SECRET S BENDS: Episode One - Gumeracha To Williamstown
As a driving enthusiast who calls the Adelaide Hills home, it is not unheard of for a weekend to be spent exploring in search of new roads to tackle.
Of course, the fan-favourites will always remain. There’s Gorge Road, Greenhill Road, Willunga Hill. You know them. You’ve driven them. You’ve probably sat behind a Camry on a Sunday morning trundle down to the local supermarket.
But in this series, we have gone to extra lengths to find the state’s hidden jewelry box of driving roads, instead of stating the obvious picks.
This trialed-and-tested series is a absolute gamechanger for those committed souls who wake up at 5am not for the sunrise, but for the empty road, who pack a GoPro like a toothbrush and can distinguish an exhaust note echoing through the hills and can name it by induction tone alone.
gumeracha to Williamstown (via Forreston Road and checker hill road)
The Hidden Brother of Gorge Road
While the Gorge is often clogged with slow traffic, Forreston Road stays almost eerily quiet. Flowing curves, blind crests, tight tree tunnels. It’s like someone took Gorge Road, removed the traffic, and opened it up with a higher average speed.
You leave Gumeracha in the rear-view, engine warm, blue sky just starting to peek through the early morning mist. Navigation or playlists aren’t necessary - the anticipation that you’re headed to somewhere most people never think to go is more than enough fuel to keep you focused.
Forreston doesn’t particularly announce itself. By all means, there are more direct ways to get to our destination. But that’s exactly why we love it. Five minutes in, the road begins to breathe, gently at first - broad, lazy curves and rolling elevation that lull you into a rhythm. But then it tightens and trees begin to crowd the tarmac.
Then, a pause. Welcome signs for the township of Forreston fly past; your cue to turn off. This is where the second movement begins.
Checker Hill Road is a different beast. While the introductory section is open and straight, the road narrows and throws everything at you; all the while being a visual masterpiece. A staircase of crests and dips, blind corners, and surprise apexes leave you grinning, as the vista emerges from above the rolling hills.
After continuing on through Kersbrook, South Para Road unwinds and allows you to rest. Cruise alongside scenic reservoirs as you glide through wide farmland into the locality of Williamstown.
Technical Overview:
Length: ~20km
Surface: Generally smooth tarmac with characterful patchwork.
Traffic: Low — mostly locals and the odd motorcycle.
Corners: Tight and technical through Checker Hill; flowing sweepers on Forreston.
Warning: Narrow lanes, off-camber crests, early morning wildlife.
Scenery: Native bush, grazing farmland, and golden paddock views.
Best Time to Drive:
Golden hour after sunrise or mid-morning midweek. Avoid late dusk — Checker Hill gets dark fast, and kangaroos don’t respect braking zones.
Pair With:
Coffee start: The Good Pantry, Gumeracha.
Extended loop: Continue to Eden Valley Road toward Angaston for a flowing contrast
Perfect Car for the Road:
Something balanced and communicative — a BMW E92 M3 with a manual gearbox, or a Toyota GR Yaris with proper tyres.
This is about weight transfer, mid-corner grip, and confidence. Big power? Optional. Good feel? Non-negotiable.
The Truth:
Some roads are social media stars — pretty faces with not much to say.
This route? It’s the opposite. Quiet, technical, brutally honest. And if you listen to how your car responds, it’ll make you a better driver.
So next time someone suggests Gorge Road…
Smile.
Nod.
Then go somewhere better.
