South Australian Highlights

Explore the small side streets and laneways in the West of the CBD, including Peel Street and Leigh Street, and you’re bound to stumble across a vibrant cocktail lounge or underground bar. The city of Adelaide is continually surprising both tourists and locals alike with a local explosion of new bars, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and various accommodations popping up around the city. Just ten minutes from the city lies the world class Penfold’s Magill Estate for the ultimate city wine experience complete with cellar door, a fine dining restaurant and serene vineyard views. How do you choose the best or must-do restaurants, cellar doors and culinary experiences in Adelaide’s surrounding world-renowned wine regions? Well, quite simply, you can’t, that would be impossible. With differing tastes, palates, and preferences for everyone to cater for and hundreds of world-class wineries and dining options on offer, the answer is simple. Experience it for yourself, with a helping hand from us of course.

Adelaide CBD, Hills & Surrounds

Why not take in a festival or two? Also known as the ‘Festival State’ thanks to the famous Adelaide Fringe, international productions of the Adelaide Festival, Oz Asia and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Food and wine aficionados will feel at home at events like Tasting Australia, Cellar Door Fest and Winter Reds in the Adelaide Hills. Also, on the world stage for sporting events, thousands of tourists descend on the city each year for the start to the UCI World Tour, the Santos Tour Down Under, Australia’s largest domestic motorsport event, the Super loop Adelaide 500 and one of the most popular horse races on the calendar, the Adelaide Cup!

Must do Adelaide Hills

• Lost in a Forest: This 130-year-old church nestled in the town of Uraidla serves up incredible organic wood over pizzas with passion and love.
• Bird in Hand: You had me at sparkling Pinot Noir. A beautiful, modern yet rustic, winery with an award-winning restaurant and an equally successful range of wines.
• Shaw + Smith: A sleek, modern cellar door experience with a fantastic wine flight tasting option for a lazy afternoon overlooking the stunning views.
• Lot 100: For a change of pace to wine, here you can blend your own gin, engage in the native kitchen cooking class and stroll through the picturesque apple orchards of Hills Cider.

Roughly a 30-minute drive just outside the city you can escape to the Adelaide Hills where quaint suburbs and local towns, such as picturesque Hahndorf, provide the perfect place to grab a coffee and cake, plus there’s more premium wineries than you’ll know what to do with. For our must dos in this region our Adelaide’s Hills, Valley and Vales blog will give you a great start. 

For an extended stay, explore the stunningly rugged Kangaroo Island. An intriguing ferry ride or short flight from the South Australian mainland begins the journey to this island sanctuary with over a third of the island consisting of protected nature reserves and the remainder, a perfect blend of unspoilt coastline, gourmet local artisan produces, world class wineries, abundant roaming wildlife, spectacular raw scenery at every turn and that unmistakable country air and hospitality. An intriguing ferry ride or short flight from the South Australian mainland begins the journey to this island sanctuary. It's also Australia's most remote and undiscovered wine region, with around 18 wineries dotted about the island all producing high quality wines quickly becoming some of the world's best. Here are just some of many reasons to get your skates on and discover, or even rediscover, this wilderness dream. Our Kangaroo Island Must See and Do blog is a must read if you are considering a visit.

Limestone Coast

Travel along South Australia’s finest coastline this Summer and take a trip down to the Limestone Coast. Just 4.5 hours out of Adelaide you can explore South Australia’s 1860s heritage, pristine blue lakes, sinkholes and of course stunning beach fronts and coastal views. Experience a romantic couples retreat, Getaway with the family and take the kids on a cultural adventure. There is something for everyone on the Limestone Coast.

Coonawarra is one of SA’s most loved wine regions and is the ultimate destination for red wine lovers. Coonawarra is world-famous for its full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. There are more than 24 cellar doors to explore all within close distance. Also located in the heart of the Limestone Coast is the lucious green Mount Gambier with the famous Kilsby and Umpherston Sinkhole. The Kilsby Sinkhole is a phenomenal natural wonder with a unique history. To read more about the Limestone Coast in depth visit our Explore Limestone Coast blog. 

South Australian Wine Regions

McLaren Vale

Only 45 minutes south of Adelaide in South Australia, McLaren Vale is home to sustainable winegrowing, world-class wines and culinary experiences, as well as pristine natural attractions and unparalleled tourism offerings including unique and beautiful accommodation options. Best known for Shiraz, McLaren Vale also excels in the production of ultra-premium Grenache and Cabernet. Spanish and Italian varieties such as Fiano, Vermentino, Tempranillo and Sangiovese are also very well suited climatically and provide wine lovers with yet another layer of discovery.

• Pizzateca: Transport yourself to Italy, literally. From the moment you enter the background Italian music draws you in as does the incredible aromas of fresh baked onsite wood oven breads, true Italian pizzas and a feed me option which is next level.
• Woodstock: One of my absolute favourite wineries in SA. In a natural, welcoming setting amongst the towering gum tress complete with roaring fire in the winter or ample shady retreats in the warmer months. Oh, and the wine is pretty great too.

Barossa Valley

Enjoy a multitude of world-class wineries on a day tour or stroll down the charming main street of Tanunda and discover quirky boutiques, antique stores, and gourmet eateries. Sip world-class wine while gazing over picturesque rows of vineyards and check out the view from Mengler’s Hill Lookout then explore the Barossa Sculpture Park below.

• Lunch or dinner at Hentley Farm: this award-winning restaurant offers a gastronomic journey of exceptional proportions with their superb degustation menu with paired wines.
• Rockfords: great cosy little cellar door with a beautiful, popular Rose and sought-after Basket Press Shiraz.
• Maggie Beers Farm Shop: How could you not include this on your list. Wander the shop and taste the products, engage in the free daily demonstrations, and come away with some quality gifts for family and friends, or keep them for yourself.
• Kalleske Wines: Offering handcrafted organic wines for the health-conscious connoisseurs with organic wine production very much on the radar. $20 per person gets you a flight of six organic wines each paired with a gourmet produce tasting.

Clare Valley

Hire a bike and explore the natural beauty and renowned wineries found along the Riesling Trail including the refurbished Pikes Wines cellar door and restaurant. Step back in time while staying in a historic Miner’s Cottage in the nearby town of Burra and take in the impressive view from the Quarry Hill Lookout.

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