Unley - Mount Lofty Spectator Travel Guide: Schwalbe Men's Stage 6

Start the day..

The last stage of the Santos Tour Down Under will take you on an epicurean adventure from Unley and through the Adelaide Hills before finishing at the highly anticipated Mount Lofty Summit.

Starting on the popular King William Road in Unley, grab breakfast from Pickle in the Middle or try Nutrition Republic for a healthy option. Explore the range of shops from designer fashion and accessories, restaurants and cafes, gifts and homewares, hair, body and beauty.

The anticipation and excitement will be high as the final stage will take off about 11:10am.

Chase the peloton..

From Unley, the peloton will travel south into the rolling Adelaide Hills and complete two and a half laps around its charming country roads before an epic finish at one of Adelaide’s toughest climbs.

Head to the historic town of Uraidla and set up to watch the second Ziptrak sprints pass by at approximately 1:19pm. The Uraidla Bike Café is a funky brunch, art gallery and bicycle repairs space and the perfect spot to feast on a home-cooked brunch while watching the race.

If you want a quintessential pub meal while overlooking the action, check out the self-proclaimed best, worst and only pub in the area – the Uraidla Hotel. Trust us, it’s worth a stop!

Make your way over to Stirling – another leafy suburb of the Adelaide Hills – where the racing action continues. Meander through tree-lined streets, explore boutique shops and grab a feed from one of the many dining spots like Patch Kitchen and Garden, the Organic Market and Café or the Stirling Hotel.

Last – but not least – get out to Mount Lofty Summit Road to cheer the peloton up a long, Euro-style climb – or be there atop the mountain waiting to see who has what it takes to claim the stage win. The race will finish at approximately 2:31pm.

Settle in...

With two and a half loops in the Adelaide Hills plus a start in Unley, this stage has plenty of places you could settle in for the day without missing any of the action.

Unley will have you covered from the beginning of the day with endless possibilities for food, wine, fashion and cycling on King William Road.

For pizza, check out Melt Hyde Park or Antica Pizzeria e Cucina (hello metre-long pizzas). For burgers, try Burgastronomy or Burger Republic. If you’re after an authentic bowl of pasta, Nido Pasta Bar is the way to go. 

If you’d prefer to watch the peloton go past multiple times, park yourself in Summertown, Uraidla, Carey Gully, Bridgewater, Aldgate, Stirling and Crafers and discover charmingly unique towns.

While you’re there…

Stroll along the multitude of paths that sprawl across 97 hectares at the spectacularly colourful Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens.

Taste the flavours of The Summertown Aristologist where natural wine is on offer along with small plates of food designed to share.

Head to Lost in a Forest for a guaranteed good time. This Wood Oven Wine Lounge in Uraidla serves eclectic pizzas featuring all locally soured produce paired with Basket Range wines.

And of course, you can’t forget Gorge Wildlife Park to cuddle a koala and meet native wildlife such as wombats, echidnas, kangaroos and wallabies. 

Stay the night…

A romantic night away at Mount Lofty House might just be what you’re after this January. With the opportunity to wine, dine and spa… well, you won’t regret your choice in accommodation. For more options, visit: https://southaustralia.com/destinations/adelaide-hills/accommodation