“It’s going to be a great time for a party and we are going to celebrate.”

“It’s about celebrating our trees, our history and showcasing what we have.”

Fresh off the International Sculpture Symposium in April and the Hoot Jazz Festival in June, the Adelaide Hills community will have to wait until the beginning of 2013 to soak up another world-wide event which will run from January 20-27.

Minister for Tourism, Gail Gago, supports the announcement made by race director Mike Turtor, saying she is excited about the exposure that regional South Australian towns such as Mt Barker will receive.

“I’m excited to see that next year’s event includes a number of towns or suburbs which will beinvolved in hosting a stage start or finish for the first time,” she said.

“It gives us an opportunity to showcase more unique parts of South Australia and the economic benefit to these towns will be significant.”

The state will be hoping to capitalise on the 2013 event that generated over $42 million earlier this year by adding other new components to bolster its revenue.

A new ŠKODA King of the Mountain climb will be part of the second stage on the devastating Corkscrew Rd, while sprinters and all-rounders will be more equally accounted for with three sprints to be included in the stage-one leg through the Hills suburb of Charleston.

2013 Santos Tour Down Under race routes:

Sunday 20 January – People’s Choice Classic – Rymill Park, Adelaide (51km)

Monday 21 January – Rest day

Tuesday 22 January – Stage 1 – Prospect to Lobethal (135km)

Wednesday 23 January – Stage 2 – Mt Barker to Rostrevor (116.5km)

Thursday 24 January – Stage 3 – Unley to Stirling (139km)

Friday 25 January – Bupa Stage 4 – Modbury to Tanunda (126.5km)

Saturday 26 January – Jayco Stage 5 – McLaren Vale to Old Willunga Hill (151.5km)

Sunday 27 January – Stage 6 – Elder Park, Adelaide (90km)