South Australia’s awash with stand-out wine and food experiences. From secluded vineyard suites to hosted cellar door sessions, here’s where to party your palates away.
Impress your foodie friends back home with a stay at The Louise – think secluded suites, fine-dining restaurant and a private cliff edge entertaining area. Or try the Lost Retreats range – think cabin in the woods, outdoor bath and unplugging from the modern world.
Barossa Valley
One of South Australia’s most famous wine regions, Barossa Valley is a gastronomic treasure trove. Just an hour north of Adelaide, the luscious vineyards and quaint European villages will transport you to another country and time. With countless cellar doors and top-quality restaurants, the Barossa is a must for visitors and locals alike.
Take a day tour of the region and enjoy the local produce, wines and lifestyle on offer. Visit TeAro Estate to sample morning tea sourced from the local bakery and hear stories from four generations of family vignerons. At Kellermeister, a quaint mud brick cellar door, sample the wine range with views out to the vineyard and the Barossa hills. Then, it’s onto Lambert Estate in Angaston to try structured wine tastings and savour gourmet cheese platters paired with a glass of the house wines. Finish your full-day tour with a visit to Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop where you can taste her full product range and browse amongst her personal selection of regional specialty goods.
The Barossa is a foodie’s paradise with plenty of restaurants offering everything from Asian cuisine to locally-sourced menus made using native ingredients. Award-winning spots offering lavish tasting menus, as well as those with a more laid-back vibe and hearty meals, can be found around every corner.
Soak up the region’s way of life at the annual Barossa Vintage Festival, which celebrates all things local with a parade, gourmet events and homemade scarecrows adorning gardens and schools. Then, come evening, the streets are awash with locals sipping wines at bars and restaurants.
Premium guided vacation brand, Insight Vacations, has a curated range of short local food and wine experiences across the state. From a five-day itinerary exploring the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills, to a six-day journey discovering Tasmania’s food and whisky trails, these getaways are perfect for those looking for a quick domestic culinary escape.
Kangaroo Island
As its name suggests, Kangaroo Island is a natural wonderland with a raw and rugged coastline that’s home to native wildlife and renowned for its mouth-watering cuisine. Fly direct from Adelaide to KI or take the Sealink or KI Connect ferry and you’ll find yourself on a different kind of holiday, one that’s filled with wildlife-spotting and gourmet treats.
Get your fill of wild creatures with a tour that brings you close to kangaroos and koalas, then head to local wineries for tasting sessions. You can visit both the big names and boutique cellar doors, ideally with a winery expert to guide you along the way.
This 14-day tailor-made trip is a great option for couples who love food and wine but also want to see the best of South Australia, including a few more cultural highlights than your standard itinerary. From the thriving markets of Adelaide to the acclaimed vineyards and gourmet foods of Barossa Valley, this trip is packed with experiences for the full gourmet traveller.
Located just off the coast of Adelaide, Kangaroo Island is a wild and rugged wilderness with an unmistakable sanctity. The island teems with unique wildlife, stunning coastal scenery and a laidback lifestyle that makes it the perfect choice for couples seeking a romantic getaway in South Australia.
One of the most impressive places to stay on KI is the five-bedroom boutique resort, One Kangaroo Island, which overlooks a pristine beach. Here, you’ll enjoy an upscale country experience in your own private suite where old-world opulence meets contemporary luxuries.
At this retreat, the secluded self-contained cottages are individually designed with their own bush-luxe appeal. Four are in the 1850s homestead and one is in a newer wing and all offer king beds, alfresco hot tubs, and a glass fronted sauna. During your stay, look out for galahs and kangaroos, then marvel at Flinders Chase National Park’s Remarkable Rocks and Admiral’s Arch.
Alternatively, opt for the more remote but equally luxurious Middleton Lodge on the east coast. Here, a collection of colourful self-contained huts with their own coastal theme and quirky features, are just a short stroll to Middle Surf Beach.
Adelaide City
At one time Australia’s dullest major city, Adelaide has since shaken off its drab reputation with a burgeoning foodie culture and world class wine regions on its doorstep. It’s an ideal base for a short break and works perfectly as the urban change of pace at the end of an extended drive holiday around South Australia’s iconic regions. Uncover laneway secrets in bustling central city, marvel at the stunning flora in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and browse the delicious treats on offer at Adelaide Central Market. Take a cruise on the historic Adelaide trams or stroll through Victoria Square to explore the artisan market and boutique shops.
There’s an array of boutique hotels, quaint cottages and villas in the city and suburbs to suit your budget and accommodation preferences. Whether you prefer to stay in the opulent Pullman Adelaide offering New York-Italo inspired luxury or want to holiday amid tranquil surrounds in the Mount Lofty House wine region, you’ll find unique accommodation options to suit your tastes and budget. Dine at a top restaurant, like the acclaimed Barketta or Essay Kitchen which describe themselves as taking you on a food journey or enjoy a wine tasting session with a local expert at a cellar door.
Affordability isn’t sacrificed when it comes to dining out either. There are many restaurants to choose from in the city and surrounding regions with an array of cuisines and price points. You could try a small plate at the renowned Osteria Oggi or indulge in an extravagant dinner with the likes of Nigella Lawson, Cate Blanchett and Jimmy Barnes at the opulent Fugazzi.
A range of prestigious events and festivals take place throughout the year in Adelaide and its regions. Spring is when the city celebrates its thriving markets and the wine harvest while summer is when the city shines at events such as Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaide. Autumn is when nature puts on a show as the leaves turn into a kaleidoscope of colours around the regions.
Adelaide Hills
South Australia is famous the world over for its pristine produce, renowned wines and cultural treasures, but it’s equally celebrated for the laidback lifestyle of its small towns and villages. It’s a place where you can slow down, breathe deeply and devour food and wine that warms the heart and soul. Whether you’re exploring wine regions, shopping for cheeses or sampling the best local fare, your weekend getaway to Adelaide Hills will leave you with lasting memories.
The lush vineyards and dreamy hills landscapes of the Adelaide Hills are a nature-lover’s paradise. Amidst this heavenly scenery you’ll discover orchards, family farm gates and century-old stone cottages, plus a thriving community of boutique restaurants, cafes and cellar doors.
During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some of the most exquisite cool-climate wines in Australia. Sample the wines of Bird in Hand vineyard, a local favourite, or visit Shaw + Smith, named ‘Best Large Cellar Door’ by Gourmet Travellerin 2018. Or, head to Longview Vineyard for a year-round Sunday tapas session perfectly matched to their award-winning wines.
You can also pick your own strawberries at Beerenberg from October to April, don an apron for the Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese or tapas themed classes at Sticky Rice Cooking School in Stirling and visit Jurlique to see how the biodynamic ingredients for their popular skin care products are grown on their organic farm in Biggs Flat. And of course, there are a variety of events and festivals throughout the year to celebrate all things food and wine in the Adelaide Hills.
If you’re looking for a truly relaxing romantic escape, book a stay at the stunning Airbnb home, Ode to the Orchard in Lenswood. Surrounded by orchards, vineyards and bushland the cottage is the ultimate couples retreat with a claw foot bath overlooking the rolling hills. Then, soak up the sun from the veranda and enjoy an impromptu BBQ with your loved one.
There’s a wide range of accommodation in the Adelaide Hills from secluded cosy B&Bs and vineyard cottages, to hip country pubs and luxurious five-star luxury villas. You can even opt for a farmstay or caravan and camping adventure to really connect with the local community.