The Mawson Trail is a long-distance

cycling Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...

and walking trail in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

starting just east of

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

in the Adelaide Hills and extending almost to

Blinman Blinman is a locality incorporating two towns located in the Australian state of South Australia within the Flinders Ranges about north of the state capital of Adelaide. It is very small but has the claim of being the highest surveyed town in S ...

in the

Flinders Ranges The Flinders Ranges are the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts about north of Adelaide. The ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna. The Adnyamathanha people are the Aboriginal group who have inhabi ...

. It is suitable for mountain bikes. The Mawson Trail traverses remote areas of the

Mount Lofty Mount Lofty (, elevation AHD) is the highest point in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges. It is located about east of the Adelaide city centre, within the Cleland National Park in the Adelaide Hills area of South Australia. The mountain's sum ...

and Flinders Ranges, mostly away from bitumen roads, and often off-road on tracks and unmade road or forest reserves. It also passes through a number of country towns. It starts at the upstream end of the

Torrens Linear Park The Torrens Linear Park was completed in 1997 as the first of its kind developed in Australia where it is the largest hills-to-coast park. It began as a flood mitigation scheme along the River Torrens running westward from the Adelaide Hills, ...

Gorge Road Gorge Road is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is on the Southern Scenic Route and is situated on the western bank of the Mataura River. Nearby settlements include Ashers to the west, and across the Mataura ...

, leading into the Adelaide Hills, so that it is directly connected by dedicated pedestrian/cycleway to the coast at West Beach. BikeSA hosts a guided two-week tour of the entire length every second year. The trail is named after explorer

Douglas Mawson Sir Douglas Mawson OBE FRS FAA (5 May 1882 – 14 October 1958) was an Australian geologist, Antarctic explorer, and academic. Along with Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Sir Ernest Shackleton, he was a key expedition leader during ...

Route

The route is generally described south-to-north, although it can be ridden in either direction. Signage along the route is provided for both directions. The towns passed through are: * Adelaide (outskirts) *

Lobethal Lobethal is a town in the Adelaide Hills area of South Australia. It is located in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area, and is nestled on the banks of a creek between the hills and up the sides of the valley. It was once the centr ...

, a historic town with German settler history * Birdwood, home of the National Motor Museum *

Rowland Flat Rowland Flat (formerly Rowland's Flat and Rowlands Flat) is a small South Australian town in the Barossa Valley, located on the Barossa Valley Highway between Lyndoch and Tanunda. The town has an elevation of 294m and is nestled at the foot of ...

, a town in the

Barossa Valley The Barossa Valley ( Barossa German: ''Barossa Tal'') is a valley in South Australia located 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 destinati ...

* Tanunda, a large town with bakeries, pubs and cafes in the Barossa Valley * Nuriootpa, main commercial centre of the Barossa valley *

Kapunda Kapunda is a town on the Light River and near the Barossa Valley in South Australia. It was established after a discovery in 1842 of significant copper deposits. The population was 2,917 at the 2016 Australian census. The southern entrance ...

, with cafes, supermarkets and pubs * Riverton, with pubs and cafes *

Auburn Auburn may refer to: Places Australia * Auburn, New South Wales * City of Auburn, the local government area *Electoral district of Auburn *Auburn, Queensland, a locality in the Western Downs Region *Auburn, South Australia *Auburn, Tasmania *Aub ...

, with a pub and cafes * Clare, a large town with a large supermarket, bike shop and cafes * Burra, a large historical town with several pubs, supermarkets and cafes * Hallett, with a service station/general store and a pub * Spalding, with a general store and pub with barbed wire museum * (Near Jamestown) * Laura, with a supermarket and cafes * Melrose, with a bike shop cafe, two pubs, and several cafes * Wilmington, with a pub, general store and cafe *

Quorn Quorn is a brand of meat substitute products, or the company that makes them. Quorn originated in the UK and is sold primarily in Europe, but is available in 14 countries. The brand is owned by parent company Monde Nissin. Quorn is sold as bo ...

, a large historical town with four pubs and several cafes * Cradock, a tiny hamlet with a pub *

Hawker Hawker or Hawkers may refer to: Places * Hawker, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra * Hawker, South Australia, a town * Division of Hawker, an Electoral Division in South Australia * Hawker Island, Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarct ...

, a small town with a roadhouse/general store and a cafe * Rawnsley Park Station, a caravan park with pub and general store * Wilpena, a very large caravan and campsite with pub, general store and information office *

, a small tourist village with pub and mine tours

References

External links

Mawson Trail (South Australian Government webpage)Mawson Trail Blog Article and full guide and maps
Cycling in South Australia Cycleways in South Australia {{SouthAustralia-geo-stub

Route

See also

References

External links