For everything about the BAROSSA VALLEY you are in the right place. From getting there, to places to visit, to the best accommodation this article summarises all your needs for the BAROSSA VALLEY.
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Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s premier wine producing regions. Located about 60 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley is the traditional home of the Peramangk, Ngadjuri and Kaurna indigenous peoples. The first European arrivals were English and German settlers in the 1830s, and today it is home to over 20,000 people which allows for an amazing array of things to do in the Barossa Valley.
Unlike the nearby Adelaide Hills region, the Barossa Valley is at a low elevation. This means a similar climate to Adelaide, with hot dry summers and mild wet winters.
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Getting To The Barossa Valley
Getting from Adelaide to Barossa Valley is quite easy, via a short 60 minute drive along the Northern Expressway, though allow an extra 15 minutes if you’re travelling from Adelaide airport to Barossa Valley. There are four daily coach services to the area running via Gawler, though there isn’t much public transport once you’re in the Barossa. So it’s probably best to bring your own car (need car hire, click here) or bicycle.
If you’re thinking of visiting this beautiful and fascinating part of Australia, let’s have a closer look at things to do in the Barossa Valley.
Things To Do In Barossa Valley
Wineries are by far the biggest attraction in the Barossa Valley. Even just a cursory glance at a map of Barossa Valley shows how many wineries are packed into a fairly small area. But beyond the Barossa Valley wineries, there’s also some other interesting things to see! The main Barossa Valley towns of Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Angaston and Lyndoch are all cute and worth a look, while lovers of kitchen goodies should definitely check out Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop. For fantastic views of the Valley, head for Menglers Hill Lookout, while at Williamstown the Whispering Wall makes for an unusual stop!
Wineries
The Barossa Valley is home to Australia’s best-known international wineries. Highlights here include Peter Lehmann, Wolf Blass, Yalumba, Orlando (makers of Jacob’s Creek), and of course Penfolds. Other highlights include Seppeltsfield, Elderton, Chateau Yaldara, and Turkey Flat. The latter is home to the oldest grapevines in the Barossa, which have been used to grow shiraz since 1847! Be sure to try the Barossa Valley shiraz, highlight of the region and possibly Australia’s best-known variety. Other notable wines from Barossa Valley include cabernet sauvignon, grenache, semillon, and riesling.
My parents live in the Barossa Valley and fair to say they are, what we like to call them “wine wankers’. Yes, there maybe well known international wineries but my Mum would kill me if I wasn’t to mention some of the smaller beautiful wineries dotted around the Valley. Places like Pindarie, Rockfords, Langmeil and Saltrams won’t let you down.
With such a mind-bending array of cellar doors to choose from, it’s worth considering some Barossa Valley wine tours. Whether it’s Barossa Valley tours from Adelaide, or one of the local Barossa Valley day tours, being driven around between wineries by an expert is a highly recommended experience. Barossa Valley tours on bicycles are also quite popular, thanks to the fairly short distances and flat lands in much of the Valley.
Barossa Valley Towns
Although the wineries here are the definite highlight, it’s absolutely worth checking out the local towns of Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Angaston and Lyndoch. With their German heritage, these towns are all quite different to typical Australian country towns and are a great experience to visit. Lutheran churches, sloped roofs, and timber framed houses are all on show here. Be sure to taste some of the incredible produce, from fresh fruit and vegetables, to classic German smallgoods and sausages. There’s also typical German baked goods like pretzels, with cream buns and cakes for dessert.
Maggie Beer Farm Shop
Maggie Beer is one of Australia’s best-known and most-loved TV chefs, and her Farm Shop in Nuriootpa is definitely worth a look. The shop sells a wide range of Maggie’s sauces, pastes, jams, chutneys, dressings, and of course her signature verjuice. There’s also an excellent cafe on site, and the adjacent Farm Eatery serves gourmet meals at reasonable prices.
