Eudunda Southern Ridge – 31 km Lavender Cycling Trail Loop Ride

The beautiful Eudunda Southern Ridge ride incorporates sweeping views and returns to Eudunda along the Lavender Cycling Trail.

Last August, a group of fourteen Uncool Cycling Club members from Adelaide, Whyalla and Berri gathered at Eudunda to try out this 31 kilometre loop ride.

Along the Ridge (10 km)

We started by riding up to the former Eudunda railway station. While there, we had a quick chat about the proposed Eudunda Hampden Rail Trail and the art that will soon be painted onto the silos.

Then we began the climb out of town on the Thiele Highway. Reaching a gradient of 7% in places, it’s quite a steep climb. However, the gradient flattens out as you turn onto Spring and then Tableland Roads.

The Eudunda Southern Ridge loop continues along Tableland Road for seven kilometres.

You’re still climbing but it’s very gradual and the lovely views make it more than enjoyable.

The Descent to Neales Flat (9 km)

After about ten kilometres, the Eudunda Southern Ridge loop turns east onto Smith Road to begin the descent. The views are so stunning that we couldn’t help but stop to take photos along the way.

After seven kilometres, the wonderful roll comes to an end as you cross Eudunda Road and turn left towards Neales Flat.

Neales Flat

One of the highlights on the Southern Eudunda Ridge loop, Neales Flat is a historic settlement comprising a former Lutheran School, two churches and a beautiful cemetery.

Built by Lutheran settlers in 1894, the old schoolhouse initially served as a combined school, church and teacher’s residence.

The cemetery is notable for its distinctive German headstones and the graves are still well cared for by descendants.

Nearby you can find Footside Farm, where Australia native food plants are grown. By pre-arrangement, you can camp at these locations.

Back to Eudunda along the Lavender Cycling Trail (12 km)

From just before Neales Flat, the Eudunda Southern Ridge Loop joins the Lavender Cycling Trail and follows it north back to Eudunda.

Mount Bryan Expedition Monument

Along the way, we paused to investigate this monument to the Mount Bryan Expedition.

Erected by descendants of members of the Mount Bryan expedition, the plaque tells the story of an incident that happened at this place in 1839: When returning from the Morgan bend of the Murray River, Isaac Hearnshaw, John Craig and Eliza Arbuckle became separated from the main group. While trying to light their campfire for the night, Isaac’s gunpowder flask exploded in his face, injuring him critically and dislodging his left eye. Eliza, then aged 19, re-inserted his eye, thus saving him from bleeding to death.

Surprisingly, we also found a geocache at this location.

Beginning now to think of lunch and coffee, we continued on to our final destination at Eudunda.

Map of the Eudunda Southern Ridge Loop

Summary of the Eudunda Southern Ridge Loop

• Length: 31 km loop
• Difficulty: Moderate (total climb of 306 metres, gradients up to 7% in the first kilometre, after that gradients of 1 to 3%)
• Suitable for: gravel or mountain bikes
• Surface: Mostly dirt, some bitumen near Eudunda
• Signage: Currently no signage. Download the map above.
• Best Times: In cooler weather as not much shade. Also, the last ten kilometres may have some muddy sections after rain.

What they thought

While the Uncool riders were enjoying their coffee and lunch outside the Eudunda Bakery, I asked some of them for their thoughts about the Eudunda Southern Ridge Ride. Here are some of their responses.

Peter Werner “It’s a really interesting ride. Great diversity of surfaces. The views from the top of the escarpment were really good. “

Kerri Newell “It was great, lots of variety. I loved the view from the ridge and the churches at Neales Flat.”

Noel McPharlin “It’s a great combination of uphill and downhill. You get most of the uphill out of the way at the start. It’s good to see some history of the area. I really liked the stop at Neales Flat.”

Gavin McMahon “I thoroughly enjoyed it. A nice undulating ride. The roads are really well kept so it’s quite safe as well. I loved the background – the canola, the wheat, the sheep.”

Damien Henderson “Great views from the escarpment. For me, that was the absolute highlight. And also the cemetery at Neales Flat – very interesting looking at the German headstones.”

Di Cuthbertson “I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some lovely downhills and the views were absolutely beautiful.”

Thanks to John Neale, Deputy Mayor of the Goyder Regional Council, for making this ride suggestion.

Another excellent Lavender Cycling Trail loop from Eudunda is the 54 kilometre cycling loop to Inspiration Point.

Top picture: Kerri cycles past a historic shed – photo by Di Cuthbertson