Tours From Adelaide

One of Adelaide’s greatest assets is its proximity to a number of fascinating regions. Vineyards and

wineries, rolling hills and quaint villages, seaside resorts and beautiful wildlife reserves are all within an

easy drive of South Australia’s capital.

Barossa Valley

50 km from Adelaide via the Sturt Highway A must for visitors to Adelaide is the Barossa, Australia’s

premier wine- producing region. Located north-east of Adelaide, the Barossa boasts more than forty

wineries and a multitude of historic buildings, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Visit Gawler, Lyndoch,

Tanunda, Seppeltsfield, Nuriootpa and Angaston, detouring at will to smaller villages and visiting the

tasting facilities at the winer¬ies; make sure the driver is happy to forgo this pleasure! Alternatively,

extend your visit and stay overnight at one of the many accommodation oudets in the area. The major

festival here is the Barossa Valley Vintage Festival which starts on Easter Monday each odd-numbered

year. In August the Barossa Classic Gourmet Weekend offers visitors the opportunity to sample and

enjoy fine wines and gourmet food. The award- winning Barossa Music Festival is held in October.

Clare Valley

135 km from Adelaide via the Sturt Highway and Highway 32 (Highway 83 optional north of Tarlee)

The Clare Valley produces superb wines and the region is known internationally for its riesling. Driving

north through Kapunda, Australia’s first mining town, you will pass some of the State’s richest pastoral

country, noted for its stud sheep. The wine towns begin at Auburn and continue to Watervale, Sevenhill

and Clare. The area is noted for its prize-winning table wines. Sevenhill Cellars winery was started by

two Jesuit priests in 1851 and still operates today. Slightly further afield, there are several fine colonial

buildings, such as the magnificent Martindale Hall at Mintaro, which was used in the film Picnic at

Hanging Rock. The area also has many charming parks and picturesque picnic spots. See also: Vineyards

and Wineries, and individual town entries in A-Z listing.

McLaren region

42 km from Adelaide via the South Road Another trip for wine-lovers is to the vineyards of the McLaren

region. There are more than 50 wineries in the area, often in picturesque bush settings. All are well

signposted and most have winetastings and cellar—door sales.

Hardys Reynella, Chapel Hill, Seaview and YVirra Wirra are some of the names to recognise. Your return

trip could include a visit to the nearby beaches of Moana, Port Noarlunga and Christies. See also:

Ylneyards and Wineries; The Fleurieu Peninsula and individual town entries in A-Z listing.

Fleurieu Peninsula

112 km from Adelaide to its furthest point via the South Road See: The Fleurieu Peninsula. On the return

trip do not miss historic Strathalbyn first settled in 1839, on the banks of the River Angas. Milang, 20 km

to the south-east, is on the shores of Lake Alexandrina. Take your camera - the birdlife is fascinating.

National Motor Museum

Birdwood, 43 km from Adelaide via the North-East Road

The National Motor Museum (open daily) houses the most important motor-vehicle collection in

Australia. Veteran, vintage and classic cars, and motorcycles number more than 300 and the grounds are

a perfect venue for a picnic. At Gumeracha, west of Birdwood, is the Toy Factory, where you can climb

the largest wooden rock-ing horse in the world. Drive back to Adelaide through Mount Torrens to the

small towm of Lobethal, which was founded in the 1840s. The Archives and Historical Museum houses a

remarkable exhibit: the old Lobethal College, complete with shingled roof, which was built in 1845 (open

Sunday afternoons). Fairyland Village at Lobethal has fourteen chalets, each depicting a fairytale or a

nursery rhyme (open daily). There is a scenic route through Basket Range and Norton Summit back to

Adelaide.