Comments on: Barossa Rail Trail

By: Wolter K.

Wolter K. — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:08:18 +0000

25/70 I rode up from Gawler and it really was up. I found the first on-road section up through the council staff carpark and over Church Hill disappointing after a great build up at the Gawler Cycle Hub at the Visitor Information Centre. What a cool facility, even a powerpoint for your e-bike charger next to the car one. Seems to me there's a railside trail waiting to be built to the current start of the shared path starting in Gawler East. More big climbs and some tight, off-camber bends through the Jacob’s Creek Winery and no sign of the rail corridor among the grapevines. Got to try out the bike repair station at Tanunda when I picked up a thorn in the rear tyre. More powerpoints here and RV parking. Rode back to the van and did the Tanunda-Angaston section return today and the true rail trail section from Nuriootpa really was the nicest. Lots of trees, birds singing, more people on the trail.

By: Theresa D.

Theresa D. — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 02:31:08 +0000

Rode Tanuda to Angaston portion. Out of Tanuda it's pretty much just shared footpath along the highway – noisy and busy. But once you find the turn to Angaston (across from Penfolds) it is peaceful and quite beautiful along the old rail line. Good surface. Signage to find that part of the trail could be better but so worth it! Good coffee shops and picnic areas in Angaston.

By: Neil F.

Neil F. — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 04:38:24 +0000

I often ride this trail but mostly the Rowland to Gawler part or Angaston to Tanunda. The part between Southern Rowland and Tanunda is quite steep and road based in parts. The parts I ride are still enjoyable though.

By: Jeffrey N.

Jeffrey N. — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:24:59 +0000

As other reviewers have noted, this is a superb area on a great trail. So I will just note two things for consideration. Firstly, before riding this trail, it is worth noting the elevation change between Gawler and Angaston and decide if you want the climbs on the way out or the way back. I rode Angaston to Jacobs Creek Winery at Rowland Flat (on an ebike so the climbs were not an issue). Secondly this is a five star trail except for the on road section through Tanunda. This is a high volume traffic road at urban speeds. There is an on road bike lane but the closer you get to the town centre, the more cars there are parked in it. Cyclists need to claim the vehicle lane to prevent close passes from motorists. This can be nerve racking for many cyclists. And riding on the footpath requires negotiating many driveways. So, be prepared to deal with traffic going through Tanundra. Then enjoy the bliss of being fully separated for the remainder of the trail.

By: Kathy F.

Kathy F. — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 08:42:00 +0000

We rode Lyndoch to Angston, 58k return. Lovely views, only small section from Nuriootpa to Angston actually on railway easement. Some steep sections between Rowland Flat and Tanunda, but good views compensate. Good surface, lots of opportunities for vineyard visits. Lovely area to ride.

By: John O.

John O. — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 08:02:55 +0000

We are staying at Lyndoch Hill Motel for a few nights. Nice place, and central to our plans for riding the Barossa trail. Today we rode from Lyndoch to Angaston and return, approx 58kms. This is a bike trail, or shared use path for most of the way except for the 7km section between Nuriootpa and Angaston, which is a true Rail Trail. I consider the Rail Trail section of this trail to be one of the best in Australia. The only drawback is that it is only 7kms long. The surface is smooth hot mix seal, and there are many sculptures and interpretive signs on the way. The Station precinct at Angaston has been beautifully preserved, including the station building and platform, some old rail lines, goods shed, and turntable.
The trail between Nuriootpa and Tanunda is next to the disused railway line, but the rest of the trail is well away from the old line.
The trail is extremely hilly and windy between Tanunda and Rowland Flat. However this may appeal to some trail users, as it runs next to the river and there are some nice views.
This trail is sealed all the way, and there are loads of opportunities to visit wineries, bakeries, restaurants and pubs every few kms.
A lovely trail in a lovely part of the world.

By: Alan A.

Alan A. — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 10:20:03 +0000

Spent a day riding 32km of this wonderful rail trail. Hired excellent bikes in Nuriootpa and cycled between Angaston and Tanunda, stopping at several wineries along the way. The views along many sections of the trail, and particularly from the outdoor winery settings, were fabulous. The trail is well signposted, the surface is very good, and it is a great way to see the famous Barossa Vineyards.

By: Mal B.

Mal B. — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 04:40:06 +0000

In reply to Mal B.. I should have rated it 5 star, but can’t seem to edit my review!

By: Mal B.

Mal B. — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 04:32:05 +0000

I rode this trail both ways last week. It was in excellent condition, and travelled through some beautiful country. The best part for me was the section around the Jacobs Creek winery!
Riding was easy with only a few short steep hills around Jacobs Creek, as in the actual creek, although they were a bit of fun after some of the long straights.
Interestingly, when riding through the small town like Tanunda, I found drivers to be patient, courteous and considerate, unlike their city cousins!
The whole area is very beautiful, and it’s well worth spending a few days there. The trail rates 10/10 from me!

By: Martincousins

Martincousins — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 00:58:15 +0000

My partner and I rode the Angaston to Lyndoch section of this trail in a day in September 2018.
The Barossa is perhaps the best-known wine region in Australian and a major tourist and foodie destination – so there are plenty of places to eat and drink, but also the roads can be quite busy. We stayed at Angaston but there are many accommodation options in Nuriootpa, Tanunda and surrounds, many of them upmarket.
We hired a tandem from the helpful and well-stocked Barossa Bike Hire in Nuriootpa.
While the Barossa (rail) Trail, cyclepath and Jack Bobridge trail stretch for over 40km, only approximately the 10km between Nuriootpa and Angaston is on or beside a disused rail line. This is also one of the most pleasant and scenic parts of the whole trail, and passes close to several wineries. We saw several other cyclists on this section. Angaston is pretty and deserves some time for a coffee or refreshments.
Heading south from Nuriootpa the cycleway has some sections on or beside the busy Barossa Valley Way. It also has some steeper but scenic sections away from the main road. The weather was warm, so once we reached Lyndoch and had some lunch we decided it was time to return to Nuriootpa rather than continuing to the larger town and transport hub of Gawler. We did this via a back road which wound past wineries and through farm land, and provided more elevated views over the Barossa Valley.