Barossa Valley Travelers Recommend

The Barossa Valley is more than just rolling hillsides and outstanding vineyards. This scenic part of the Australian countryside is also home to some of the nation’s most beautiful, picturesque towns. Here are a few to add to your itinerary when you visit this Australian wine region.

Hahndorf

Ranked among the prettiest towns in Australia, Hahndorf is the area’s oldest German settlement, founded by Prussian pioneers in 1839. The town’s buildings reflect this heritage with their half-timbered style. Located just 16 miles (26 kilometers) southeast of Adelaide, Hahndorf is easy to visit on a day trip to the wine country.

Lyndoch

Founded in 1840 and surrounded by vineyards, this settlement—among the oldest in the region—has a charming main street complete with a traditional Germany bakery and quirky souvenir shops. See the town from above aboard a helicopter tour.

Nuriootpa

Nuriootpa, or Nuri for short, serves as the commercial center of the Barossa Valley. Once an Aboriginal bartering place, the busy town is also home to the regionally famous Wolf Blass winery, where visitors can tour the vineyards and learn about the winemaking process.

Tanunda

If Nuri is the Barossa Valley’s commercial hub, Tanunda is its cultural heart. This German settlement teems with cafés, restaurants, bakeries, and cellar doors, as well as four Lutheran churches. Many of the valley’s best wineries lie just outside of town.

Angaston

While founded by an Englishman, George Fife Angas, this charming town maintains a German feel. It even has a wurst shop that’s been selling more than a dozen varieties of German sausages since 1939. The town plays host to the Barossa Farmers Market each Saturday.

Marananga

Several notable wineries lie within walking distance of Marananga, situated in one of the most scenic parts of the Barossa. The local brass band practices each Tuesday evening, and the cream-spired Gnadenfrei St. Michael’s Lutheran Church is a favorite among photographers.

Greenock

Visiting this small town is like stepping into Scotland, thanks to the numerous Scottish immigrants who call Greenock home. While there’s plenty of excellent wine pouring in town, Greenock is also known for a microbrewery housed in a 19th-century wheat store.

Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend away or taking an overnight trip from Adelaide, two days in the Barossa Valley let you explore historic towns and savor the region’s fine wines and gourmet cuisine at a relaxed pace. Here’s how.

Day 1:  Vineyard Views and Wine Tasting

**Morning:**Kickstart your time in Barossa Valley with a hot-air balloon ride or helicopter flight. An aerial vantage point affords spectacular views of the vineyards and some tours include breakfast accompanied by sparkling wine on landing.

**Afternoon:**It’s possible to visit three or four Barossa Valley wineries in an afternoon; most tours include a visit to one of the big names—Seppeltsfield, Wolf Blass, Penfolds, and Jacob’s Creek—alongside smaller wineries. Be sure to join a guided tour or book a private driver so you can enjoy wine tasting without having to worry about driving.  

**Night:**Book a table at one of the Barossa Valley’s most prestigious restaurants for a memorable dinner date. The Chef's Table Experience at St. Hugo Winery includes a guided tour of the wine estate, an 8-course degustation menu, and wine with each course. 

Day 2: Villages of the Valley

**Morning:**More time allows you to further immerse yourself in the cuisine of the Barossa Valley. Take a cooking class at Jacob's Creek winery and create gourmet dishes using local produce, or make your own wine during a workshop at Penfolds Winery. 

**Afternoon:**Spend the afternoon exploring Barossa Valley’s villages, which include historic Williamstown; Tanunda, where you’ll find the Menglers Hill Lookout; and Nuriootpa, home to the Wolf Blass and Penfolds wineries. You can explore by classic car or convertible, or opt to take a scenic walk, bike ride, or Segway tour through the vineyards. 

**Night:**Swap wine tasting for beer tasting during a tour of Barossa Valley Brewing. Learn more about beer making during a brewery tour, sample a variety of craft beers, and tuck into tasty food.

South Australia’s most prestigious wine region is a popular day trip from Adelaide. If you’ve only got one day in Barossa Valley, it’s likely wine tasting is your priority, so hire a private driver or join a guided tour to maximize your time. Here’s the best way to spend one day in Barossa Valley. 

Morning: Admire the Scenery

The lush countryside and rolling vineyards of the Barossa Valley are hailed as some of  South Australia’s most scenic landscapes. That being said, the best views are undoubtedly from above, so start the day with a sunrise hot-air balloon or helicopter ride over the vineyards.

After landing, tuck into a breakfast inspired by regional specialties and accompanied by sparkling wine—the perfect introduction to the region’s gastronomic delights. 

Afternoon: A Taste of the Barossa Valley

A guided tour is the best way to sample the Barossa Valley wines; it leaves you free to indulge in wine tastings without having to worry about driving. Seppeltsfield, Wolf Blass, Penfolds, and Jacob’s Creek are among the biggest names in the region, and most tours visit at least one of the top wineries, alongside two or three smaller wineries, to give you a comprehensive overview of Barossa’s wines. 

