SECRET S BENDS: Episode Three - Mount Compass To Ashbourne
Beginning in the larger regional town of Mount Compass, this route features the perfect blend of open air and tight, technical sections that keep you on your toes.
Best tackled at the crack of dawn, you roll out of Mount Compass’ wide streets with barely a car in sight. The sky is still yawning open, the air hangs cool and dense, and your tyres haven’t even finished warming before the road starts to move.
You are first met with Nangkita Road, which we regard as the unsung gem of the southern hills.
While the stretch of open tarmac does seem welcoming as you begin to open the throttle, it doesn’t particularly ease you in. From the moment you leave town, the road flows. Fast, open sweepers alongside crisp camber and long sightlines make Nangkita road feel designed with driver enjoyment at front of mind. Not laid down by engineers, but composed by someone who understands balance, rhythm and tempo, and how these collaborate to result in a truly invigorating driving experience.
This is momentum driving at its purest. Lift, tuck, power, and repeat. There’s not a single wasted corner or one unnecessary straight. It’s the kind of road where you hit the second apex and find yourself smiling without knowing why.
Then comes the link: a tight but seamless transition onto Bull Creek Road, and things get arguably even better.
Here, the terrain tightens, the trees draw closer and the corners ask more of you. You feel every single input now, every brake modulation and steering correction as you make your way up the gradual incline. Bull Creek winds like it’s trying to shake you, but if you stay smooth and consistent, it rewards you with one of the most addictive, flowing sequences in the entire state.
By you reach the picturesque town of Ashbourne, you’re not thinking about getting out of your car to relax. You’re thinking about turning around and doing it all again (downhill is equally as engaging.
Technical Overview:
Length: ~23km (Mount Compass → Nangkita Rd → Bull Creek Rd → Ashbourne)
Surface: Exceptionally smooth bitumen; well-maintained and confidence-inspiring
Traffic: Minimal, mostly local farmers and motorcyclists on weekends
Corners: Open, high-speed sweepers on Nangkita; tighter, technical uphill bends on Bull Creek
Hazards: Occasional loose gravel near driveways; light wildlife early morning and farming vehicles
Scenery: Rolling farmland, tree-lined descents, misty valley floor sections
Best Time to Drive:
Weekday mornings just after sunrise. Golden light, no tourists, clean lines of sight. Avoid mid-summer weekends as the sun gets harsh and cyclist traffic increases near Ashbourne.
Pair With:
Breakfast start: Mount Compass Bakery (trust us on the sausage rolls)
Post-run coffee or Lunch: Greenman Inn is always a treat, and common destination for drivers.
Add-on route: Turn north from Ashbourne and link to Paris Creek Road for a perfect stretch into Strathalbyn, or continue uphill on Bull Creek Road to Meadows.
Perfect Car for the Road:
A Porsche Cayman GTS or an Alpine A110: something agile, mid-engined, and made for smooth transitions.
Even a swift hot hatch like the i20N or a Golf GTI will absolutely shine here.
This isn’t about brutal power — it’s about balance, response, and flow. And the more communicative and direct your steering, the better you’ll cooperate with the road.
The Truth
Most drivers chase as many corners and bends as possible. But truly great roads combine everything - sweeping corners, technical sections, cambered apex’s and open stretches to let the car sing. This route gives everything, and we found it when we were looking for nothing.
Drive it once, and you’ll want to drive it again.
Drive it twice, and you’ll start telling friends it was “pretty good”, because you want gatekeep it for yourself.
