Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hills is a region in South Australia. The Hills are just east of the Adelaide metropolitan area. It is mostly farming land, fruit production and wineries, with many small towns. After European settlement wealthy locals built here to escape the heat of the Adelaide Plain.

Understand

There are just a few larger towns: Mt Barker, Stirling for example, which are increasingly home to Adelaide workers. It is an easy 30-minute drive from Adelaide CBD. The highest point is Mount Lofty, 712 metres above sea level. In 2016, it was home to 72,000 people.

Get in

By car

There are many minor roads between Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills. These are through attractive rural areas but are not easy driving.

Easier access:

1. via South East Freeway to Stirling, Hahndorf and Mt Barker. From Adelaide go SE, signed to Murray Bridge.

There are information signs on entry roads (disposal bins are not provided): You are entering a Fruit Production Area Restrictions may apply Do not discard fruit in this area

2. via Payneham Road then Lower North East Road. From Adelaide go east, signed first to A11, Payneham or A11, Eastern Suburbs, then A11 Hancock Road. At Coles supermarket turn right (unsigned) onto North East Road. Takes 30-40 minutes to leave Adelaide suburbs and reach the start of the Adelaide Hills.

2b. A very poorly signed right turn off Lower North East Road in Campbelltown leading to the B31 Gorge Road 'Gorge Scenic Drive' is an option to go alongside the Kangaroo Creek Reservoir.

3. via North East Road. From Adelaide go north east, signed first to A10 North East Suburbs, then A10 Modbury. Takes 30-40 minutes to leave Adelaide suburbs and reach the start of the Adelaide Hills. Then follow B10 'Torrens Valley Scenic Drive' to Gumeracha and Birdwood (another 30 minutes). Goes alongside Millbrook Reservoir.

By bus

Adelaide Metro operates weekday services to Lobethal along the SE Freeway and Onkaparinga Valley Road. In most cases a change of bus is necessary to connect with the bus between Adelaide and Mt Barker. Adelaide Metro fares apply on this service.

Southlink operates services around the Mt Barker area, including bus services direct to Adelaide central bus station. The fares and timetables are integrated with the Adelaide services. Google Maps operates the trip planner service, and the fares and route details are on the Adelaide Metro site.

LinkSA operates services in the northern part of the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa. Intended for local users, there is an occasional service between the Tea Tree Plaza Interchange on the O-Bahn and Birdwood. LinkSA has a separate fare system.

Get around

The Hills is a challenge to drive around by car, with some inadequate signage and winding roads, but they are beautiful to drive. With a map you won't go too far in the wrong direction and no doubt have taken a scenic drive.

In addition to the sealed roads, there are many unsealed or 'dirt' roads. Do not expect to find signage along dirt roads, they are used by locals who mostly know where they are going. Dirt roads do not have a speed limit shown, you are supposed to drive at what you judge is a safe speed. A speed limit sign could be seen as a challenge by some people!

To the east of the main line of the Adelaide Hills is Onkaparinga Valley Road. This is a good standard, rural road and is mostly flat along its length. From the SE Freeway, it starts close to the Hahndorf turnoff which also directs you to Woodside and Birdwood along the Onkaparinga Scenic Drive. Going mostly in a NNE direction it passes through Verdun (originally Grunthal), Balhannah, Oakbank, Woodside, Charleston, Mt Torrens before finishing at Birdwood (originally Blumberg).

Public transport isn't great around the Hills, which is a shame given the fantastic wines of the region, however there are a couple of tour companies providing regular services.

See

• 1 Mount Lofty Lookout (around 20 minutes drive from Adelaide). Has spectacular views of Adelaide and Gulf St Vincent. The peak is a great tourist attraction in its own right, but also home to a restaurant offering modern Australian cuisine, and a Visitor information Centre. There are a couple of buses a day that will take you directly there, so check the timetables carefully. The summit cannot be accessed by vehicle between late evening and early morning hours, however the lookout is still accessible by foot. The only place in the Adelaide region to ever get snow, but even that is extremely rare, and does not occur every year. 
• 2 Monarto Zoological Park, Old Princes Hwy, Monarto South, ☏ +61 8 8267 3255. Daily 9:30AM-5PM. 1,000-hectare open-range sanctuary undertaking breeding programs for rare and endangered species. The park is 45 minutes (70 km) from Adelaide and is the gateway to the Murraylands region. Drive through Cheetah habitat, and see a Southern White Rhinoceros, Australia's largest giraffe herd and the largest revegetation project of its kind in South Australia's history. Safari bus and walking tours operate every day of the year. One-day pass: child (4-14 years) $19.50, adult (15 years and over) $35, family passes $89.50-101.50. (updated Jan 2018)

