2026 SANTOS TOUR DOWN UNDER |
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Kangaroo Island, Adelaide Hills and the City17 to 26 January 2026, 10 days, 9 nightsPlease note that the 2026 dates, itinerary are an educated guess. We won’t be able to confirm the exact itinerary, dates until June 2025. In saying that – we are pretty sure we have it right. We are committed to Kangaroo Island. Ride Holidays invites you to experience the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under. 99% of our team are Adelaide born and bred. They know the secret roads, the best cafes and restaurants. Be prepared to be treated like a local. Our official tour operator status (our 12th consecutive year) opens doors that are often closed. Including V.I.P. starts and finishes. Pull up a bike seat, sit back and let the world spin by. A brilliant trip. See you there!!
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Overview of the Tour |
We've found the perfect mix of visiting Kangaroo Island, followed by the Adelaide Hills, before descending upon the city of Adelaide for the finale of the greatest cycling race in the Southern Hemisphere. Join us to get involved with the action. Experience the thrill of seeing this world class event live! It's not all about the race. In fact, the race is just a part of a great holiday. We focus on the magnificent cycling on offer, as well as eating at the very best South Australian restaurants and cafes. You will return home having experienced the full flavour of what the region has to offer. Our itinerary is tailored for cyclists as well as non-riders (Team Macchiato), who are very welcome. Be assured, you won't just be following the cyclists. Your days will include visits to regional must-see attractions, wineries, boutique shopping, enjoying local cafes and restaurants, some walking, plus much more. This group will have their own vehicle and local guide. Throughout our 10-day tour, we’ll cater to all levels of cyclist. From the fastest cyclists – referred to as the whippets, right through to the more leisurely weekend warrior. Everyone will be well looked after. The most common question we have is about the heat. Yes, it can get hot. However, it can also be very cool. Having local guides means that we were able to change the plan accordingly to look after all conditions. Safety is key. Having support vehicles means you can concentrate on one thing – cycling. Let us worry about everything else. It’s a holiday and it’s our job to roll out 10 hassle free days. Sleep, eat, ride, drink and repeat. That’s what we expect from you. Thank you for joining us on the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under. |
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Santos Tour Down Under | Tour Details |
Tour Inclusions
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Tour Exclusions
The Tour Cost$4990.00NZD pp. (Twin Share) ** Subject to change depending upon the final itinerary. Want your own room? Single supplement $1250.00NZD pp. Road bike hire (BMC 105 Disc) $1000.00NZD. We can get (hybrid) e-bikes, but they are at a higher cost and on request. Extra Adelaide accommodation and breakfast $190.00NZD per person twin share. The cost for non-riders is the same as for cyclists. We pay for a lot of your winery lunches, entry fees, etc, etc. Deposit & Balance terms and conditions. The initial deposit is $200.00 (NZD) per person. This is non-refundable and will be donated to our kids on bikes charity if you cancel. When the tour is confirmed in June we will ask for an additional $1500.00 (NZD) deposit. Full payment will be 90 days prior to departure. |
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Tour Down Under 2026 | Tour Itinerary
** Please note that the 2026 dates, itinerary are an educated guess. We won’t be able to confirm the exact itinerary, dates until June 2025. In saying that – we are pretty sure we have it right. We are committed, excited to be going to Kangaroo Island for the first time.
