Keen to ride without battling traffic? From beach paths to vineyard trails and off-road adventures, these are SA’s top cycling routes for every kind of rider.
Summer in South Australia means one thing: bikes everywhere. The Santos Tour Down Under rolls into town from 16-25 January, the cycling world descends on our streets, and suddenly every second suburban garage reveals a road bike that hasn’t seen sunlight since last year.
But while the MAMILs add colour to Adelaide commutes (no judgement here), you don’t need lycra, clip-ins or a heart-rate monitor the size of an iPad to join them – and you definitely don’t need to mix it with city traffic. There’s a whole other way to ride, one with far less danger from cars (and you can still wear lycra if you want).
SA is packed with brilliant cycling trails built for every rider – the cruisers, the wine-tasters, the families, the adventure-seekers and the people who keep saying they’ll get back on a bike once work calms down.
Don’t own a bike? You can still hit the trails. There are plenty of places to hire bikes around Adelaide and regional SA, from cruisers and e-bikes to MTBs.
Here are ten of the best trails – however you like to roll.
1. Best for getting back on the bike
The River Torrens Linear Park Trail in Adelaide is flat, central and forgiving, making it the easiest re-entry into cycling. Shady gums, ducks, cafés and countless entry points mean you can ride for ten minutes or two hours without committing to anything ambitious. It’s ideal for beginners or anyone dusting off their bike for the first time in forever.
2. Best for wine region wandering
The Coast to Vines Rail Trail runs 37km from Marino, through the McLaren Vale wine region, to Willunga. It’s perfect for breezy, spontaneous rides with winery stops, coastal views and that classic Fleurieu sunshine. This sealed track along a former rail line is the perfect easy ride for people who want a little exercise with their glass of shiraz.
3. Best for couples’ weekend rides
The Clare Valley’s famous Riesling Trail is the weekend-away version of a wine ride. Almost completely flat and surrounded by rolling farmland, it’s the kind of trail people explore over the weekend – book a vineyard cottage, hire a bike and spend the day cruising between cellar doors. Slow, scenic and irresistibly relaxed.
4. Best for easy Hills views
The 22km Amy Gillett Pathway in the Adelaide Hills winds gently from Oakbank to Mount Torrens through farmland and small towns. With its sealed surface and steady, manageable gradient, it offers all the charm of the Hills without the brutal climbs. Expect cool air, gum trees and countryside calm.
5. Best for family holiday rides
The Copper Rail Trail on Yorke Peninsula is a flat, sealed 9.1km rail trail linking Kadina with the shoreline at Wallaroo. Low traffic and easy gradients make it perfect for families, beginners or anyone who brings their bike on every Yorkes trip. Roll between town and sea, finish with hot chips or a swim, and call it a day well spent.
6. Best for coastal ice-cream rides
The Encounter Bikeway on the Fleurieu links Goolwa, Middleton, Port Elliot and Victor Harbor along a 31km mix of shared paths and quiet coastal streets. You can ride the whole thing or dip in and out. With surf beaches, seaside towns and plenty of ice-cream stops, it’s an instant summer classic – and great for kids. Time it right and you can pedal one way, then cruise back with your bike aboard the historic Cockle Train – but make sure you contact operator SteamRanger beforehand to check about space.
7. Best for rolling from city to sea
The iconic Mike Turtur Bikeway is a 9.5km commuter path from central Adelaide to Glenelg. It’s currently being upgraded, so expect detours until early 2026. Once it reopens, it will be wider, smoother and better lit. Even with workarounds, it’s still a great flat, beginner-friendly roll to the beach.
8. Best for racking up the kms
Stretching 40km from Gawler to Angaston on a sealed, low-traffic path, the Barossa Trail is ideal for riders wanting to rack up kilometres without dodging cars. Expect vineyard views, heritage buildings and plenty of feed-zone towns like Tanunda, Lyndoch and Angaston to refuel in.
9. Best for going off-road (and off-grid)
The Remarkable Epic Trail (through Mount Remarkable National Park) and the wider Melrose MTB network in the Flinders Ranges offer SA’s ultimate off-road playground. The Epic Trail itself is a 38 km loop of climbs, descents and rugged outback views for confident riders. But Melrose also has beginner-friendly green trails, family loops and a playful single track close to town. Dust, views and adventure for every level.
10. Best for epic rides you’ll brag about
Running nearly 900km from Adelaide’s outskirts to Blinman in the Flinders Ranges, the Mawson Trail is South Australia’s grand-tour adventure. Gravel roads, forest tracks and outback landscapes make it a real endurance builder. You don’t need to ride the whole thing – a single section is enough to feel like you’ve levelled up.
Sharing the road: a quick note for new (and returning) commuters
These ten rides are a brilliant way to cycle safely – and once you feel confident on a trail, a lot of people start thinking about riding to work too.
If you do decide to take your bike beyond the trail and into the weekday traffic, the basics apply everywhere in SA: stay visible, follow the road rules, signal early and ride where drivers expect you to be. There’s a quick guide to the cycling rules here if you want a refresher.
And for the motorists sharing the morning crawl: remember that cyclists are allowed to ride two abreast, and they’re often doing their best on tight suburban streets or short Hills ramps. A little patience goes a long way.
As long as everyone gives each other space and follows the rules, the whole peak-hour dance stays much calmer – and safer.
Want more rides?
If you’re looking for even more options – especially the steeper, longer or sweatier ones – the Santos Tour Down Under’s Adelaide Cycling Atlas has dozens of mapped routes across metro Adelaide, the Hills and regional SA.
Need inspo to get peddling?
Need some inspo to get you back in the saddle? The South Australian Tourism Commission, which runs the Santos Tour Down Under, puts together an awesome events lineup each year that lets you (and your bike) be right in the heart of the action – no matter what your age and fitness level.
In 2026, that includes the Health Partners Family Ride where the kids take over from the pros on the track, group rides where you can share your passion with cyclists from around the globe, plus the gnarly MTB hardcore of RADL GRVL and the action-meets-party vibes of Carpark Climb. There’s even the chance to experience a UCI WorldTour stage on the same day as the pros as part of the Adelaide Epic Ride.
