Barossa Bike Hire Cycle Tour Barossa Valley review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

The Barossa Valley is a stunning spot, but there’s no doubt you notice that beauty even more when you watch it slide by from a saddle rather than the seat of a car.

I’ve discovered I have a love-hate relationship with hills. I notice every single one I come to – even the smallest of rises in the bitumen – and let out a small internal groan.

My legs pump harder, my thighs begin to ache.

But then, there’s relief: the beautiful whoosh down a slope, the wind in my hair, as I gather speed again and my feet rest in the pedals.

I suppose this is what it’s like when you jump back on a bike for the first time in years.

The old saying is true – you never forget how to ride one – but your muscle memory takes a little bit of reminding.

And you know what? It’s one of the best days out I’ve had in a long time. The Barossa Valley is a stunning spot, but there’s no doubt you notice that beauty even more when you watch it slide by from a saddle rather than the seat of a car.

Another beautiful thing about this famous wine region is its bike paths – they’re extensive and, for novice riders like myself, mercifully quite flat.

The ride from Tanunda to Nuriootpa and on to Angaston is all well within my capabilities. The 13km journey is on a path completely separate to the road and well signposted.

A venture out on to Seppeltsfield Rd is a little more challenging, but this is probably because I’m nearing the end of my 33km journey for the day.

So why did I decide to jump back on a bike?

It all started when we were looking to do a cheese and wine tour of the Barossa. What better way to work off some of our indulgence than by cycling around?

The wonderful guys at Barossa Bike Hire offer a range of options for your weekend away, including the gourmet bicycle, cheese and winematching experience we chose.

Owner Louis dropped the bikes off at our accommodation on the Saturday morning, giving us a thorough rundown on the best (and flattest) cycling routes.

Along with the sturdy bikes, helmets and locks, he also had our cheese hamper to match with the wines.

Cycling the Barossa Cheese and Wine Trail with Barossa Bike Hire

It’s from the Barossa Valley Cheese Company in Angaston, and features a camembert, washrind, vache curd and a piece of Alexandrina cheddar, plus some crispbread, cheese board and knife all in a cooler bag.

It’s everything you could need for a little picnic (though we did add some Maggie Beer quince paste, local bread and Gully Gardens dried apricots to the mix).

There’s a brochure too, with a list of 22 local wineries and suggestions for the best drops to match with the cheeses.

At Louis’s suggestion, we head off to Angaston first for breakfast at the Barossa Farmer’s Market which operates every Saturday.

With our bellies full, the time clicked over to 11am, and we decided it was late enough to start sampling some of the region’s famous wines (though it’s important to point out that you still need to stay under the legal limit while riding around).

Our journey took us through Tanunda to Turkey Flat Vineyards, where we set up our little picnic at a table and friendly cellar door staff gave us delicious drops to sample.

Another highlight was a visit to Two Hands Wine at Marananga, where you can compare bold Barossa shiraz with those from McLaren Vale, the Clare Valley and even Heathcote in Victoria.

The cheese matches are delicious and there’s no doubt about it – those wines definitely make climbing the hills on your bike worthwhile.

Reviews are unannounced and paid for by SAWeekend.

This review was first published in May 2016 and details updated in March 2021

• 5 South Tce, Nuriootpa
• 0400 537 770
• barossabikehire.com
• [e-mail]
• LOCATION About 80km north of Adelaide
• INCLUSIONS Sturdy 24-speed bike, helmet, bike lock, fresh roasted coffee, wine tastings at three cellar doors, bottled water, seasonal lunch (please advise of any special dietary requirements at time of booking), gourmet cake, a beverage at a craft beer taphouse.
• PRICE $195 per person