Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Barossa

moisseyev / Getty Images

Key Info

Official Website

Details

Cafes, Wineries/Breweries, Neighborhood/Area Type
2 hours to Half Day Time to Spend

4.9

Overall

Scorecard

Value

5.0
Food Scene

5.0
Atmosphere

4.5

Read about how we rank Things to Do.

Adelaide boasts an array of top-notch wine regions, but for some of Australia's best vino, visit Barossa. Located about 40 miles northeast of the central business district, Barossa features more than 150 wineries, as well as multiple farm-to-table eateries and two farmers markets. Family-friendly activities like cycling and hot air balloon rides are also available.

Barossa's vineyards are the highlight of a visit to this region. Recent travelers suggested checking out Château Tanunda, Rockford Barossa and Murray Street Vineyards, citing the beautiful grounds, delicious wines and knowledgeable tour guides as reasons to plan a visit. Barossa is famous for its shiraz and riesling, but local vineyards make other varieties like grenache and cabernet sauvignon as well. For those in search of nonalcoholic activities, try a hot air balloon ride with Barossa Balloon Adventures or Barossa Valley Ballooning. One-hour flights are available every day at sunrise and cost 300 Australian dollars ($227) per adult and AU$195 to AU$240 (approximately $148 to $182) for each child.

Adelaide Metro does not have routes that travel between Adelaide and Barossa, so travelers will need to drive or join a Taste the Barossa wine-tasting tour. Taste the Barossa excursions (which are offered daily and last eight hours) start at AU$129 (about $98) per person and include tours and tastings at four wineries, plus transfer service with Adelaide hotel pick-ups and drop-offs.

Prices vary by winery, but generally boutique venues (think: Murray Street Vineyards and Rockford Barossa) offer a menu with various wines and food platters available for purchase, while larger sites like Château Tanunda invite visitors to tour their facilities and sample a selection of wines for AU$19 ($14) per person. Most Barossa wineries are open from 10 or 11 a.m. to 5 or 5:30 p.m. daily. To learn more about Barossa, check out the region's official website.

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