In the third of three articles about riding the Mawson Trail, Kerri and her husband Roger ride from Riverton to Auburn.
To complete our “Kapunda Trilogy” we had to ride from Riverton to Auburn. We would cycle the Mawson Trail to Auburn, then connect with the Rattler Trail for an easier return trip back to Riverton.
We headed out of Riverton but missed a sign, so we briefly cycled along Riverton Road. Soon we saw more signs and were back on track.
The first back road was a good gravel surface with gentle undulations. It was another perfect blue sky day. The only problem at this stage was the headwind, but it was manageable!
As we continued on the Mawson Trail between Riverton and Auburn, there was undulating farmland either side. We passed a dam with some sleepy cows looking on,
assorted farmhouse ruins
and then more of those never ending paddocks of broad beans!
There were a few rough patches of track
but nothing as difficult as yesterday between Kapunda and Riverton.
Just before the township of Auburn, we encountered a kangaroo frantically trying to reach her joey on the other side of the fence. She was hopping one way, joey the other!
Auburn
We left the road and looped around the oval and Auburn Caravan Park. Soon we joined the familiar section of the Rattler Trail leading through the back of town to the Auburn Railway Station.
We had made good time today. It had been a relatively easy section to ride and we were pleased to have reached our goal.
We stopped for a snack and photo. While eating, we reminisced about how we’d visited this very spot many years ago with friends and had talked about getting bikes and cycling the Riesling Trail. Well we bought those bikes and have cycled many kilometres since then!!
So far we had cycled 21 kilometres from Riverton to Auburn.
The Mawson Trail then continues north along the Riesling Trail to Clare.
Return on the Rattler Trail
However, we did a u-turn and headed back along past the caravan park out of town. We were now on the Rattler Trail. This is a relatively flat trail with a smooth dolomite surface.
It has definitely been upgraded since we first rode it in 2013. As it is quite open, the crosswind made for a slow return.
There were information boards and rest seats along the way and a little shelter shed at the site of the Rhynie Station.
After Rhynie it was an easy cycle on through a sheltered track with pine trees overhanging, through a couple of gates then around the Riverton Oval and past the Riverton Caravan Park.
The Riverton Railway Station is privately owned. We rode into town along a back street and were able to catch sight of it from there.
We stopped once more at the Emporium Bakehouse for lunch.
The return ride along the Rattler Trail from Auburn to Riverton had been 19 kilometres.
Summary of our Riverton Auburn Loop
The Mawson-Rattler Trail loop was 40 kilometres with an elevation gain of 337 metres.
Over three days, Kerri and Roger had ridden 100 kilometres on the Mawson Trail. The first day between Tanunda and Kapunda (34 kilometres) had been fairly easy while the second day between Kapunda and Riverton (45 kilometres) was challenging. The final day between Riverton and Auburn (21 kilometres) had also been relatively easy.
To learn about other Mawson Trail adventures, read about the trail between Merna Mora Station and Rawnsley Park or Mount Little and Hawker.
