep into the European like orchard valleys to Lobethal. We’ll pause at Cuddlee Creek for a well-earned coffee and snack.
Today we’ll catch the race as it loops around the new Adelaide Hills circuit three times, there are Intermediate Sprints on lap 1 and Lap 3. We’ll be stationed near the historic Inglewood Inn to catch the excitement, it’s a perfect place to slake your thirst and relax after a good mornings riding in the Adelaide Hills.
Re-energised from all the excitement of the race, we’ll ride through Chain of Ponds, down Gorge Road, then traverse via the Adelaide foothills toward the city, prior to returning home to our hotel, we’ll pop in for a refreshing cool drink at one of our favorite popup event spaces near the City of Adelaide Tour Village.
View GPS Route Map
The City of Adelaide will host the start of the 2019 Santos Tour Down Under, with the peloton setting out from O’Connell Street, North Adelaide.
The race will ride north along Prospect Road before turning left onto Regency Road and then right onto South Road to connect with the Port River Expressway. From there, the peloton will travel into the Adelaide Hills, navigating through Snake Gully for three loops of Paracombe, Inglewood and Houghton before doubling back for a sprint finish in Port Adelaide.
Subaru King of the Mountain: One Tree Hill Rd, Golden Grove – Snake Gully (Category 2) – 9.9% gradient.
Sprint #1: North East Road, Inglewood (Lap 1)
Sprint #2: North East Road, Inglewood (Lap 3)
San Remo Pasta Feed Zone: Paracombe Rd
5.30pm: Welcome Aperitif for 8 Day and 6 Day trips. Meet the staff, your fellow guests and talk about the exciting week of the Santos Tour Down Under ahead .
Adelaide City Centre, King William South – 4 Star AppartHotel Quest
Breakfast: 7am
Our Ride: Start 7:30am
Distance: 50km, 75km, 100km. Climbing: 700m, 1000m, 1500m
TDU Race: Stage 2, Norwood – Angaston 149km
This morning we’ll traverse the northern Adelaide Hills ridge roads to the secluded Parra Wirra National park en-route to the famous Barossa Valley and through to Angaston.
We’ll catch a stage finish today in Angaston, then immerse ourselves in a private winery tour, wine tasting hosted by our good friends and winery owners in the Barossa Valley.
View GPS Route Map
The Norwood Parade will host the start of Stage 2 of the Santos Tour Down Under, with the peloton making its way through to the Barossa.
From the Parade, the peloton will climb into the Adelaide Hills via Gorge Road and Chain of Ponds to take on Checker Hill just outside of Kersbrook. From there it zig-zags to Bethany where it will tour a number of Barossa townships – as well as their world-class producers and wineries – before the sprint finish in Angaston.
Subaru King of the Mountain:Checker Hill Road, Kersbrook (Category 2) – 13.3% gradient
Sprint #1: August Street, Birdwood
Sprint #2:Miller Street Springton
San Remo Pasta Feed Zone: Eden Valley Road, Eden Valley
Free program to explore Adelaide, it’s restuarants, bars and eateries or relax and put your feet up in your spacious apartment and enjoy your favorite home cooking.
We’ve got plenty of great suggestions, we are based in the south end precinct where you can step out the door for great Italian, Greek, Asian, Gastro Pub or Australian fusion food. Let us know your preferred food types, budget and dining style! We’ll point you in the right direction for great local places.
Adelaide City Centre, King William South – 4 Star AppartHotel Quest
Breakfast: 7am
Our Ride: Start 7:30pm.
Distance: 50km, 80km, 105km. Climbing: 700m, 1300m, 1600m.
TDU Race: Stage 3. Lobethal – Uraidla, 146km.
Straight up into the Hills via Eagle on the Hill and onto Adelaide’s highest vantage point Mt Lofty. Through the “Little Europe” of the Adelaide Hills and onto the German Settlement of Hahndorf. After a snack and coffee we’ll make our way back through the Picadilly Valley. We’ll pick up the race route and ride ahead of the peloton completing a loop of todays race finish loop through the towns of Uraidla, Piccadilly and Summertown before finishing back in Uraidla.
