Adelaide Excursions

Barossa Valley

An hour’s ride from Adelaide, to the northeast, is the Barossa Valley, Australia’s premier winemaking region. Fifty-four wineries operate here in an area blessed with hot dry summers, loamy soil and good winter rainfall. The heart of the valley is the town of Tanunda, which features relics of the valley’s German heritage in its museum. A lookout at Mengler’s Hill near the town provides spectacular views of the valley, or visitors can opt for a balloon flight when weather permits. The Barossa Wine Centre serves 70,000 visitors a year and is the perfect place to find out the story of the valley, its people and culture. A bi-annual festival, the Barossa Vintage Festival offers visitors the opportunity for some off-beat entertainment like treading grapes, waving at scarecrows, mushroom-hunting and watching floats travel down Tanunda’s main street. Other events and festivals are held throughout the year.

E-mail: info@barossa-region.org; Website: www.barossa-region.org; Telephone: (08) 8563 0600 (Information Centre); Opening time: The Barossa Wine Centre is open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm (closed Good Friday and Christmas Day)