The drive from Adelaide to the Barossa is a beautiful and short one hour and you will arrive in this quaint and charming district. In the Barossa Valley, the main attraction is cellar door wine tastings. Beyond that you will find a great selection of cafes, restaurants and walking paths to explore. But the real appeal here is to relax and unwind at lodges.
Barossa Shiraz Estate
Barossa Shiraz Estate is ideally located in the middle of the Lyndoch area with a quiet, ethereal and incredibly serene atmosphere. I spent two nights here after endless activities at the many vineyards. Room rates include a fully stocked refrigerator with two bottles of wine, homemade sweets and select beverages. The lodge was complete with a bedroom, front living room with fireplace, dining room, kitchen and garden access, however the beauty of Barossa Shiraz Estate lies in its location in the front of vineyards.
The rooms at Barossa Shiraz Estate
There is a full kitchen to make use of if you prefer to dine in. This could be a great opportunity to craft a dinner with fresh local produce. Just making milk tea made me feel so calm and happy. The lodge is kitted out with everything you need for a short two or three night stay. There are enough provisions of coffee and tea to get you through and all the necessary ingredients for breakfast. My favorite feature of the living room was the fireplace, which made the room always feel cosy and welcoming.
Lyndoch Hill Restaurant
Should you wish to make your way out to dinner you would need to drive back into the Tanunda area, a 15-minute drive. There are, however, many great vineyards and restaurants nearby, I can recommend the Lyndoch Hill Restaurant, located on top of the Lyndoch Hill. Once you have enjoyed a glass of wine on the outdoor terrace, I would highly recommend giving yourself some time to walk around the grounds.
Getting around
There’s plenty to see and do here in the Barossa Valley and you can eat, drink, walk and bicycle your way around the area. Because of the sheer size, I’d highly recommend renting a bike for the day at your accommodations. This will enable you to cover so much more ground, as many of the town’s offerings are spread out. The Jack Bobridge Track offers an idyllic cycling link between Gawler and Tanunda, winding through vineyards, villages and old rail easements.
Barossa Sculpture Park at Menglers Hill
The final destination we made time for on our Barossa Valley visit was to drop into Menglers Hill. This park has great day hikes with epic views. My image of Australia was a red sandy desert or blue ocean for surfing but it was beyond my expectation to see extensive vineyards from the top of Menglers Hill.
