Bartagunyah Mountain Bike Trails

 

 

Please note: Bike Trails are closed at Bartagunyah until 1st March 2020 due to Fire Ban Restrictions

 

 

 

A little bit of history to start the journey…

Captain Matthew Flinders sailed his ship the 'Investigator' on his voyage of discovery along the coastline of Spencer Gulf during February/March 1802, where he observed an imposing range of mountains later to be named the Flinders Ranges.

The property of 'Bartagunyah' (meaning home of the Bardy Grubs) was named by the Nukunu Aboriginals and is situated at the Southern end of Mt Remarkable just 5km from Melrose, the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges.

Traditionally a pastoral property producing wool and prime lamb, Bartagunyah has diversified and is now better known to visitors for its quality wines and four wheel driving, camping, and mountain biking.

Bartagunyah Estate has been a valued partner of Bike Melrose since its inception, supporting the widely known Fat Tyre Festival and trail building activities on their property.  There are some truly amazing trail experiences throughout these 2400 acres of private property.  While you are there, call into the Cellar Door for some wine tasting - the Port (Vintage Shiraz) is superb!

Bartagunyah Trail Maps

It is a good idea to be well prepared for the trail experience at Bartagunyah Estate. Make sure you call into Over the Edge Sports in Melrose to collect a map of the local trails.

Check out the Bartagunyah Estate Trails below!

Whiskey trail

This trail starts from the Winery Loop near the Homestead and climbs up past a dam and continues down to Horsegully on the left of the road and crosses the creek near the National Park gate. Follows the creek past Rankine’s Hut and GlenMorangie Corner and heads out past the Scared Rabbit Panoramic Lookout. From here you go through the race and up onto the Lookout to Spencer Gulf and Baroota Knob and onto Separation Creek Saddle. Through the gate then and to Gibraltar Rock and you are back at Horse Gully. A short climb followed by a downhill stretch to the Cellar Door.

Eurovision

Does the name make you feel like singing ABBA songs? OK, the name is different and open to interpretation but the trail is truly awesome.  It was the very first machine-built trail and is all mountains for those who love a hard core challenge. The trail uses a lot of natural rock features and has taken years of planning, so we hope you will enjoy it as much as we do.

Winery loop

This trail has been designed and built for those mountain bikers looking for a leisurely ride on some easy terrain. The trail itself links the accommodation facilities and cellar door to the Mawson trail and provides a loop experience if that is the way you would like to go.  A little uphill to ride going up to the wool shed or accommodation, and the ride back down to the Mawson is a lot of fun without any major obstacles. This is a silky smooth trail, which is suitable for the whole family.

Blue Heelin

Blue Heelin is known as a relatively challenging access tracks to get you out into the property and make sure those muscles are warmed up. Once you are out a little further, the trail changes into a purpose built mountain bike trail that is fun and relatively easy to ride. Rocks and ruts are a plenty so keep your wits about you!

Jackanna

The Jackanna is a reasonably challenging loop with plenty of single track and minor obstacles to entertain you while providing spectacular views of rolling hills and the mighty Mt Remarkable itself. This trail will have a different flavour to the others as it follows the sheep trails and is still in a natural and unaltered state. Don’t worry as there are numerous trail markers and plenty of opportunities for developing creative lines. Take your time, have some lunch at a spot where you can a take at the Scared Rabbit Panoramic View. If you are feeling adventurous, cycle a little further west to the highest point and down to Elliot’s lookout..

Mia

Using a mixture of access track and single track to get you from one end of the network to another, the Mia trail is a unique blend of trail experience.  If you are riding down the trail from the panoramic view, you will need to prepare yourself for a descent of epic proportions down the access track. Challenge yourself and see if you can carry your momentum into the single track for some tricky obstacles.  If you are heading from east to west up to the Rabbit, then the climb is slow and steady, but rewarding nonetheless.

Fox Run

For those who like to enjoy the view while cycling. Follow the access track for a bit of ‘times gone by’ and take a look at where the pastoralists used to round up the foxes.