Exact itineraries vary but most tours stop to take in the views from Mengler Hill and sample local produce at the Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop or the Barossa Valley Cheese Company, and include a walk through a vineyard.  

Night: Wine and Dine

Barossa Valley isn’t just famous for its wines—it’s also home to some of South Australia’s best restaurants. Booking a table in advance is essential at the region’s most popular spots, and it’s worth organizing hotel transfers to ensure you can fully enjoy the wine menu.

For the ultimate experience, reserve a table at the Chef's Table at St. Hugo Winery and watch as chefs prepare an 8-course degustation menu. Each gourmet dish is paired with fine wines and you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the wine estate before you sit down to eat. 

Three days in Barossa Valley allow you to discover the region’s top wineries, explore the countryside, and enjoy outdoor activities at a more relaxed pace than on a day trip. Here’s how to see the best of Barossa Valley in three days.

Day 1: Fine Wines and Gourmet Cuisine

Wine tasting is the top attraction in the Barossa Valley, which is home to some of the biggest names in Australian wine.

Seppeltsfield, Wolf Blass, Penfolds, and Jacob’s Creek are among the most famous, but most tours also visit some smaller wineries, which offer an excellent selection of cabernet sauvignon, grenache, and semillon varietals, plus many more. 

Taking a guided tour or hiring a private driver leaves you free to enjoy wine tasting without having to worry about driving. Some tours visit up to three wineries in one day, making them ideal for time-pressed travelers. For a more immersive experience, book a wine-making workshop or  food-and-wine-matching masterclass, during which you’ll expand your wine knowledge under the guidance of a sommelier. 

End your day with an 8-course degustation menu at one of Barossa Valley’s most-renowned restaurants—the Chef's Table at St. Hugo Winery. To secure a table at the prestigious restaurant, advance booking is essential.

Day 2: Vineyard Views

The most spectacular views of the Barossa Valley are from the air, so kickstart day two with a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the vineyards; the majority include breakfast accompanied by sparkling wine.

The landscapes of Barossa Valley provide a scenic backdrop for outdoor activities; set out on a guided hike or bike ride on the 25-mile (40-kilometer) long Barossa Trail, which offers great views of the Barossa Ranges and Adelaide Plains. Alternatively, adventurous travelers can enjoy a Segway or horseback riding tour of Seppeltsfield Winery vineyards, or even get behind the wheel of a rally car. 

Day 3:  Villages of the Valley

The villages of Barossa Valley each have their own distinctive character so it’s worth taking time to explore the local markets, artisan food producers, and historic sites on a tour that includes convenient round-trip transfers. For a fun way to get around, hire a bike or trike, or travel in style in a convertible Mustang.

The Barossa Heritage Trail links all of the main villages and viewpoints, but leave yourself plenty of time to stroll around the towns and browse the shops, galleries, and cafés. Popular stops include the Barossa Farmers Market and the Barossa Valley Cheese Company in Angaston; the Maggie Beers Farm Shop in Nuriootpa; and the unique Whispering Wall in Williamstown. 

Time your visit to watch the sunset from the viewpoint at Mengler's Hill, then head to the nearby Barossa Valley Brewing for a craft beer tasting session in the summer beer garden. 

Barossa Valley is one of South Australia’s most popular wine regions, as famous for its fine wines as it is for its beautiful scenery. Here are some of the must-try varietals and tasting experiences in the Barossa Valley.

Must-Try Varietals

With more than 150 wineries—including some big-name wineries like Wolf Blass, Penfolds, and Jacob’s Creek—wine lovers will find plenty to get excited about in the Barossa Valley. Boasting the ideal ‘“terroir” for wine growing, the valley grows a diverse selection of grape varieties, including cabernet sauvignon, grenache, Semillon, Riesling, merlot, and chardonnay. Fortified wines are also produced here. Wine connoisseurs can sample award-winning Shiraz wines and vintage wines at Seppeltsfield winery, taste the top gold label Shiraz at nearby Wolf Blass, or invest in a bottle of Penfolds Grange, one of Australia’s most iconic wines. 

Must-Do Experiences

• Soar over the Barossa vineyards on a romantic hot air balloon flight and then toast your safe landing with a Champagne breakfast.

• Discover the winemaking process and make your very own wine at the legendary Penfolds winery.

• Combine delicious cuisine and fine wines with a cooking class or wine-pairing workshop at the famous Jacob's Creek winery.

• Fly over the Barossa Range in a helicopter, then touch down at St. Hugo Wines for a food and wine tasting at the Chef’s Table. 

• Feel like a VIP on a private Barossa Valley tour with guided wine tastings at some of the region’s most prestigious wineries.