Moutn Lofty Botanic Gardens

• 3 Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens. Opens daily at 8:30AM, closes M-F at 4PM, and Sa Su between 4-7PM depending on the season. 97 hectares of magnolias, etc., with several walking trails, stunning views and good picnic areas. Free entry. (updated Dec 2022)
• 4 Hahndorf. One of the Adelaide Hill's most famous towns, Hahndorf is Australia's oldest surviving German settlement. Attractions include a small chocolate factory, the Beerenberg Strawberry Farm (where you can pick your own strawberries for very reasonable prices), parks with barbecue facilities and a playground, plus many small stores selling all manner of products. Hahndorf has plenty of souvenir shops, craft outlets and galleries to explore, including the Hahndorf Academy. There's still a strong German flavour in the town, most evident in the smallgood outlets and German bakeries that line the main street. Visitors can pick their own strawberries at Beerenberg Strawberry Farm or visit the former home and studio of Sir Hans Heysen, The Cedars. There are several good winery cellar doors in the area and the Hahndorf Farm Barn is an enjoyable stop for families.  

• The Cedars, Heysen Road, Hahndorf, ☏ +61 8 83887277, h.heysen@bigpond.net.au. Tu-Su and holiday Mondays 10AM-4:30PM. The home of one of Australia’s most famous painters, Hans Heysen, nestled among the majestic gum trees which featured in many of his paintings. Visit his studio which has largely remained undisturbed since his death in 1968. Adults $10. (updated Jan 2018)

• 5 National Motor Museum, Shannon St, Birdwood (in Birdwood), ☏ +61 8 8568 4000, fax: +61 8 8568 5195. Daily 10AM – 5PM, closed Christmas Day. Cars and motorcycles from all eras on display, also historical car parts, car-related items from repair manuals to petrol station signs and toys.  
• 6 Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary. A zoo. (updated Jul 2018)

National parks

A koala at Cleland National Park

• 7 Belair National Park. A national park of 835 ha, 11 km south of Adelaide City. Due to its history as a "recreation park", it has many good trails for bushwalking, as well as tennis courts and grassy areas available for hire, and a good adventure playground for children. Old Government House, the colony's first official vice-regal summer residence, is in the park. A vehicle entry fee applies to cars entering the park, or else its western parts can be accessed from the Belair line train, a 35-minute journey from Adelaide city. Gates open 8AM-sunset, except 25 Dec.  
• 8 Cleland National Park. A large conservation park of 992 ha (2,450 acres), 20 minutes from Adelaide City. Although it lacks the picnic and sports facilities of Belair, Cleland offers greater opportunities for tourists to get up close and personal with Australian native fauna. Visitors can feed and wander at their leisure among kangaroos, wallabies, Emus and waterfowl. Displays of Dingoes, reptiles, Tasmanian Devils, Wombats, Echidnas and Koalas allow easy viewing access, or stroll through the aviaries. Visitors also have the rare opportunity to be photographed holding a Koala, under supervision from Parks and Wildlife Officers. There is also an Aboriginal cultural tour. Entry fees apply.  
• 9 Morialta Conservation Park, ☏ +61 8 8336 0901, dewnr.amlrblackhilloffice@sa.gov.au. The park is open to vehicles from 8:30AM to 15 minutes before sunset (closed on Christmas Day). Walkers can access the park from sunrise to sunset. 10 km (6 mi) north-east of the CBD, where the suburbs meet the Adelaide Hills. It covers 533 ha (1,317 acres), and contains numerous walking trails of various levels of difficulty, including trails that pass by three major waterfalls, and provide panoramic views over Adelaide. There is a popular rock climbing area within the park and a giant cave. The waterfalls only flow in the winter months and early spring, and are usually completely dry by Christmas. (updated Aug 2016)

Do

• Visit some of the 29 winery cellar doors. The following are a range from the very small to the larger corporate producers.
  • Petaluma
  • Hahndorf Hill Winery
  • Nepenthe
  • Shaw & Smith
  • Tilbrook Estate
  • Bird in Hand
  • Barratt Wines
  • Ashton Hills
• Wine tours
  • Rich & Lingering. Offers bespoke food and wine tours which gratify the senses. 
• Visit food producers - small goods, cheese makers, chocolate makers, espcially in Hahndorf, Balhannah, and Woodside.
• Visit country markets in Echunga, Uraidla, Woodside, Stirling.
• Steam Ranger - occasionally from Mt Barker, more often between Goolwa and Victor Harbor (The Cockle Train). Despite the name and their advertising, most journeys are on railcars or diesel hauled.
• Reservoirs A variety of activities are possible from hiking or fishing to kayaking, or simply enjoying the views.

