A country bike ride along the Amy Gillett Bikeway
The Amy Gillett bikeway is a specially built bike trail which runs from Oakbank, through Woodside and Charleston to Mount Torrens in the Adelaide Hills.
The bikeway was built to honour the memory of Amy Gillett, a member of the Australian women’s cycling team who was tragically killed whilst training in Germany in July 2005.
To reach the bikeway from the tollgate (the start of the South Eastern Freeway), take a 20 minute drive to the start of the bikeway just outside the town of Oakbank. Depending on the age and riding ability of your kids, there are two suggestions for places to commence your ride along the bikeway.
For a short 3km ride to Woodside, a great place to leave the car and unload the bikes is Gillman Road. The bikeway is sealed, wide and has only a slight gradient. There are several roads to cross along the way, which is the only downside to this section of track.
There is a bike repair station and water fountain at the start of the trail at Gillman Road.
Once the track reaches the busy town of Woodside, there are a few road crossings to navigate, including the Onkaparinga Valley Rd and Tiers Road. The path briefly follows Station Road before re-commencing as an off-road path. Keep a lookout for the blue Amy Gillett bikeway signs along the route.
Station Road is a quiet road to ride along, and provides an opportunity for kids to practice riding along the road. Stop at the fantastic Woody’s BMX track alongside Station Road. There are two BMX tracks, one suitable for little kids, and a brilliant community garden to explore. There’s also picnic tables, off street parking, a sandpit with toys, and bike racks here.
A little further north, the path passes Barrister’s Block Winery. This makes another lovely stop for a coffee or drink, brunch or lunch. The winery welcomes bike riders and there is plenty of space to stretch out and have a play.
The trail also passes very close to Melba’s Chocolate factory, and this is well worth the short diversion! There are bike racks out the front of the factory outlet and coffee, milkshakes and ice creams on offer as well as a large selection of chocolates.
The factory is clearly signposted from Charles Street, just after the trail crosses back over Onkaparinga Valley road. We recommend riding further north and turning up Naughton’s road instead – this road is much quieter and safer to ride on. Turn right onto Henry street and you’ll see the chocolate factory shortly afterwards. The factory is just 400 metres from the trail.
If you require a toilet stop, public toilets are located at the Woodside Institute: as you head into the township of Woodside, on your right you will see a driveway leading to the main oval. Follow the driveway to your left, past the marked pedestrian crossing to locate the toilets. There is also a nice little playground situated here which would suit the younger children very well.
Lions Shelter parking, Naughtons Rd. Newman Rd
Should you wish to avoid crossing roads with kids on bikes, another option is to drive 2km past Woodside until you reach Naughtons Rd on your right. There is a very large area for parking next to the blue and yellow Lions shelter. From here you can jump straight onto the bike track and cycle for about 3.2 km, across Quarry Rd until you reach the quiet backstreet of Newman Road. Turn right down Newman Rd for approximately 4o metres until you find a ‘local access only’ sign. The bikeway recommences here moving further away from Onkaparinga Valley Rd and through the peaceful countryside to Mount Torrens. With fewer roads to contend with and scenic views, this makes for a very easy and enjoyable ride with only a slight gradient. There are plenty of shady gum trees along the way in case you need to stop for a drink and a bite to eat. The most appealing part of this section of track is the ability to still see your child if they get a little ahead.
There are also two swings to stop and play on along this section. One swing is located in Charleston, just before you cross Newman Road. The Charleston playground is just down Newman Road as well, and there is a bike repair station, barbeques and picnic shelters, and toilets near the playground.
The second swing, a large tyre swing, is located along the path north of the Springhead Road crossing, about halfway between Charleston and Mt Torrens.
Wait for a clear day, no matter what the season, and head out to this beautiful section of countryside for a very enjoyable and relaxing bike ride in the fresh air.
There are several geocaches along the route, so you might also like to embark on a geocaching adventure on your ride. For more information on geocaching, click here.
March 2024 Update:
Funding has been secured for Stage Four of the Amy Gillett Bikeway.
Adelaide Hills Council has committed to build Stage Four of the Amy Gillett Bikeway from Mt Torrens to Birdwood with total funding of the project amounting to $5.7 Million.
The project will extend the Amy Gillett Bikeway from its current end point in Mount Torrens at Oval Road, taking it through to the intersection with Onkaparinga Valley Road in Birdwood, adding around six kilometres to the overall length of the bikeway.
The extension of the Amy Gillett bikeway will also ensure more young children are provided with a safe place to learn to ride without the safety concerns of riding on Adelaide Hills roads.
Read more and stay up to date HERE.
For more information about the work of the Amy Gillett Foundation, visit the Amy Gillett Foundation website
What: The Amy Gillett Bikeway
When: Anytime
Where: Oakbank, through Woodside and Charleston to Mount Torrens in the Adelaide Hills
Who: Everyone
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: photos by Play & Go
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