Barossa Valley is a famous wine region that is a must when you’re travelling around South Australia.
If you’re heading to Adelaide, this can be a great base while you head off to explore more of the area. A rental car is a great mode of transport as you’ll have the freedom to take your time and choose where you want to go.
Why should you do a scenic drive?
You can do the Barossa Valley Grape Vine Trail in a day, and this is ample time to see some of the highlights. If you want to see more of the area, however, give yourself a few days and visit a lot of places.
The looping route is perfect as you’ll constantly be venturing into unchartered territory and seeing stunning views the entire way.
For food and wine lovers
There are four communities of Barossa, Angaston, Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Lyndoch. Throughout each there are vineyards and cellar doors that offer some of the best fresh and local wine and food in South Australia.
Throughout the area there are approximately 160 wineries and more than 80 cellar doors. Wine became a thriving culture here way back in 1842 and continues to thrive. As soon as you get to Barossa, your first stop should be Tanunda where you’ll find the Barossa Visitor Centre. This is a great place to get information about places to eat, must-visit places and local knowledge about the area.
Also in Tanunda are some amazing attractions that will kick off your visit to the region. There’s the Barossa Historical Museum, Regional Gallery and the Living Gallery. At each of these you’ll see a great range of work from regional artists as well as that from the rest of Australia and further afield.
Chateau Tanunda is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest winery and is a definite must. Take a walk through the gardens and cricket ground, try taste delights at the cellar door and have a sip or two of some exquisite wines.
There are also some great places to visit for beer lovers. If you’re visiting in the weekend, the Barossa Brewing Company in Greenock has tastings of their beer that is carefully crafted from natural ingredients with traditional methods.
Many more highlights
Along with the food and wine, there are many opportunities and locations that are perfect for discovering more about the history of Australia and this region in particular. Walking trails will take you down the same route than gold panners and settlers took years prior and cultural centres have exhibitions and displays that tell stories of a time past.
Entire towns and cities give a sense of the heritage. In fact, Gawler, which is now a major centre, was the first country town in South Australia.
Your drive will take you through the towns of Gumeracha and Birdwood. It’s a great idea to stop in at some of these towns and wander down the streets, discovering some hidden gems of the region. Gumeracha, for instance, has the Big Rocking Horse which you can climb to the top and get some spectacular views of the town and surrounding areas and in Birdwood you can visit the National Motor Museum.
The Lyndoch Lavender Farm is a breathtaking attraction, where you can see many varieties of lavender along the walking paths and pick up some lavender products to take home with you. Barossa Chateau is also in Lyndoch and is where you’ll find an antique galley, wine museum and fields of blooming roses.
Heading back to Adelaide you will pass through the picturesque Gawler, where there are many heritage sites and walks, parks and gardens.