Frequently Asked Questions

The next RAA Bay to Birdwood will be held on Sunday 18 October 2026.

Awards Judging will be conducted in the morning of  Saturday 17 October 2026  in the Torrens Parade Ground (view map).

There will not be an Alternative Start venue available at Civic Park, Modbury (view map). However, this site will remain as a designated Rest Stop for the journey from West Beach to Birdwood. The rest stop will have food and drink options available to refuel participants en route to Birdwood, as well as parking and bathroom facilities.

Integration of Civic Park participants to the primary route along North East Road has presented significant logistical complications for some time, exacerbated by the introduction of 9:00am Sunday trading in 2022.

The introduction of an additional packet of vehicles prior to the climb from Tea Tree Gully into the Adelaide Hills has caused additional congestion and traffic flow issues for participants in our eldest veteran and vintage vehicles travelling from West Beach. Following this feedback received from participants and from the advisory committee (representing a number of clubs), we will continue to offer Civic Park, Modbury as an official “Rest Stop” for participants and vehicles prior to the climb to Birdwood.

The official RAA Bay to Birdwood route utilises public roads from Barratt Reserve, West Beach to the National Motor Museum, Birdwood. The route contains changed traffic conditions throughout, including reduced speed limits, some lane closures, and the anticipated increase in traffic volume.

Vehicles not displaying the official RAA Bay to Birdwood entrant sticker will not be permitted to access the start site at West Beach , rest stop at Modbury, or the RAA Bay to Birdwood Finish Festival at the National Motor Museum. We would highly recommend that non entrant vehicles avoid the hill climb from St Agnes to Birdwood and advise taking another route if attending the Finish Festival in Birdwood.

Entries will open in June. A link to register will become available through this website.

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The RAA Bay to Birdwood is for vehicles that are classified as historic in age (30 years or older) and original in appearance. Click here to read the terms and conditions for entering the event.

Get ready to fill in your registration. When completing the registration form, you will be required to upload a photo of your vehicle that is taken at an angle clearly showing its front and side – as it will be presented on the day. So take this time to get your photo (3 photos if entering an Award) ready. Please make sure the rims/wheels (side profile) can be clearly seen as indicated in the conditions of entry. Failure to upload a photo or one that doesn’t show the vehicle clearly may delay your entry or make you ineligible.

No refund of entry fees is offered post 31 August 2026 unless the event is cancelled or rescheduled. Prior to this date a refund may be applied if an entrant needs to withdraw their entry. See conditions of entry for the event for full policy.

To ensure a faster entry at the gate, we encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance. Visitors can purchase tickets to RAA Bay to Birdwood on the day with card only. The National Motor Museum is a cashless museum.

*Entrants to the RAA Bay to Birdwood please note that your entry includes admission to the Finish Festival, including the National Motor Museum, for all legally seated occupants of the entered vehicle.

The National Motor Museum is the traditional finish site for the 1500+ RAA Bay to Birdwood vehicles. After an early morning start at Barrett Reserve, West Beach entrants travel the 67km trip to Birdwood and enter the museum grounds via Church Street where they are parked. Soak up the wonderful atmosphere and admire hundreds of rarely seen historic vehicles and talk to the owners. Enjoy quality regional produce, Adelaide Hills craft beer, wines and spirits plus delicious gourmet food served by local food trucks. Attendees are encouraged to wear vintage clothing and enter the Fashions on the Field competition for best period-dress.

There are NO road closures during the RAA Bay to Birdwood, however there may be changed traffic conditions along the route.

Tickets will be on sale in early September!

Want to be the first to know when they drop? Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest event news, ticketing alerts, and updates delivered straight to your inbox. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for real-time announcements.

Finish Festival tickets will be refunded if the event is cancelled or rescheduled (and you cannot or do not wish to attend the rescheduled event). Requests for a refund must be made in writing within a reasonable time. Refunds are not offered as a result of a change in personal circumstances.

TBC

You can do both! We accept both online pre-registrations and on-the-day entries. However, please take careful note of the following strict cut-off times:

• Entering on the day: You must register in person at the fashion marquee before 12:00 PM.
• Pre-registered online: You must arrive and check in at the fashion marquee before 1:00 PM.

No, entering the competition is completely free! However, please note that if you are NOT a registered vehicle entrant, you will still need to purchase a general admission ticket to the Finish Festival to enter the museum grounds and access the fashion stage area.

Street parking is available in the areas surrounding the National Motor Museum. Additional parking can be found at the Birdwood Oval and Park, where a small donation may be requested (view map).

Some disability parking has been allocated on Blumel Road for permit holders. We would advise pre-purchasing tickets to the Finish Festival as the Blumel Road gate is for pre-purchased ticket holders only.

If you are a vehicle entrant in the RAA Bay to Birdwood and require disability parking, please have your permit pass visible as you arrive at the Finish Festival so the traffic marshals can direct you accordingly.

No. There are no dedicated event shuttle buses operating between the city and the Finish Festival at Birdwood.

However, if you wish to use public transport, you can use the standard Adelaide Metro and LinkSA regional bus networks. Please note that weekend services are limited, so you will need to plan your journey carefully. Please Check the Adelaide Metro or the LinkSA website ahead of time to confirm weekend timetables.

Yes! Staying overnight in the region is a fantastic way to beat the early morning rush. Accommodation in the Adelaide Hills fills up incredibly fast for the RAA Bay to Birdwood weekend. We highly recommend booking your stay well in advance via South Australia Tourism or Adelaide Hills visitor centres.

No. There is no public overnight camping, festival parking stays, or caravan facilities available on-site at the National Motor Museum grounds. If you are traveling with a caravan or looking to camp, please check out the official caravan parks and campgrounds located in nearby townships.

We highly value your feedback! Following the event, we will send out a comprehensive post-event survey via email to all registered vehicle entrants, ticket holders, and stakeholders.

Alternatively, you can submit your thoughts or suggestions at any time by filling out our online feedback form here: Online Feedback Form.

We are always looking for passionate volunteers to help us bring this historic event to life! Volunteer applications typically open a few months ahead of the event. To ensure you don’t miss the call-out for the next event, keep an eye on our website’s volunteer section or sign up for our RAA Bay to Birdwood newsletter for updates.

There are fantastic opportunities for corporate sponsors, regional businesses, and event vendors to engage with our passionate audience:

• Corporate Partners: For major partnerships and corporate alignment opportunities, please reach out to our team directly via email at baytobirdwood@history.sa.gov.au.

• Event Vendors: If you are looking to trade at the Finish Festival, Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for both Vintage Fashion and Mobile Food & Beverage vendors will officially open in July. Keep a close eye on our website and social media channels for the launch!

You can easily get in touch with our event management team through any of the following channels:

• Email: Send your inquiries directly to baytobirdwood@history.sa.gov.au.
• Online Form: Visit our official Get In Touch page to submit an online message.
• Social Media: Direct message us on our official Facebook or Instagram pages.

Our team generally responds within 2–3 business days during standard operating hours.