 Visit the Adelaide Hills of SA
Twenty minutes drive from the Adelaide CBD and you've reached the Adelaide Hills. The Adelaide Hills offer a taste of country life with great food, fine wines and stunning scenery. It is an ideal day-trip destination or romantic retreat just 20 minutes from Adelaide.
With the Adelaide Hills central location you can easily reach such regions as the Barossa Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula and Murraylands. As you drive through the Adelaide Hills you will enjoy the changing scenery from vineyards and market gardens interspersed with traditional Australian bushland and lush pastures.
The many vineyards in the region continue a tradition begun in 1845 when a hock from Echunga was the first Australian wine exported and drunk by Queen Victoria. Now there are 20 vineyards and 12 cellar doors. Apart from great wine, you can also buy seasonal produce direct from the growers road side stalls including top quality fruit, vegetables, jams, chutneys and flowers, or pick your own berries on some farms. There is an abundance of fresh produce in the region including but not limited to apples and strawberries, goat's cheese and venison.
The local restaurants are award winners and the German heritage towns of Hahndorf and Lobethal boast many cafes and bakeries as well as antique shops and galleries.
Mount Barker Summit affords spectacular views of the surrounding countryside stretching from Mount Lofty to Lake Alexandrina and the River Murray.
There are many conservation and recreation parks in the Adelaide Hills. Warrawong Earth Sanctuary at Mylor offers an opportunity to see rare nocturnal animals – like the bandicoot, the potoroo and the bettong. Cleland Wildlife Park is home to numerous native species including the Koala.
You can walk part of the Heysen Trail or hop on board the Steamranger train at Mount Baker and travel your way south to Strathalbyn, Goolwa and Victor Harbor. The National Motor Museum at Birdswood will interest motoring enthusiasts with its extensive range of vintage vehicles.
With its close proximity to Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills region is a place where you can stay for a day, a weekend or a week and enjoy the fresh sweet hills air.
For more information regarding South Australia's National Parks and Conservation Parks please visit SA National Parks and Wildlife Service.
This information was compiled with the help of resources available from South Australia Tourism. Please visit their website at www.southaustralia.com for a more detailed rundown of this exciting region and others.
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