South booked out this long weekend with record crowds tipped to watch the Tour Down Under

ACCOMMODATION is fully booked in the south as thousands of people gear up for Tour Down Under action, set to roll into the region tomorrow.

Serafino Wines general manager Jamie Nicholls is gearing up for a booked out long weekend as the Tour Down Under heads to the...

SOUTHERN accommodation is full as thousands of people gear up for the Tour Down Under action, set to bring more than $7 million to the local economy.

Southern tourism operators say Tour Down Under spectators who usually make a day trip to the region are instead staying longer, with all 70 of the area's accommodation providers full from January 23 to 27.

Organisers are again tipping record crowds for Stage 5 of the Tour this Saturday, January 25, with more than 125,000 people expected to line the streets as cyclists ride through Aldinga, Port Willunga, Willunga and McLaren Vale.

A McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre spokeswoman said many hotels, apartments and holiday houses had been booked months in advance.

McLaren Vale's Serafino Wines general manager Jamie Nicholls said he expected this year's Tour Down Under to be the biggest yet, with the 30 rooms at his winery accommodation booked out across the long weekend.

Mr Nicholls said the Tour Down Under was a world-class event and flagged to interstate and international visitors that "we are here".

"There's nowhere else in the world where you have beaches, vineyards and the hills so close," he said.

He said many people had already started making inquiries for next year's event.

"We have a lot of day-trip visitors, however the growth in the region's popularity has seen it become more of a holiday destination," Mr Nicholls said.

"People are choosing to stay longer and start to take advantage of our region … particularly because we are so close to the city."

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McLaren Vale Studio Apartments and The Vintage owner Roz Vertigan said the two luxury suites at her bed and breakfast and six apartments were booked out months in advance.

"We have over two million visitors to the region with most of them being day trippers," Ms Vertigan said.

"What we try and do is convert them to overnight or longer stays . . . and we're starting to see this happen more, particularly on long weekends like this ­weekend."

"The Tour Down Under really helps us to showcase our region to the world which in turn will help us convert those day trippers to come back and stay in the Fleurieu."

She said many people who stayed at her accommodation were already booking their bed for next year.

Another business expected to reap the benefits of being on the race route is Port Willunga's Star of Greece, which was booked out across the weekend.

Owner Nikki Govan said the race put the south on the map.

"I love what the event has done for the state, with people getting on their bikes and for the fantastic business benefits it brings as well," Mrs Govan said.

This year marks the 16th consecutive year the region has hosted Stage 5 of the race and Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said it was "more than just a cycling race".

"The word is well and truly out now - if you want to see the best stage of the Tour Down Under, as the world's best cyclists ride through a world-class wine region, historic townships and the stunning coastline at Aldinga Beach, come to Stage 5," Ms Rosenberg said.

Onkaparinga Council will host five free events to mark the race, which will then run into its Australia Day celebrations on Sunday (January 26).

The council's Love Velo Seaside dinner on Friday night (January 24) - the state's longest ever silver service dinner seating 500 people on Port Willunga beach - sold out on January 9.

The 151.5km stage would start in McLaren Vale and finish on top of Old Willunga Hill.

The 2013 race attracted about 125,000 people and generated about $7 million for the south.

Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur said Stage 5 had become a crucial part of the race. "It's been a massive success and has changed the face of the race," he said

."People in the south go to a lot of effort to make the race special, it's unique and people should be proud of that."

State Tourism Minister and Mawson MP Leon Bignell said it was "obvious" people were taking advantage of Stage 5 celebrations and the long weekend.

"The Tour Down Under brings 40,000 interstate and overseas visitors to South Australia and people make a holiday out of it," Mr Bignell said.

"Race spectators don't just want to stay in the city, they want to explore the region," Mr Bignell said.

"I think it's terrific the locals go to so much effort to decorate their houses and businesses . . . they want to help sell our beautiful part of the world to the rest of the world," Mr Bignell said.