![Cycling Old Willunga Hill Road, South Australia bike parked next to large green road sign for Old Willunga Hill Road]()
Cycling Old Willunga Hill Road, South Australia
![Cycling Old Willunga Hill Road, South Australia photo collage; Adelaide Hills Wine Region; signs from Tour Down Under]()
![Cycling Old Willunga Hill Road, South Australia climb start, town of Willunga; bright yellow old car, downtown shops]()
Climb begins in Willunga.
Willunga is a small town (population 2,308 as of 2016) south of Adelaide in Southern Australia.
Old Willunga Hill has been made famous by the Tour Down Under:
“South Australia's most famous climb is, funnily enough, not even its most challenging. The legacy of Old Willunga Hill (as distinct from 'New Willunga') is its weaving nature that has seen Richie Porte claim six consecutive stages at the hilltop. While Richie's unique power-to-weight ratio means he can make the final kilometer look more like a sprint rather than a grueling test of person-versus-pedals, mere mortals will relish the challenge of this most famous climb, and the opportunity to pass over the famous crown before the finish” (TourDownUnder.com).
Climb Summary by PJAMM Cycling’s Brad Butterfield.
Starting in the Historic town of Willunga itself, you’ll have the option to sip a cup of joe -- or a “long black” as they call it here -- before you make the ascent. Willunga was bustling with wine tourist-type people the Saturday that I rode it. The old courthouse on your left as you ride up is the last structure of note before the climb winds up and away from the city. There is a marker at both the top and bottom denoting Richie Porte as the King of the Mountain, at just over six minutes of riding from bottom to top. I took a “little” bit longer to get up than Mr. Porte.
![Cycling Old Willunga Hill Road, South Australia photo collage shows informational signs and outside views of old brick courthouse on the way out of town]()
Old Courthouse on the way out of town.
![Cycling Old Willunga Hill Road, South Australia road signs remind drivers to watch for bicyclists; no trucks aloud on Willunga Hill road]()
Yay!
![Cycling Old Willunga Hill Road, South Australia views along climb show lots of dry pastureland, eucalyptus trees]()
![Cycling Old Willunga Hill Road, South Australia road sign reads "Welcome to Adelaide Hills Wine Region"]()
Climb finishes just past the intersection of Old Willunga Hill and Brookman Roads.