Best route to Willunga from South Terrace

[biker jk]

Hi. I'm planning to ride to Willunga Hill from South Terrace to see the TDU stage on Saturday, January 23. Could anyone suggest the best route? I ride on the road often but try to avoid arterial roads. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Verbs & Nouns]

Try this…

But yeah, keep heading south on backstreets til you hit the southern expressway "veloway" and your home free.

[Dahondude]

I'd go Anzac Highway (bike lane), left onto Marion Rd (bike lane) then cross onto the Veloway. You can follow the Veloway to Mclaren Vale and then ride down the road to Willunga. Thats the way we are going to go. Arrive early at Willunga Hill to secure a spot...last year it was heaving!

[biker jk]

I'd go Anzac Highway (bike lane), left onto Marion Rd (bike lane) then cross onto the Veloway. You can follow the Veloway to Mclaren Vale and then ride down the road to Willunga. Thats the way we are going to go. Arrive early at Willunga Hill to secure a spot...last year it was heaving!

Much appreciated. I'm coming from Sydney so this route description will help a lot.

[MichaelB]

I'd go Anzac Highway (bike lane), left onto Marion Rd (bike lane) then cross onto the Veloway. You can follow the Veloway to Mclaren Vale and then ride down the road to Willunga. Thats the way we are going to go. Arrive early at Willunga Hill to secure a spot...last year it was heaving!

Actually, if you keep on the bike track from McLaren Vale, it takes you to the main st in Willunga, just short of the TdU arch finish line !!!

A bit safer than on the road to Willunga than suggested by Dahondude, but by no means like Sydney street traffic !!!!

Have a good time. It's a good ride down to Mclaren vale and back. The veloway track is a bit rough and coarse chip bitumen most of the way, but no cars !!!!

[biker jk]

I'd go Anzac Highway (bike lane), left onto Marion Rd (bike lane) then cross onto the Veloway. You can follow the Veloway to Mclaren Vale and then ride down the road to Willunga. Thats the way we are going to go. Arrive early at Willunga Hill to secure a spot...last year it was heaving!

Actually, if you keep on the bike track from McLaren Vale, it takes you to the main st in Willunga, just short of the TdU arch finish line !!!

A bit safer than on the road to Willunga than suggested by Dahondude, but by no means like Sydney street traffic !!!!

Have a good time. It's a good ride down to Mclaren vale and back. The veloway track is a bit rough and coarse chip bitumen most of the way, but no cars !!!!

Thanks for that tip. Hopefully I'll have the legs after the Mutual Community Challenge ride of 160km!

[MichaelB]

Thanks for that tip. Hopefully I'll have the legs after the Mutual Community Challenge ride of 160km!

Depends on how hard you ride the 160km, and what you are used to.

Good thing is that you can take it easy, and plenty of spots for breaks. There are no long hills, just short ones, and some that have a bit of bite. The return journey from Willunga will be the test, especially with the headwind that usually happens.

The trip to McLaren Vale and back from my place (pretty close to Sth terrace) is 82km, with 930m of climbing, and just over 3 hrs taking it easy. To Willunga adds abaout another 10km each way, and Willunga Hill is about 3 - 4 km long at about 6.5% average. So a good 110 km round trip for you.

[DanielS]

Here is a map showing the veloway route, but also an alternate route up through the hills that is much more scenic, but with tougher climbs and a perhaps more traffic (given that the veloway is totally separated).

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Willunga-loop-via-Wickham-Hill

[MichaelB]

Here is a map showing the veloway route, but also an alternate route up through the hills that is much more scenic, but with tougher climbs and a perhaps more traffic (given that the veloway is totally separated).

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Willunga-loop-via-Wickham-Hill

Just a bit more climbing

[biker jk]

Here is a map showing the veloway route, but also an alternate route up through the hills that is much more scenic, but with tougher climbs and a perhaps more traffic (given that the veloway is totally separated).

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Willunga-loop-via-Wickham-Hill

Thanks for this option but I'll probably take the flatter route after a 160km ride the day before, much as I enjoy climbing (spent a month in France last July and did Mont Ventoux and Alpe d'Huez among others).

[Axel Brawn]

Hi Guys - I want to get on Willunga hill for the two climbs on stage 5 - whats the best way to get to the top via bike?

I will be driving from Adelaide with the Mrs and a bike each so the plan is to park as close as possible and ride the rest.

Any tips would be appreciated

[MichaelB]

Hi Guys - I want to get on Willunga hill for the two climbs on stage 5 - whats the best way to get to the top via bike?

I will be driving from Adelaide with the Mrs and a bike each so the plan is to park as close as possible and ride the rest.

Any tips would be appreciated

Ummm, ride...

Not sure what you are asking. It also depends where you park, but if you follow all the others, it will be pretty obvious on the day

[Axel Brawn]

Is there a certain road I should come in on? Is the ride from carparking to the hill far? How long before the race do they shut the roads for other cyclists? Sorry for all the rookie questions - it's my first time

[SeanB]

The road from McLaren Vale to Willunga will be closed from 6am. So the best bet may be to take Victor Harbor Rd or Main South Rd and getting on to Aldinga/Biscay rd and park on the street. I'm fairly familiar with this area but am not speaking from experience of doing it on a TDU day. That should get you closest to the bottom of the hill.

http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/race/jayco-stage-5

road closures

Happy to be corrected though.

[betterthanwalking]

I have driven to the top on the road from Meadows past Kuipto. We got there less than 30 minutes before the peleton came up the hill. Parked within walking distance of the top of the hill.

Gavin

[U2adam!!!]

The road from McLaren Vale to Willunga will be closed from 6am.

This is just closed to cars right? Does 'total road closure' actually mean that?

I'm planning on riding to Willunga and get a spot on the hill about 9am. I wont bother otherwise and just park it in McLaren Vale.

Tim