Cycling adventures in South Australia

Active, bike loving travellers will be impressed by the range of cycling tours available in South Australia through Adelaide-based operator The Adventure Collective, with options including an epic 30-day Gulf to Gulf trip, five-day food and wine lovers tour as well as something for Tour Down Under race fans.

Details are outlined below:

All tours exclude international and national flights.

2009 departures:

‘DESERT DREAMING’ EPIC CYCLE TOUR THROUGH THE SIMPSON DESERT
This two-week Outback ride from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory to Coober Pedy in South Australia that starts 30th August traversing the remote and stunningly beautiful Outback taking in the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges, Dalhousie Springs, the ruins at Pedirka and the Painted Desert before arriving in the famously quirky underground mining town of Coober Pedy.

This 14-day trip includes campground and bush camp accommodation, most meals, full vehicle support and experienced guides and costs AUD$2,585 per person (approx. £1,292).

GOURMET CYCLING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Ideal for food and wine lovers, this five-day cycle route is perfect for leisure riders wanting to enjoy gentle cycling through the beautiful wine regions of the Barossa and Clare Valleys. The tour includes visits and tastings at boutique wineries, fine dining at top restaurants and en route sightseeing.

The price of AUD$1,995 per person (approx £996) includes four nights accommodation, most meals, full vehicle support and experienced guides. Next departure dates are 27th October, 4th and 28th November 2009.

KANGAROO ISLAND CYCLING
The third largest island off Australia, Kangaroo Island is renowned as Australia’s Galapagos and can be explored on a three-day ride that covers this unspoilt island famed for its wildflowers, wildlife and spectacular coastline. Bikers cycle along quiet roads to secluded coves, sheer cliffs and pristine beaches with highlights including Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks and Seal Bay.

This three-day trip includes accommodation, transfers from Adelaide, including ferry crossing, most meals, full vehicle support and experienced guides and costs from AUD$1,435 (approx £716) per person. Next departure date is 17th October 2009.

OUTBACK, FLINDERS AND VINEYARDS CYCLING
This tour offers the best of the South Australian Outback, Flingers Ranges and Clare Valley wine region, visiting Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta and William Creek, as well as Marree often called the ‘last town’ as it sits at the junction of the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks. The ride continues through the amazing landscape of the Flinders Ranges before heading along the ‘Riesling Trail’, a purpose built cycleway that meanders through the many wineries in the Clare Valley.

This 13-day cycle tour includes camping fees and equipment, most meals, full vehicle support and experienced guides and is priced from AUD$2,285 per person (approx £1,142). Next departure 18th October 2009.

2010 and 2011 departures:

TOUR DOWN UNDER 2010 CYCLE AND SPECTATOR PACKAGES
The Adventure Collective is the official tour operator of Tour Down Under to be held in South Australia/Adelaide for the 12th consecutive year from 17th– 24th January 2010. Tour Down Under is both the only ProTour cycling race outside Europe and the first race in the Pro Tour season.

Four packages are available:

- Go Pro – 8 days/7 nights (17 –24/01/10) The perfect package for cycling enthusiasts with flexible cycling along sections of each race stage, daily transport, and experiencing up-close racing action at selected vantage points. Price is from AUD$2,490 per person (approx £1,245).

- Weekend Warrior – 3 days/3 nights (21-24/01/10) Ideal for those short on time who still want to experience the action and excitement, and includes the Mutual Community Challenge Tour and the gala event, the Legend’s Night Dinner. Price is from AUD$1,565 per person (approx £782).

- Legend’s Weekend – 2 days/2 nights (22-24/01/10) This new spectator-only package includes race viewing with a gourmet lunch, the Legends’ Night Dinner and a helicopter flight for the Adelaide City Council Street Circuit. Price is from AUD$895 per person (approx £448).

- Lead Out Tour Daily Highlights – full day (19-23/01/10) These daily packages are aimed at the avid spectator with coach transfers to race viewing points and a gourmet picnic style lunch with wine/beer. Ideal for soaking up the atmosphere with fellow enthusiasts. Priced from AUD$99 per day (approx £50).

NULLARBOR, SOUTH WEST & WINERIES
This 12-day adventure includes cycling parts of the Nullarbor Plain before travelling south to beautiful Esperance. The final days are in sharp contrast to the beginning as the tour continues to Perth via the majestic Karri forests and vineyards of the Margaret River region. South Australian highlights include the Eyre Highway, the Flinders Ranges, Port Augusta and the Great Australian Bight, one of the world’s most arid shores famous for whale watching opportunities.

This 12-day cycle tour includes camping fees and equipment, most meals, full vehicle support and experienced guides and costs from AUD$1,910 per person (approx £955). Next departure is 21st March 2010.

THE GREAT OUTBACK BIKE RIDE: GULF TO GULF
‘The Crossing’ is the ultimate cyclist’s challenge, an epic 30-day journey crossing Australia from Gulf to Gulf. Starting from South Australia’s Spencer Gulf, the journey continues through the Flinders Ranges towards Marree where the famous Birdsville Track begins. Traversing some of Australia’s remotest regions, the tour reaches Birdsville in time for ANZAC day before continuing north through Channel Country to Mount Isa, and then onto the Gulf Country and journey’s end in Karumba, a tiny fishing town on the Queensland coast.

This 30-day adventure includes campground and bush camp accommodation, most meals, full vehicle support and experienced guides and costs from AUD$4,100 per person (approx £2,050). Next departure is 10th April 2011.

ROC THE MAWSON
The ‘Mawson Trail’ is Australia’s premiere mountain bike trail and traverses the area North of Adelaide including the wine regions of the Clare and Barossa Valleys and the ancient Flinders Ranges. This 10-day tour starts in Parachilna, the cycling gateway to the Flinders Ranges, and includes visiting the historic towns of Blinman and Wilpena as well as the Mount Remarkable National Park with its secret gorges, furrowed landscape and sheltered creeks. Altogether the tour covers almost 900km across some of the most diverse country in Australia.

This 10-day mountain bike trail includes camping fees and equipment, most meals, full vehicle support and experienced guides and costs from AUD$1,896 per person (approx £948). The next scheduled departure is from 1 to 10 November 2010, or on demand for groups of 4 or more.

For more information and bookings, visit adventurecollective.com.au.