We’ll catch the stage finish today, it’s sure to be exciting, we expect the overall race contenders to make thier move today on this tough finsh circuit.
After the race finish and presentation, we then head back down to the city via the Greenhill road descent, through the City of Adelaide Tour Village, pause for a freshing cool drink at one of our favorite post ride hydration stops and onto our hotel to freshen up for the evening ahead.
View GPS Route Map
From Lobethal, the peloton completes one loop through Charleston and nearby Woodside before setting out for a Subaru King of the Mountain Challenge at Fox Creek. From there, it makes its way through Forest Range south towards Summertown, where the riders complete six loops of the Uraidla, Piccadilly and Summertown townships before finishing in Uraidla.
Subaru King of the Mountain: Fox Creek Road, Cudlee Creek (Category 2) – 7.81% gradient
Sprint #1: Onkaparinga Valley Road, Charleston
Sprint #2: Onkaparinga Valley Road, Charleston
San Remo Pasta Feed Zone: Bonython Road, Summertown
Tonight is a free program to explore Adelaide, it’s restuarants, bars and eateries or relax and put your feet up in your spacious apartment and enjoy your favorite home cooking.
We’ve got plenty of great suggestions, we are based in the south end precinct where you can step out the door for great Italian, Greek, Asian, Gastro Pub or Australian fusion food. Let us know your preferred food types, budget and dining style! We’ll point you in the right direction for great local places.
Adelaide City Centre, King William South – 4 Star AppartHotel Quest
Breakfast: 7am
Our Ride: Start 7:30am.
Distance: 45km, 75km, 100km. Climbing: 150m, 700m, 800m.
TDU Race: Stage 4
City Beaches ride then onto a Stage start to catch all the pre race action and excitement. We then head through the city and past our hotel, with the second part of our day being an optional ride into the Adelaide Hills – or rest up your legs and prepare for tomorrows big ride “The Challenge Tour”.
After passing by our hotel in the city, the optional ride into the Adelaide Hills climbs up via the stunning Gorge Road onto the Corkscrew Road KOM. We’ll catch the race on the decisive Corkscrew Road KOM. After the race passes we’ll traverse the Adelaide foothills, then descend back into the City of Adelaide Tour Village and onto our Hotel.
View GPS Route Map
The popular hills towns of Stirling, Aldgate and Hahndorf feature as the peloton heads through for sprints at Echunga, before visiting Mount Barker and its nearby towns and then swings up back through the Hills towards the infamous Corkscrew climb and a downhill finish into Athelstone.
Subaru King of the Mountain: Corkscrew Road at Church Road, Montacute (Category 1)
Sprint #1: Adelaide Road at Echunga Memorial Institute, Echunga
Sprint #2: Adelaide Road at Echunga Memorial Institute, Echunga
San Remo Pasta Feed Zone: Onkaparinga Valley Road, Woodside
Meet Hotel Lobby: 6pm for a European Style Aperitif for the 3 Day, 6 Day and 8 Day Trips. Meet up with other guests, staff – talk about the details of tomorrows Challenge Tour ride and the Tour Down Under ahead.
Adelaide City Centre, King William South – 4 Star AppartHotel Quest
Breakfast: 5am
Ride or transfer to start: 5.30am
Start Locations and distance to the Strathalbyn finish line
Glenelg (158.7km) – 1850m Climbing.
Myponga (102km)
Victor Harbor (60km)
TDU Race: Stage 5
Ride from the city to Glenelg, then we start the Challenge tour and follow the south coast roads to Victor Harbour, Goolwa and loop back inland to the finish in Strathalbyn.
Shorter Ride distances depart from our hotel at 5.30am, you’ll transfer by vehicle to your preffered start location, we all meet up at the finish in Strathalbyn then watch the pro’s battle it out over the same stage.
View GPS Route Map
Dinner with the stars, tonight is the optional VIP Legends Night Dinner, we highly recommend this all inclusive three-course dinner accompanied by fine wines. The dinner is a first class night and includes some of the world’s cycling greats, past and present.
The Legends Night Dinner is consistently a highlight of the Santos Tour Down Under event each year.
