Gravel Cycling in the Wine Country of the Barossa Valley: South Australia

“The Barossa Valley is a valley in South Australia located 60 kilometres (37 mi) northeast of Adelaide city centre. The valley is formed by the North Para River. It is notable as a major wine-producing region and tourist destination. The Barossa Valley derives its name from the Barossa Range, which was named by Colonel William Light in 1837. Light chose the name in memory of the British victory over the French in the Battle of Barrosa, in which he fought in 1811.”

“The three major towns of the Barossa all have distinctive personalities. Tanunda is generally recognised as the most German of the three, with long-standing traditions dating back to the 1840s when the first German settlers arrived in the area. Since many of the German settlers came from Prussian Silesia, they called the Barossa Neu-Schlesien, or “New Silesia”. The German influence survives to this day (see Barossa German). Angaston, in contrast, is considered the English town as it was settled predominantly by Cornish miners and others from Britain. The third (and largest) town, Nuriootpa, was influenced by both the German and British settlers, and today is the commercial hub of the Barossa and it is where most of the larger stores are located.” – Wikipedia

Recorded on January 10, 2020, I organised a get-together ride with members of the gravel cycling community of South Australia. The ride began in the town of Gawler, South Australia, and took us into the Barossa Valley through the towns of Tanunda, Lyndoch and back into Gawler, a ride of about 80kms / 50 miles, with 960 metres / 3140 feet of elevation.