Adventure Riders Latest

Just a group of mates that enjoy getting out on our Adventure bikes most weeks with the occasional longer trip

Crafers-Woodside-Nairne-Verdun

Date: 25 October 2025

Riders: Jonny (Route Commander), Barry (Trail-tool Guardian) & Gravel Hound (yours truly)
Distance: Approx 160kms
 

The Depleted Crew

It was a very depleted crew that rolled out on 25-10-25, the plan being a short spin on a new route that had come the way of Gravel Hound himself. Route Commander Jonny promised to sprinkle a bit of GPS magic to deliver something worthy of the effort — short enough to outrun the forecast storm, but long enough to justify a pie stop.

Only three riders answered the call this time, with the rest of the pack sidelined by milestone birthdays, outback flights, home-renovation chaos, and various interstate adventures.

For the first time since Andri’s upgrade to the Beamer, the two feisty KTM 390s found themselves squaring off against the mighty Africa Twin. With the old Tenere still convalescing in the shed, yours truly pressed Belinda’s bike into service — which seemed like a grand idea until the dash flashed a dismal 9.5 volts.

A quick jump-start got things barking again, and I figured the run from Mount Compass to Reynella would top the battery right up. It didn’t. By the time I rolled in, the poor thing was still flat on its back — another patient for the ever-reliable K-TEK charger.

Saturday Morning Salvation

By dawn, the charger had worked its magic and the little orange KTM fired up without complaint. The plan was simple: meet at Jonny’s and roll early to beat the rain. Naturally, I turned up fashionably late — just in time to witness Barry’s temperamental electronics throw their first tantrum of the day, not ten metres from Jonny’s driveway.

Once the gremlins were banished, we wound our way from Reynella to Woodside, the air thick with that cool, pre-storm tension that makes South Aussie gravel shimmer.

From Woodside, we pointed our front wheels toward Nairne, where the ride truly began. The stretch between those towns is pure Adelaide Hills gold — rolling farmland, weathered gums, and the kind of winding backroads that whisper just one more corner. Settled by German farmers in the 1830s, these hills still carry their old-world charm; stone cottages and historic bridges remind you that horsepower wasn’t always measured in cc.

Bulls, Gravel and a Bakery Worth Finding

The first gravel of the day revealed the 390’s nervous side — light in the front and twitchier than a roo at closing time. Even at my modest 5'6", the standing position felt awkward; taller riders would have looked like contortionists on wheels. It’s clear KTM built this one from the Duke platform — fun on the hardtop, less convincing when the road turns to ruts.

Still, it soldiered on gamely as we wound through farmland and open scrub, dodging puddles left by overnight rain. Somewhere along the route we stopped to greet two magnificent Highland bulls — broad-shouldered, mop-topped, and clearly used to admiration. They posed patiently for photos before losing interest, leaving us chuckling at their indifference.

The gravel gave way to bitumen again, and the lure of caffeine led us straight to the Nairne Bakery on the return leg. What a gem — friendly faces, top-notch food, and arguably one of the best coffees in the Hills. The Bacon Benny Roll deserves its own five-star rating; it’s reason enough to reroute any future ride.

The Run from Nairne to Verdun

From Nairne we looped west, dropping down Old Princes Highway before turning off toward Balhannah and Verdun via a patchwork of quiet backroads and short gravel connectors. It’s the sort of route that feels hand-picked for adventure bikes — gentle rolling clay sections broken up by tarmac sweepers, all framed by vineyards and paddocks dotted with curious alpacas.

The climb out of Nairne offers a stunning vantage across the Onkaparinga Valley before you dive into a series of shaded lanes lined with old gums and stone fences. The descent toward Balhannah is a beauty — fast enough to keep the grins wide, but technical enough to keep you honest.

we could smell the rain coming in from the west. A few stray drops spattered the visors as we skirted the edge of Hahndorf, then rolled down into Verdun, a little town that still wears its 19th-century roots proudly. It once served as a rest stop for bullock teams hauling supplies to the copper mines — today, it’s better known for its pub, and the kind of stone buildings that make every photo look like a postcard.

A Pint, a Mystery, and a Wrap-Up

Bellies full and rain finally catching us, we rolled into Verdun for a well-earned pint. The carpark was packed, yet the pub itself completely empty — a riddle no one could solve but none of us cared to. Cold beer in hand, bikes cooling outside, and boots squelching on polished floorboards — the perfect finish to a day that had delivered laughter, mild chaos, and a proper shakedown for the little KTM.

• Fun Fact: Nairne was one of SA’s first inland towns (1839), once home to a bustling flour mill that supplied early Adelaide. Verdun, formerly called Grünthal (“Green Valley”), was renamed during WWI — though its charm remains distinctly European.

When in Doubt, Flat Out