Adelaide City Centre, King William South – 4 Star AppartHotel Quest
Breakfast: 7am
Our Ride: Start 7:30pm.
Distance: 60km, 85km, 145km. Climbing: 500m, 1200m, 1900m.
TDU Race: Stage 6. Kings Stage – Willunga Hill.
Airport Transfer: 6.45pm: Depart Hotel Lobby – 7pm: Arrive Adelaide Airport
Accommodation: Optional Additional Night: Adelaide City Centre, King William South – 4 Star AppartHotel Quest. Contact us to arrange.
Departure day out of Adelaide – *Late flights out after 8pm* or choose stay an additional night, relax and enjoy the last eveing of TDU festivities
Distance: 65km, 85km, 145km. Climbing: 500m, 1200m, 1900m.
Ride from our Hotel via the challenging Southern Adelaide Hills and Valleys ride to McLaren Vale to see the race start 65km, then an additional 10km to the top of the King of Willunga Hill ,75km total.
Optional – After the excitement of watching the Kings stage, the final presentation, ride home to the city 55km-500m climbing or take the trip back to the city in the comfort of our vehicles.
Note: Pack a day pack to put into our vehicle with your civilian attire and comfortable shoes. Change when you arrive at the Willunga Hill finish, you’ll be able to relax in comfort at our European style picnic lunch, watch the race and move about with style and panache.
View GPS Route Map
Be Safe Be Seen MAC Stage 6 is a favourite for the spectators. In 2019 it will be promoted to the ‘King’ stage, where the final winner of the Santos Ochre Jersey will be decided.
The day will start in McLaren Vale, famous for its winemaking. The town is always in party mode during the race, when the peloton head for the iconic Willunga Hill.
Fans flock roadside to cheer on their heroes in what is the deciding stage of the Santos Tour Down Under.
Subaru King of the Mountain #1: Brookman Road, Willunga Hill (Category 1) – 7.5% gradient
Subaru King of the Mountain #2:Brookman Road, Willunga Hill (Category 1) – 7.5% gradient
Sprint #1:The Esplanade, Snapper Point
Sprint #2:The Esplanade, Snapper Point
San Remo Pasta Feed Zone: Main Road, Willunga
If you are flying out today – when we return to the city from Willunga Hill late in the day, we’ll assit you to pack your bike and transfer you to the Adelaide airport for your flight home – * Flights out after 8pm*.
We open up our Advance Reservations for trips so you can book well ahead. Guarantee your position by booking up to 12 months prior.
If you’d like to organise and book your trip more than 12 months prior, contact us via email or phone, we’ll arrange everything so you can make an advanced early booking.
An advance booking, accompanied by a fully refundable $750 AUD (Australian Dollar) ensures priority booking status when the trip details are announced. Note, an advance booking is not considered final until payment is received.
Once specific trip itinerary details are finalized, we’ll contact everyone on the advance reservation list via email, we’ll include the itinerary and offer a priority booking position before opening up bookings to the wider community.
If a trip fills – as it often does in the advance bookings, we create a waiting list and then offer reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis (based on the date the advance reservation was made) once our advanced booking guest have finalised.
To cancel an advance reservation a cancellation request must be submitted in writing/ via email within 14 days of the trip details being published. The (AUD) $750 advance reservation payment will be immediately refunded for any cancellation received within this 14-day period.
The balance of your trip payment is due no later than 120 days prior to your trip departure date, we will forward via email your final payment invoice. You can choose to make full payment earlier if you prefer to finalise your trip payment early, contact us and we will arrange for an invoice to be sent.
What if I have to transfer, change or cancel my trip:
We understand you may not be able to go on your trip, cancel, change or transfer due to personal or medical reasons. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to transfer to another trip that has places available. If you have a question give us a call or email.
Due to the high demand, limited hotel availability and the advance payments expected by our hotels and restaurants we use, the following cancellation conditions apply to all of our trips.
120 – 91 days prior to departure | 50% cancellation fee of the trip price |
90 – 61 days prior to departure | 75% cancellation fee of the trip price |
60 days and less prior to departure | 100% cancellation fee of the trip price |
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