I live in Melbourne, but grew up in Adelaide and travelled a lot around Australia as a kid; always off on adventurous camping and hiking trips, orienteering competitions, the occasional canoeing trip or mountain biking. But now in Melbourne, so few people have been to Adelaide, and the people are curious. I’ve sent lists of sites, I’ve had a pdf do the rounds of Elliot’s Recommendations, so by popular demand, here’s my take at an Adelaide itinerary. I haven’t lived in Adelaide for 10 years or so, so things might be a little out of date but nature never changes. Nothing here is paid for or bribery, I’m simply sharing my favourite places.
Wineries
Did you know there are 5 big wine regions around Adelaide? Not just the Barossa Valley. Big time wine snobs will know this, but you don’t have to go to the big tourist places. The main regions you’d want to go are McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, the Clare Valley, Eden Valley and the Fleurieu peninsular. Further afield: southern Flinders and Coonawarra are well worth your time if you can make it a longer road-trip.
Go to the Clare Valley if you can, stay somewhere between Clare and Auburn as the Riesling Trail is a stunning 35km trail between the towns which stops at all the wineries worth visiting. Hire a bike and ride up and down sipping on wine all day long, you’ll never be happier.
The McLaren Vale and McLaren Flats wineries are also very good and very close to Adelaide. This is where you should go for non-Shiraz wines. The d’Arenberg Cube is there for influencers (don’t go), but instead go to my family’s favourite, Coriole Vineyards for lunch and wine tasting, they really have it all.
If you’re in the Barossa Valley, visit the following in order of priority. The Barossa is all the same, it’s all really good Shiraz. Don’t expect to go for diversity or look for anything else and expect a whole tasting of shiraz only.
- Rockford is one of the best wineries in the world, cannot miss this.
- Grant Burge
- Two Hands
- Whistler
It’s worth staying overnight in Tanunda or somewhere close as the Barossa isn’t really a day trip. While you’re in the Barossa, there’s a crazy place to visit. Founded in 1851 by Prussian immigrant Joseph Seppelt, Seppeltsfield is what is left of a guy’s dream to build an empire in the new world. There’s everything, including the family mausoleum and a trashy touristy winery. Don’t go for the wine, but maybe some happy snaps and some history.
Nature and Beaches
Victor Harbor, Goolwa and Middleton are very nice, about an hour south of Adelaide. In Goolwa or Port Elliot you can definitely take some surfing lessons and are guaranteed good waves. While you’re in Victor Harbor, visit Urimbirra Wildlife Park where you can hand feed kangaroos, touch Koalas, etc. Also take a lap of Granite Island while you’re there and walk the old jetty (with a horse drawn tram).
The Coorong is an amazing ecosystem with thousands of pelicans and dolphins. This is where the mighty Murray River meets the ocean and has some incredible scenery. You can go kayaking around the Murray Mouth from Hindmarsh Island and see some really cool nature.
Near to Adelaide, the popular hikes/walks are Waterfall Gully and hike up Mount Lofty where you get a panoramic view of Adelaide. It’s a 2 hour return walk with a café at the top. Belair National Park is a good hour loop too where you’re guaranteed to see wild koalas. While you’re near Belair/Waterfall Gully, you can go to Cleland Wildlife Park, which is more expensive than the former option, but is much closer in and has koalas. Hugging koalas is illegal in Australia and only dodgy places do this, don’t expect it in my beloved Adelaide.
Glenelg is probably the most popular metropolitan beach. Worth getting an iced cream and walking the jetty, it usually has good vibes but can get crowded. If you want good beaches, go to Brighton Beach or Henley Beach. If you want to swim with wild dolphins, go to Brighton for a sunrise swim. If you want to kayak with dolphins at a more reasonable time, go to the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary for a paddle. Just south of Adelaide in Noarlunga can scuba dive/snorkel around a boat wreck, which usually has some really cool sea life. The leafy sea dragon is very cool and worth trying to find if you can!
About an hour out of Adelaide there is also the Murray River which is really nice to go for a night or two. Sunset kayaking around the red cliffs is very nice. Walkers Flat, Mannum, etc. are nice towns to do this from. Easily a day trip from Adelaide and return. Avoid a public holiday as the river will be full of cashed up bogans on jet skis.
Deep Creek is 1.5 hours south of Adelaide and has some awesome costal hikes. It’s a fair old trek and you may want to take a tent and go overnight somewhere. Good hikes, but probably not on your highest priorities if you’re pressed for time.
Food
Adelaide has it all, the food scene punches way above its weight. I’m heavily biased as a vegetarian to my favourite places, so do some more exploring yourself. Again, I have taken no bribes here and this isn’t advertising.
- Shobosho: not just only a great place to eat, but this is really the heart of Adelaide’s cool bars and classy nightlife. Around here is also Udaberri and Fugazzi.
- On the east side of the CBD there’s the famous Africola and Soi 38.
- Parwana is delicious Afghan food!
- And if you missed it above, Coriole Vineyards in the McLaren Vale is top quality.
Road Trip from Melbourne to Adelaide
Now, you’re probably a Melbourne friend who has asked for this. Here’s my round trip from Melbs to Rads and back.
Great Ocean Road (Southern Route) to Adelaide
You should do the Great Ocean Road the whole way to Adelaide, through Robe and the Coorong en route to Adelaide. Take a night in Warrnambool, Mount Gambier or something on the way. This is a real choose your own adventure, as there are a lot of things to do:
- The Great Ocean Road, but spend time in the Great Otway National Park and skip the touristy locations. You’re going further than you would have before, so visit Tower Hill at dusk and spot some whales at Warnambool.
- Budj Bim National Park has an amazing volcano hike and bioluminescent lava tubes.
- If you’re into caving, Naracoorte Caves National Park is there for proper underground caving. Mount Gambier also has some interesting holes in the ground.
- Visit the Coonawarra wineries for lunch, stop in Robe for a surf and a coffee, and stop along the Coorong on the last leg into Adelaide!
Back to Melbourne via The Grampians
Take your time through Adelaide, then on your return go through Bordertown and the Grampians. Bordertown is a classic country town with a meth problem and not much to see, BUT, this is where I always stopped through on the way to the Grampians as a kid because the bakery is great.
Halls Gap is a good place to stop in the Grampians and stay overnight if you want to spend more time hiking. Places for a driver break hike:
- Pinnacle Lookout and the Wonderland: Directly from Halls Gap is the Wonderland and some good short hikes.
- Beehive Falls and MacKenzie Falls on the northern side are also good short walks.
Further Afield
The joys don’t stop around the Adelaide metro, it’s a big state! If you’re really keen, you should get yourself up north.
- The Flinders Ranges / Ikara
Now this can be as nice and adventurous as you like. Aim for Blinman Pools, Wilpena Pound, Arkaroola and Warraweena. This will need 5-7 days to do properly with a full day’s drive each way and 3-4 days of hiking. - Kangaroo Island
I have only been here on Year 7 camp for one week, but I remember it well. Take the ferry from Cape Jervis and spend a week.
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