Coast to Vines Rail Trail

A ride of two very different halves in Adelaide's southern suburbs and the Fleurieu Peninsula: clifftop coastal views and leafy suburban parkland for the first stretch, opening out into the vineyards and cellar doors of the McLaren Vale wine region for the second. Follows the disused Willunga railway line (opened 1915, closed 1969, tracks lifted 1972). This recording runs Willunga to Marino Rocks (most trip planning describes it the other way, Marino to Willunga - both directions are equally good, just pick whichever end suits your logistics). Highlights include the Hallett Cove coastal cliffs, the Onkaparinga River Recreation Reserve, and dozens of wineries and cellar doors as you approach McLaren Vale and Willunga - a great excuse for a stop. The McLaren Vale Visitor Centre, right on the trail, offers e-bike hire if you want to do just the wine-country half. Willunga hosts a well-known Saturday farmers market. Sealed for essentially the whole way, suitable for most bike types including hybrids and e-bikes; a few at-level road crossings to watch for, and the trail can be exposed with little shade in the open McLaren Vale stretch.

Marino Rocks to Old Reynella (approx. 9-10km, riding south from the coast): climbs steadily inland from the coast, past Hallett Cove (shares a footbridge over the still-operating Seaford railway line here, shops nearby), through Trott Park, along shaded tree-lined cuttings. Old Reynella through Morphett Vale and Noarlunga to the Onkaparinga River (approx. 15km): passes the Onkaparinga River Recreation Reserve, a scenic highlight. Onkaparinga River to McLaren Vale (approx. 9km): opens out into vineyard and farmland country, numerous cellar doors directly on or just off the trail. McLaren Vale to Willunga (approx. 5km, also signed as the Shiraz Trail): easy, flat run through more vineyards into the historic town of Willunga.