Carrickalinga Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula. Credit: Christopher Morrison
Adelaide may be one of Australia’s most compact capital cities, but some of South Australia’s best experiences are waiting just beyond the CBD. Beaches, historic villages, cellar doors and rolling vineyards are all within easy driving distance, making Adelaide an ideal starting point for a road trip.
Pick up your Adelaide car hire from East Coast Car Rentals just 2 minutes in our shuttle from Adelaide Airport and you can be by the beach, exploring the Adelaide Hills or heading into wine country in under an hour.
Here are three easy destinations to add to your Adelaide itinerary.
1. Glenelg: Adelaide’s Seaside Escape
Distance from East Coast Car Rentals Adelaide: Approximately 7km
Allow: Around 15 minutes, depending on traffic
Best for: Beaches, restaurants, sunsets and an easy first or last stop
Best car to hire: Economy or compact car
Tolls: No toll roads
If you want to get your South Australian holiday started almost immediately after collecting your hire car, make Glenelg your first stop.
Glenelg Beach, Adelaide. Credit: South Australia Tourism Commission
This lively beachside suburb is only a short drive from the East Coast Car Rentals Adelaide branch and combines a beautiful stretch of coastline with plenty of places to eat, shop and explore.
Start at Glenelg Beach and take a walk along the foreshore and jetty before exploring Jetty Road, where you’ll find cafés, restaurants, bars and shops. Stay into the evening and you can watch the sun set over Gulf St Vincent before heading back towards Adelaide.
What to do in Glenelg
Spend some time on Glenelg Beach, walk along the jetty, browse the shops along Jetty Road or head towards Marina Pier for waterfront dining. Families can also stop at The Beachouse for rides, games and activities.
If you have more time, Glenelg makes a good starting point for exploring Adelaide’s metropolitan coastline, with Brighton and Henley Beach both within easy driving distance.
Where to eat
You won’t have to venture far from the beach to find something to eat. Jetty Road is packed with cafés, casual restaurants and takeaway options, while Marina Pier offers several waterfront restaurants overlooking the marina.
Moseley Square, Glenelg. Credit: Megan Crabb
Parking in Glenelg
There are a number of council-operated and commercial car parks around Glenelg, as well as timed street parking. Parking can become busier around Jetty Road and the foreshore on sunny weekends, public holidays and during summer, so arriving earlier in the day can make finding a space easier.
What car should you hire?
An economy or compact rental car is ideal for Glenelg. The drive is short and mostly suburban, and a smaller vehicle can make navigating busy streets and parking areas easier.
2. Hahndorf and the Adelaide Hills
Distance from Adelaide: Approximately 28km
Allow: Around 30–40 minutes from central Adelaide
Best for: Food, history, scenery and local produce
Best car to hire: Compact car, sedan or SUV
Tolls: No toll roads
Less than an hour from Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills can feel like a completely different part of South Australia.
At the heart of the region is Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. Its historic main street is lined with heritage buildings, bakeries, cafés, pubs, galleries and shops selling everything from local produce to traditional German treats.
Leave the car parked for a while and explore the village on foot before heading further into the surrounding hills.
What to do in Hahndorf
Walk along Hahndorf’s historic Main Street, visit the local galleries and shops or stop for a traditional German meal.
Nearby, Beerenberg Farm is another popular stop, while the surrounding Adelaide Hills are home to cellar doors, local producers and beautiful countryside.
You can also combine Hahndorf with Mount Lofty Summit for panoramic views across Adelaide. The drive between attractions is part of the experience, particularly when the Adelaide Hills put on their autumn colours.
Where to eat
Food is one of the best reasons to visit Hahndorf. You’ll find German-style pubs and restaurants alongside bakeries, cafés and venues showcasing produce from the Adelaide Hills.
Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard, Adelaide Hills. Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission/
f you’re continuing through the region, there are also wineries and cellar doors offering lunch and tasting experiences. Remember that if you’re driving, you’ll need to keep alcohol consumption within the legal limit – or nominate a designated driver.
Parking in Hahndorf
Parking is available along and around Main Street, with additional public parking areas within walking distance of the town centre. Hahndorf can become particularly busy on weekends and during holidays, so an earlier arrival is worthwhile.
What car should you hire?
Most standard rental vehicles are perfectly suited to a trip through the Adelaide Hills. A compact car or sedan is ideal for couples, while an SUV gives families or groups extra passenger and luggage space.
3. McLaren Vale: Wine Country Meets the Coast
Distance from Adelaide: Approximately 40km
Allow: Around 45 minutes from Adelaide
Best for: Wineries, restaurants, scenery and a full-day road trip
Best car to hire: Sedan or SUV
Tolls: No toll roads
Just 45 minutes south of Adelaide, McLaren Vale is one of Australia’s best-known wine regions – and having your own car gives you the freedom to explore much more than its cellar doors.
The region is home to more than 90 cellar doors, alongside restaurants, local producers and spectacular vineyard scenery. Better still, some of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s beaches are just a short drive away.
What to do in McLaren Vale
A day here can be as relaxed or as busy as you want.
Visit one or two cellar doors, stop for lunch overlooking the vineyards or visit one of the region’s most recognisable attractions, the d’Arenberg Cube.
For something different, explore part of the Shiraz Trail, which winds for around nine kilometres through vineyards and countryside.
Port Willunga Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. Credit: Carly Kruger
If you’ve got the whole day, continue towards the coast after lunch. Port Willunga and nearby beaches make an easy addition to a McLaren Vale road trip and give you the chance to swap vineyard views for the ocean before driving back to Adelaide.
Where to eat
McLaren Vale is as much a food destination as it is a wine destination. Many wineries have restaurants or casual dining options, while the township has cafés, bakeries and restaurants showcasing produce from across the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Booking ahead for lunch is a good idea, particularly on weekends.
Parking in McLaren Vale
Most wineries and major attractions have their own on-site parking, making McLaren Vale particularly easy to explore with a hire car. Parking is also available around the township.
If you’re visiting several wineries, plan your route before setting out so you’re not unnecessarily doubling back across the region.
What car should you hire?
A comfortable sedan works well for couples exploring McLaren Vale, while an SUV is a great choice for families or groups who want additional space.
Whichever vehicle you choose, remember that South Australian drink-driving laws apply. If wine tasting is part of your itinerary, nominate a designated driver or consider limiting tastings and purchasing your favourite bottles to enjoy after you’ve finished driving.
Planning Your Adelaide Trip
One of the best things about exploring Adelaide by car is how quickly the scenery changes. You can start the morning beside the ocean at Glenelg, spend another day wandering through Hahndorf and the Adelaide Hills, then head south through the vineyards of McLaren Vale.
And unlike road trips in some other Australian cities, you won’t need to factor toll roads into these three itineraries.
For a short Adelaide stay, an economy or compact rental is an easy choice for city driving and shorter day trips. If you’re travelling with family, carrying plenty of luggage or planning to spend several days exploring South Australia, the additional room of an SUV can make longer drives more comfortable.
With your own hire car, you’re also free to stop when something catches your eye, change your plans along the way and discover more of South Australia beyond the city.
Start Your Adelaide Adventure with East Coast Car Rentals
East Coast Car Rentals Adelaide Airport is located at 376–388 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Brooklyn Park, just outside Adelaide Airport.
Pick up your rental car and you can be exploring the Adelaide coastline, Adelaide Hills or one of South Australia’s best-known wine regions in no time.
Book your Adelaide car hire and start exploring South Australia at your own pace.