Events

• Santos Tour Down Under (TDU): Professional cycle race. Takes place in January partly in Adelaide and partly in the Adelaide Hills. The times and locations are published about November. Roads are closed when and where necessary. The daily race maps (for January 2024) are here.
• Oakbank races: In particular the Easter weekend races are popular. Although there is controversy about horse racing, many attendees treat the event as purely a social occasion.
• Bay to Birdwood: On a day in October, historic vehicles drive from West Beach to the National Motor Museum in Birdwood. This is not a race.
• Lights of Lobethal: Local residents decorate their homes with Christmas lights. For two weeks before Christmas a one way road system is set each evening. Very popular with locals and people from Adelaide.

Eat

• The Organic Market and Cafe, 5 Druid Avenue, Stirling. Open 364 days a year from 8:30AM. Market closes 5:30PM. Café closes 5PM. Fantastic organic food, with a large selection of vegetarian meals. Very popular with locals, so get in early for lunch. Also serves Devonshire tea. Seasonal menu. The market and cafe sources high quality produce from local growers, regional suppliers and specialty providers. 
• Lobethal Bakery, 80 Main St, Lobethal, ☏ +61 8 8389 6318. M-F 7AM-5PM, Sa 7AM-3PM. Has 'all-day breakfast'. Also at Woodside, Mt Barker (2 locations), Stirling, Balhannah. (updated Dec 2023)
• German Arms, 69 Main Street Hahndorf, ☏ +61 8 8388 7013. 11AM–9PM. Booking recommended. (updated Dec 2023)
• Blumberg Hotel, 24 Shannon Street, Birdwood, ☏ +61 8 8568 5243. M-Sa 11AM–1AM, Su 11AM-midnight. (updated Dec 2023)
• Gumeracha Hotel, 30 Albert Street, Gumeracha, ☏ +61 8 8389 1001. Daily noon-2PM, 5:30-8PM. (updated Dec 2023)
• Stanley Bridge Tavern, 41 Onkaparinga Valley Road, Verdun, ☏ +61 8 8388 7249. noon–3PM, 5:30–8:30PM. (updated Dec 2023)

Sleep

• Discovery Parks Hahndorf, 145A Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf, ☏ +61 8 8388 7921, hahndorf@discoveryparks.com.au. In addition to camping and caravan sites, there is a range of accommodation-only cabins. From $149. (updated Dec 2023)
• Cladich Pavilions, 27-29 Wilpena Tce, Aldgate (from Adelaide: follow Glen Osmond Road out of the City (A1), continue on to the South East Freeway (M1), take the Stirling Exit and follow Mt Barker Road through Stirling; after ~2 km take a left into Arkaba Road, just before the Railway Bridge, immediately turn right into Wilpena Terrace), ☏ +61 8 8339 8248. From $235. (updated Dec 2023)
• Adelaide Hills Country Cottages, 229 Oakwood Rd, Oakbank, ☏ +61 8 8388 4193. From $400. (updated Dec 2023)
• Mount Lofty House, 74 Mount Lofty Summit Road, Crafers, ☏ +61 8 8339 6777, stay@mtloftyhouse.com.au. From $599. (updated Dec 2023)
• Old Mill Hahndorf, 98 Main Street, Hahndorf, ☏ +61 8 8388 7888. A beautiful old building on Hahndorf's Main Street. Very comfortable accommodation, with a sumptuous buffet dinner. From $100. (updated Dec 2023)
• Gumeracha Hotel, 30 Albert Street, Gumeracha, ☏ +61 8 8389 1001. Phone for availability. (updated Dec 2023)
• Mount Pleasant Hotel Motel, 43 Melrose Street, Mount Pleasant, ☏ +61 8 8568 2015. Just 'Over the Border' in the Barossa. Phone for availability. Kitchen closed M–Tu. (updated Dec 2023)
• Maidstone Hotel at Kersbrook (Kersbrook Tavern), 49 Scott Street, Kersbrook, ☏ +61 8 7481 0001. Phone for availability. On the way to the Barossa. (updated Dec 2023)

Stay safe

Bushfires can occur during the hot, dry summers. The CFS issues a daily map of Fire Danger Ratings and a frequently updated map of current incidents. On a day classified as 'Catastrophic', most venues will be closed so stay away, and on an 'Extreme' day it is wise not to travel in the Hills.

Go next

It is easy to drive north to Barossa Valley or south to McLaren Vale to visit other wonderful wine region, or south to the ocean and the Murray and the towns of Victor Harbor and Goolwa.