Whispering Wall
The Whispering Wall is possibly the most unusual attraction in the Barossa. Located near Williamstown at the southern end of the Barossa, the Whispering Wall is actually a concrete dam wall, built in 1903 to supply the region with drinking water. A dam isn’t normally much of a tourist attraction, but the Whispering Wall is precisely curved so that whispered words spoken into the dam wall at one end can be heard clearly at the other – almost 150 metres away! It’s certainly an interesting diversion, and especially great entertainment for kids.
More Things To Do In The Barossa Valley:
Barossa Valley Road Trips
As a fairly small area, the potential for road trips within the Barossa Valley itself is a bit limited. Your best option is for a one or two night trip to the area starting from Adelaide, basing the length of your trip on your appetite for wine!
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1 or 2 Nights In The Barossa from Adelaide
Starting from central Adelaide, follow either the M2 or the A20 north out of the city towards Gawler, and from there take the Barossa Valley Way east towards Lyndoch. Check out the Whispering Wall plus the local wineries, then drive north to Tanunda, stopping at whichever wineries take your fancy. Detour east to Angaston via Menglers Hill Road, visit the local shops and wineries. Finally, head north into Nuriootpa with its cute buildings and incredible wineries. For returning to Adelaide, you can either retrace your steps, or take the quicker route down the Sturt Highway.
Note that some wineries require bookings (though many don’t), so it can be worth double-checking if there’s specific cellar doors you want to visit. And of course – never drink and drive. In addition to the dangers, the area is heavily policed for drink-drivers, and penalties are severe.
Barossa Valley Accommodation
There’s plenty of Barossa Valley accommodation options to choose from, with luxury cottages, hotels, bed & breakfasts, Airbnbs and caravan parks are all available in the area. Below are some of the best places to stay in the Barossa Valley.
Barossa Valley Hotels
For Barossa Valley luxury accommodation it’s hard to beat The Louise, located in a vineyard at Marananga, just outside Nuriootpa. There’s also the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort at Rowland Flat, while the Lanzerac Country Estate, nestled amongst the vineyards at Tanunda is a great choice for Barossa Valley winery accommodation. For more of a Bed & Breakfast Barossa Valley option, check out Barossa Shiraz Estate or Tanunda Cottages.
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Barossa Valley Airbnbs
Airbnb also has some great places to stay in the Barossa Valley. For a cosy cottage, check out Elders Office in Angaston, while Tanunda Apartment in Tanunda is a lovely modern option. Larger groups and families might consider Lindsay House Homestead in Angaston, or for something a bit different – the Historic Angaston Masonic Lodge!
Barossa Valley Caravan Parks
There are several options for Barossa Valley caravan parks. The main two are BIG4 Barossa Tourist Park, located in Nuriootpa, and Discovery Parks Barossa Valley just outside Tanunda. Both have cabins, powered and unpowered sites, while Discovery Parks also has glamping options! There’s also the Williamstown Caravan Park a bit further south, and if you’re in a self-contained RV you can stay very cheaply at the Greenock Centenary Park in Nuriootpa.
Barossa Valley Restaurants
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or anything in between, there’s plenty of restaurants in the Barossa Valley to keep your tastebuds excited and inspired! One of the best Barossa Valley winery restaurants is Appellation in Marananga, serving modern Australian cuisine from entirely local ingredients. For Angaston restaurants, Vintner’s Bar & Grill is a great option for local Australian cuisine. For spectacular sunset views with food and wine to match, head for Harvest Kitchen Barossa located at Vine Vale. And of course, don’t forget to grab some of the traditional German fare on offer at Barossa restaurants like Die Barossa Wurst Haus & Bakery in Tanunda.
Summary
With its incredible wines, beautiful scenery and excellent atmosphere, it’s hard to beat the Barossa Valley as one of the best places to visit in South Australia. Be sure to stay a couple of nights and fully explore all of the fascinating spots the region has to offer.
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