ISSUE 190
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A spectacular view looking down over the mouth of the Murray River.
RUN TO THE HILLS
The Adelaide Hills are bordered at the top and bottom by two of the best wine regions in Australia if not the world – The Barossa and McLaren Valleys. On the Adelaide side of the Hills is the Penfolds Magill Estate winery where Penfolds Grange the 1995 Wine Spectator’s Red Wine of the Year, was made.
At the Estate you can spend the day enjoying the history of great Australian wines and partaking in one or two drops. I didn’t mention the roads to Penfolds through the Hills… Norton Summit and Greenhill Roads! The best way to get in or out of town.
But back to The Bend, let’s call it your home base. By now you have the whole rally package but if you are adventurous and have a homing device, you’re set.
Here are two simple secrets that allow anyone with a smartphone to find anything, anywhere: Google Maps, and YouTube.
The Google Maps app not only gives you maps, but when you zoom in on say a town like Strathalbyn, you can find all points of interest from wineries, bakeries, hotel/motels, and just about anything else.
The less gifted reader, might just use YouTube as a search engine. Videos and words. For instance in YouTube, search Bridgewater Inn for one of the best lunch destinations right off the freeway to Adelaide. It has a front bar, balcony with creek views and creekside bar and outside dining. All on the Heysen Trail.
WHERE TO EAT
Staying with your smartphone, here are places I love to eat at in alphabetical-town order: Angaston Brauhaus Hotel; Bridgewater Inn; Cudlee Creek Cafe; Echunga General Store; Finniss General Store; Goolwa Hotel; Jacobs Creek Winery; Lobethal Bakery and Amberlight Motorcycle-cafe; Macclesfield Hotel; Mannum Community Club; Meadows Hills Kitchen; Nuriootpa Vine Inn Barossa; Murray Bridge Steamers Cafe; Semaphore Palais Hotel; Seppeltsfield Winery; Strath Corner Bakery; The Clubhouse Barossa; Uraidla Bakery & Hotel; Wellington Hotel; The Golden Fleece Café; and Wistow Bakery and Café.
WHERE TO GO
Now outside the square from The Bend, you have the Barossa Valley and Mclaren Vale wine regions.
It’s an hour’s ride south to the Great Southern Ocean and the Mouth of the Murray River, Goolwa, Victor Harbor and Encounter Bay. You might even see a whale or two. Each are a great Harley ride in themselves but you can also find some great social times and food.
The best group photo views to ride for, are the Crows Nest lookout above Middleton where you can see the Murray River Mouth, Strath, Goolwa, and almost to the Victoria border… well maybe not that far.
At Our Place at Willunga Hilltop there is a parking lot overlooking the whole Mclaren Vale and Spencer Gulf. Then when you pull out from that photo stop you are on Ridge Road heading north. It is one of the most fun-scenic 100km/h rides in South Australia with 25km/h corners, a hairpin or two and views. At the bottom of Ridge Road it becomes Wickham Hill Road. It’s a closed course racetrack for the Tour Down Under and Adelaide Classic. Then you are in Mclaren Vale. For those hoteling in Adelaide its a short ride back to the city.
A full day from The Bend is the Barossa Valley. So I suggest it as a one-way ride coming to or from the Rally site. And again this ride offers two great photo opportunities.
For this ride head back towards Murray Bridge before the river and take the Old Princes Hwy to Murray Bridge and Mannum but not crossing the river. A few kilometres up the highway is the 29 Mannum Ferry turnoff to where you are going to cross the river. Enjoy your free cruise and have a look around Mannum before leaving town. Follow the pipeline for about 15 km and fantastic twisties up to Bear Rock and the Palmer Lookout for a group photo. Then just keep following the signs up the hill to Williamstown and to the Valley. If you can’t find the wineries you aren’t on the Barossa Valley Highway or using your smartphone. The second terrific group photo spot on this ride is at Minglers Hill above Tanunda overlooking the Barossa Valley with views all the way to the sea.
Remember too, you can start and finish from either direction and break off at any time if you are running late or out of daylight. That’s it folks, see you at the Rally.
https://www.penfolds.com/en-au/about-us/the-story-of-grange.html
https://www.penfolds.com/en-au/experiences/cellar-doors/magill-estate-cellar-door.html
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bridgewater+inn