Day 1, Saturday 17 JanuaryWelcome to South AustraliaWe look forward to meeting you at Adelaide Airport. Ideally you would arrive mid to late morning. We’ll help you assemble your bike once we’re back at our central Adelaide hotel. Conveniently located right near Rundle Mall (think retail) and only a 15 min walk to the Santos Tour Down Under race village. At about 3pm we’ll pop out for a short city ride. Maximum of an hour. Focussing on Adelaide’s amazing bike trails that aren’t far away from our hotel. A short ride purely to get the legs turning and to find those nasty little mechanicals that may pop up. Team MAC - After you’ve settled into your room, we’ll meet up to have a wander around the funky East End. The Adelaide East End is known as the domain of choice for trendsetters. Right in the heart of the city, the neighbourhood is filled with cafes, restaurants, bars and premium shopping. There’s plenty of fabulous hidden dining lanes to explore. Let’s have an aperitif at one of the many wine bars before returning to the hotel for dinner. This evening will be epic. It’s the Santos Tour Down Under Criterium. Known as the Down Under Classic and it’s within walking distance of our hotel. 90mins of shear adrenalin. The world’s best sprinters. You’ll be in the thick of it. Over dinner - we'll run through the plan for the next 10 days. Yes, you are now officially on holiday. Welcome to South Australia. Cheers to you. /Accommodation: Majestic Rooftop Adelaide Hotel
PS, you are very welcome to arrive the day prior. We will take care of your transfers and accommodation for you. Our job is to make your job easy!! PPS, what if, what if ... One of the most common questions we have is “what if my bike doesn’t turn up or it’s damaged”? The answer to that – we’ve got you covered. That’s why you do a tour with RH. We have about 10 bikes on standby to look after any of those airline misdemeanours. |
Day 2, Sunday 18 JanuaryWomen’s stage 3. V.I.P. penToday’s stage 3 of the women’s race is a must see. It’s our only opportunity to see the girls in action. We don’t feel the need for a 6am breakfast. Let’s relax and remind ourselves that we are indeed on holiday. The plan is to roll out of the hotel at about 8.30am and head up into the Adelaide Hills for Stage 3 of the women’s tour. We’ve booked a V.I.P. pen for the start. There’s a great chance you’ll also have access to the warm-up area which will be closed to the public. The actual start time will be around 11.00am. After the women have departed, we hop on our bikes. Our hotel for tonight is on the beautiful Fleurier Peninsula. There will be a variety of options to choose from. It’s about 80km to Normanville. Team MAC – Katrina will have a couple of options for today. The initial plan is to leave the hotel early and go for a walk on the beach near Glenelg before it gets too hot. There are then many cafes to choose from for our morning coffee. We then head into the hills to catch up with the cyclists. The Fleurieu Peninsula isn’t new to Ride Holidays. It's known for its wine regions, notably McLaren Vale which we know very well. Our hotel offers stunning ocean views. It also has a huge swimming pool which we plan to make use of this afternoon. For those golf nuts amongst us it also sits on a championship golf course. (Make sure you ask Dingo about his atrocious slice) /Accommodation: Lady Bay Resort
PS, Team Mac - We really want this trip to be an active one. It’s not all eating and drinking. Katrina will have a plan each day for a good walk. You can then feel less guilty about the eating and drinking |
Day 3, Monday 19 JanuaryKangaroo Island. Where Kangaroos live!!Over the past 12 years we've pretty much biked everywhere. Which is why we’re really excited to be going somewhere new. Kangaroo Island has been on the radar for quite a long time. It’s only a hop, skip and jump (Sorry, I think I’m funny) from our hotel to the ferry. OK, let’s talk through the plan. After breakfast we drive to the ferry which departs Cape Jervis at 10am. It’s a 45min cruise to Penneshaw. (KI) Our team, you and your bikes and vehicles will be on the same ferry. All going well – we’ll be on our bikes by about 11.30am for the ride to our hotel. K.I offers almost 1600km of roads although quite a few of those aren’t sealed. We won’t make you ride all 1600km. K.I is known for its stunning landscapes, wildlife, and natural beauty. As the name suggests, Kangaroo Island is home to a large population of kangaroos, but it's also known for its abundant wildlife, including koalas, sea lions, echidnas, and diverse bird species. The island features some of the most picturesque beaches in Australia. Stokes Bay and Vivonne Bay are known for their crystal-clear waters, ideal for swimming, snorkelling, and kayaking. (Please watch out for sharks, especially the big ones) Team Mac – K.I is also famous for its local produce, such as honey, cheese, wine, and fresh seafood. Katrina will have a plan which will no doubt include tasting local delicacies, including Ligurian honey and freshly caught fish. Our hotel for the next couple of nights is the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge. Aproperty surrounded by trees, birdlife, animals and fronting the tranquil ocean waters of American River Bay. Tonight, we've booked a local restaurant for dinner. Our guarantee – you won’t lose any weight on this tour. /Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge
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Day 4, Tuesday 20 JanuaryExploring K.IIn 2024 a few of the pro teams made K.I their training base prior to the TDU starting. It’s our turn to ride the same roads and we’ll probably take all their strava records. Watch out for Sherie Masterson on all those QOM’s. We have one day in paradise so let’s cover as much as we can. Rides will range from 70 to 120km. Nothing overly hilly (He says) so maybe we should all try and get to the magic 3 figures today. There are also 38 recognised walks to choose from. Yes, Team Mac, we’re talking about you…. Katrina will have you up at the crack of dawn for your hike which will no doubt be followed by coffee and cake. A few things that are a must today. (riders and Team Mac) Flinders Chase National Park – home to the impressive Remarkable Rocks. Today could actually be a bit of a triathlon which a bike, then a walk and finished off with a swim. Vivonne Bay for a Whiting burger. It’s compulsory. Whiting is a fush by the way and the Aussies are pretty proud of it. The photos do look good, and I will never argue with Dingo when it comes to food. If he says that you need to go to Vivonne Bay for a Whiting Burger, then that’s good enough for me… It’s not all about the food. Yes, it’s all about the food. We really like the look of the Fig Tree restaurant for dinner. It’s our suggestion that we all go for a late evening walk. Otherwise, we may have issues fitting on the ferry. /Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge
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Day 5, Wednesday 21 JanuaryBack to the City6am yoga. Just kidding. Two choices. First option, coffee ride before leaving for the ferry. It’s then the bus back to Adelaide. It’s about 4hrs door to door. Give or take. Option 2 is the Beam me up Scotty plan. Quick coffee ride after breakfast and then a 30min flight back to Adelaide. Your bikes will travel with the bus but you won’t need them this afternoon anyway. Speaking of this afternoon - we visit the City of Adelaide Tour Village in the City Square, which is only a 15 min walk from our hotel. We’ll wander down there late Afternoon and visit the teams and mechanics. The STDU offers fantastic opportunities to get close up and personal with your favourite riders. The Tour village is also a great place for food. Offering an amazing variety of street food (we suggest you have dinner here) and refreshments. (Beer) Oh, and in the past, we’ve also had clients buy bikes here as all of the major brands offer opportunities to get your credit card out. What’s stopping you? /Accommodation: Majestic Rooftop Adelaide Hotel
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Day 6, Thursday 22 JanuaryIt will be Epic (Participation event)Thousands of fair dinkum Aussies and a handful of fast skinny Kiwis. It's Epic Day. You'll have three ride choices which are usually - 140kms, 100kms and 60kms. This ride is exactly the same route as what the professional's race, they start late morning and will chase us all the way to the finish. The Epic (was called Challenge Tour and before that – Bupa) is very different to the Taupo Cycle challenge. It's a lot more relaxed and I'd encourage you to stop at all the food stations and check out the local food and coffee. I for one will be targeting the fruit loaf which I remember fondly. We arrive at the finish and join all the other riders in a local park. RH will have a meeting point along with cold drinks. Dingo will even get the massage table out. Sit back and watch the race finish live or on the big screen. Team MAC – there’s really no point in you joining us today. How about a local walk along the River Torrens before leaving for the Barossa. Your first stop will be Maggie Beer’s Farm. We’ve booked a fun, iterative cooking demonstration, where all the produce used is grown and made at Maggie’s farm. We are then served tastings of the delicious dishes with a glass of non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Welcome to Barossa Valley!! We’ll see you back in the city later. Tonight is a free dinner, but we could arrange to catch up at the local Belgium Beer Bar. We’ll see you there. /Accommodation: Majestic Rooftop Adelaide Hotel
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Day 7, Friday 23 JanuaryIt's off to the Hills!! Via the Mens TDU stageWe leave the city and make our way to Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. Without doubt the best cycling in the State, arguably in all of Australia. We start with breakfast. Hmm, which is at the top of Mount Lofty. 