Fancy a vacay? From wining to dining, these are the Adelaide Hills spots you have to check out.
Planning your escape to the Hills? We’ve put together a handy guide to help you make the most of this wonderful region, which is home to spectacular cool-climate wines and mouth-watering food to match.
Soak up the Bavarian history in Hahndorf – one of Australia’s first German settlements – and make the most of the almost European atmosphere while basing yourself for a few days of exciting exploration. Read on to discover the best cellar doors, where to grab a fast or fancy feed, and where to find the views to make your friends and followers extra jealous.
Start your holiday on a high note by jumping straight into a wine tasting on the way to your accommodation; having decided on your designated driver, of course. Less than a 20-minute drive from the airport, you'll find the inner-city cellar door of Tomich Wines, so you can get off the plane and straight into tasting some Adelaide Hills wine before you’ve even arrived in the region. They're a super sustainable operation known for crafting some A+ wines, so it's the perfect way to kick off your trip.
For dinner, consider indulging in a contemporary five-course tasting menu while taking in the views at Windy Point Restaurant. Hey, you are on holiday, so why not get a bit fancy? Their show-stopping dining room boasts a wall of full length windows overlooking the Gulf of St Vincent and Executive Chef Justin Miles uses fresh, seasonal produce to create an exciting and innovative experience. And if you're after something a little more casual? Crafers Hotel is a warm, friendly and totally unpretentious option with a rich history as one of Adelaide’s first pubs. Imagine a cosy, traditional pub atmosphere with reclaimed wood and leather, complemented by a menu taking inspiration from a chic French bistro. There's even an entirely separate vegan menu, so bring your veggie-loving mates along.
In the morning...
Prepare yourself for the day ahead with a morning stroll through Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens, taking in some fresh air before you head to the wineries. Every season offers something different, though autumn is prime for bright red colours and piles of leaves that are just asking to be kicked around.
Having scratched your nature itch, break your fast with a coffee and pastry at Stirling Cellars & Patisserie, a unique local favourite that houses a café inside a bottle shop. A far cry from your average bottle-o, Stirling Cellars has a clean-cut, Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic that leans towards luxury. It serves gourmet pastries, baguettes and pies made the old fashioned way, and quality specialty coffee courtesy of Five Senses – what a way to start the day.
And now for why you’re really here: kick off your wine tastings at Sidewood Estate, who have been producing elegant cold-climate wines that encapsulate the unique terroir of Adelaide Hills since 2004, and are the largest certified-sustainable winery in the area.
In the afternoon…
All that winery hopping is hungry work, so head to lunch at Pike & Joyce, a renowned winery that sits atop one of the highest points in the Adelaide Hills. Their menu changes with the seasons, offering both à la carte and degustation options, and when you couple dishes like pork belly, barramundi and braised rabbit with friendly service, you’re in for the ultimate long lunch. And did we mention the breathtaking views of the sloping vineyard and beyond?
It's almost time to head back to Hahndorf, but not before a pit stop in Balhannah for another tasting . Shaw + Smith is an unmissable stop, having been awarded best tasting experience by Gourmet Traveller in 2021. Shaw + Smith are pursuing quality above all else, with low yields of hand-picked grapes that are fermented, aged and bottled right there on site in Balhannah. The result is vibrant expressions of the five classic Adelaide Hills styles they stick to – sauvignon blanc, riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir and shiraz.
In the evening…
Take some time before dinner to freshen up and hit Hahndorf's main strip. This is Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, it’s kitschy in all the right ways – an adorable little place that’s a lot of fun to explore. You'll still find traditional butchers, bakers and – quite literally – candlestick makers, but one of the highlights has to be the Hahndorf Inn. This fifth-generation establishment specialises in traditional Bavarian cuisine, and by traditional Bavarian cuisine, we of course mean sausages the size of your arm. Every inch of the inn has retained its period charm and yes, tap beers are available – prost!
In the morning...
Check out of your accommodation and head to breakfast at The Plough, an Irish café serving traditional fry ups and unpretentious hospitality with a side of perfectly prepared banter. It's a short stroll from here to Udder Delights, where you can stock up on delicious Artisan cheeses including the first Aussie unpasteurised blue cheese that was approved for consumption. The owners are super passionate about the ethical treatment of livestock and ensure their dairy cows are grazed on large pastured properties and grass fed throughout the year. And you know what they say about happy cows!
Your last stop before lunch has to be Beerenberg Farm, where you can get your hands dirty doing some strawberry picking. This Adelaide institution has been in operation since 1975 and is a must-do activity if you’re visiting during strawberry season (November to April). Just grab a container, pick to your heart's content, then weigh ‘em up and take ‘em home.
In the afternoon...
Head out to Lot 100 for lunch, the epic home of five of South Australia’s most exciting new producers including Mismatch Brewing, who are passionately brewing craft beer from high quality natural ingredients, and 78 Degrees Distillery, who have helped set the benchmark for Australian spirits. This sprawling property is a collaboration of ideas, featuring new-age buildings next to working fruit orchards and everything in between. Sit down to a curated food experience in the courtyard or restaurant, courtesy of Adelaide food icons Tom Bubner and Shannon Fleming, or opt for the additional beverage discovery package and go on an adventure from cocktails to brews, museum wines and ciders, all perfectly paired to the menu. Make no mistake – Lot 100 is a serious gastronomic delight.
As your weekend winds down, save time to head out to a few final wineries further afield, before returning to Adelaide and onwards to home. Lobethal Road Wines may be situated in a quiet little corner of the Adelaide Hills, but they’re making wines you’ll want to shout about from the rooftops. Announced as one of James Halliday’s 10 Dark Horses in 2020, Lobethal have plantings of classic Hills grapes like chardonnay and shiraz, as well as contemporary styles such as tempranillo, graciano and the Rhône Valley grape roussanne, of which they are the first in the region to cultivate.
It's also well worth travelling slightly out of the way to Paracombe Wines. Elevated high up on an ancient plateau, it sits on 1.7 billion year old soils (yes, you read that right) that the owners have gone to great lengths to honour. Cellar door visits are by appointment only, to allow staff to give guests a personal and special experience. Try Paracombe’s wines and learn the stories behind them as you take in your last panoramic view of the Hills, making for the perfect ending to your Adelaide Hills weekender.