700m above sea level and the café is opening just for us. The big breakfast is unbelievably big, the views are amazing. Thousands of cyclists ride this climb daily. Yes, we’ll see today’s stage of the Men’s Santos Tour Down Under. Our target will be the town of Uraidla. Why? Because it’s a cool little town that has an awesome café. We know it well and the owners also know us. They always put aside room for Team RH. That’s the advantage of having local guides. Riding hotel to hotel has its advantages. Your bags will be in your Hahndorf hotel room when you arrive. Please make sure they’re labelled clearly with your RH tags. We will have plenty of ride options. Ranging from 50km to 110km. None of them will be flat!! Other than Hahndorf being a gorgeous little German town and a fantastic place to stay for a couple of nights, it’s also noticeably cooler than staying in the city. In fact, the difference can be up to 10 degrees when compared with central Adelaide. That’s a good thing!! Team MAC - This morning Katrina has booked a tour of Jurlque Farm where the beautiful, all-natural skin care range is made. We’ll walk through the gardens and experience the complete biodynamic process. We’ll then visit the historic Art Gallery of the famous Australian Artist, Hans Heysen at The Cedars and enjoy a light lunch in the gardens. Finally, we’ll head to Melba’s Chocolate Factory and Kris Lloyd Cheeses for a tasting ... if we’re still hungry!! /Accommodation: The Manna of Hahndorf
Ps, Practical stuff – you have access to washing machines, etc, when in Hahndorf. |
Day 8, Saturday 24 JanuaryQueen stage race, finish Willunga Hill!!Our plan is soooooooo cunning. We ride from Hahndorf to Willunga. We plan to arrive at the race start by 10.30am. The great thing about the STDU is that the professionals are very approachable. Unlike at say the TDF or the Giro where you can’t get within 50m. It’s then a race route loop out to the coast and it features Willunga Hill. The pros ride it twice, we will just go up once. The atmosphere at the top of Willunga is Alpe d’Huez like. Almost 20,000 people cram the last 4km of this hilltop finish. This is the stage that will ultimately decide the winner of this year's event. Again, a choice of rides. Anywhere from 70km to 120km. After 8 continuous days riding there will be some legs that are tired. Others will be just warming up. There’s only one restaurant at the top of Willunga Hill and we now have it secured for the next 5 years. The idea is that you can use the restaurant as a base and come and go as you please. They have a beautiful deck, shady spots, BIG screen and all the comforts. We know Andy, the owner, well. He really looks after us. Don’t worry – we won’t make you ride. We’ll take your bikes which means you can enjoy that 2nd or 3rd glass of wine. A long Italian-Aussie lunch from 12-2.30 pm just in time to see the finish at 3.00 pm. Team MAC – You visit the d’Arenberg Cube (McLaren Vale) featuring a contemporary art museum including a Salvador Dali exhibit. We’ll also enjoy wine tasting and lunch. The design concept for the building was developed by d'Arenberg's Chief Winemaker, Chester Osborn, who is of the fourth generation of the Osborn family. The vineyard dates back to 1912 but the new building is world renowned for its unique design. /Accommodation: The Manna of Hahndorf
PS, we’ve hired the local movie theatre to show you a movie after dinner. In 2025 we saw the Greg LeMond doco – The Last Rider. It was brilliant and we’ll look for something similar. Otherwise, we could revert back to some Russian Fly Fishing. PPS, cyclists are welcome to join Team Mac today at the Cube.
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Day 9 Sunday 25 JanuaryFinal stage - A must see…We depart our Adelaide Hills hotel and head to the TDU final stage. We’ve arranged a start pen & walk through. We expect the stage to start at about midday and finish at 3pm. Our guides will tick off your perfect day. TDU, great food, fantastic bike ride before we will head to our city hotel after the race finish. Team Mac - This morning we’ll walk along the river and take a ride on a historical boat called Popeye. We’ll see the buildings of the city as well as learn all the interesting history of Adelaide, including the stories of the old prison. Afterwards, we can choose to spend time shopping or join the riders to enjoy the race finale. Tonight, we really want to finish off with a highlight. So, after packing up all the bikes it’s time for some fine dining. In 2025 booked a private room at the National Wine Institute of Australia. It was fantastic!! , so, we’ve decided to go back. Please bring you flashiest clothes. You will look smashing. A few stories and lies will be told as we raise a glass to you. In fact, we’ve included a wine package showcasing South Australia’s finest. What a day ... What a trip. /Accommodation: Majestic Roof Garden Hotel
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Day 10 Monday 26 JanuaryHome, JamesThe tour concludes with breakfast. Some of us will pack our bags, bikes and leave for the airport. Our tour is all but over. Or ... We can easily look after extra accommodation if you choose to stay on. It's a really nice way to round out the holiday. Today is Australia day and there’s a lot going on. Throughout the city there will be hundreds of events – celebrating Australia’s National Day. In the early evening, join the "Respecting Country" parade at Elder Park, celebrating the cultural diversity of South Australia. Conclude your day by staying at Elder Park for live music performances and a spectacular fireworks display, creating a memorable end to your Australia Day celebrations. Whatever you decide - thank you for joining us. Safe travels home ... Meals Included: Breakfast |
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