Climate
Average temperatures: January max 29C (84F) - min 14C (57F); July max 13C
(55F) - min 3C (37F). Average annual rainfall: 633mm (25 ins).
Characteristics
The Valley is the vineyard of the nation, producing nearly 60% of Australia's
wine, and exporting more than 6 million litres of fine, quality wine
a year. In 1842, Pastor Kavel lead a group of Lutherans to the valley,
and they brought not only their vine cuttings, but also their building
techniques and culture.
How to Get There By Bus
Greyhound Pioneer stop at Nuriootpa on their Brisbane/Adelaide routes.
By Road
From Adelaide, via the Stuart Highway to Gawler, the Gateway to the Valley.
Tourist Information
The Barossa Wine and Visitor Information Centre is at 66-68 Murray Street,
Tanunda. They can be contacted by phone on (08) 8563 0600 or by email
info@ barossa-region.org. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun
10am-4pm. The website to explore is www.barossa-region.
org
Accommodation
Some of the wineries and homesteads in the valley offer accommodation,
and the Information Centre has all the details. Here is a selection of
hotels and motels, and of course, caravan parks. Prices are for a double
room per night, and should be used as a guide only. &The telephone
area code is 08.
Gawler
Prasad's Gawler Motel, cnr Main North Road & Gawler By-Pass, 8522 5
900. 104 units, swimming pool, tennis $80.
Gawler Caravan Park, Main North Road, 8522 3805. (No pets allowed) 82 sites,
playground, barbecue, good facilities - powered sites $16 for two, on-site
vans $32 for two, cabins $50 for two.
Hillier Park, Hillier Road, 8522 2511. (No pets allowed) 270 sites, barbecue,
swimming pool - powered sites $15 for two, cabins $50 for two.
Lyndoch
Barossa Park Motel, Barossa Valley Highway, 8524 4268. 34 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, barbecue, spa $90.
Barossa Caravan Park, Barossa Valley Highway, 8524 4262. (No dogs allowed)
50 sites, good facilities, barbecue - powered sites $15 for two, on-site
vans $25 for two.
Tanunda
The Hermitage of Marananga Motel, Seppeltsfield Road, 8562 2722. 11 rooms,
guest house accommodation, licensed restaurant, swimming pool, spa -
B&B $200-250.
Barossa Motor Lodge, Murray Street, 8563 2988. 40 units, licensed restaurant,
swimming pool, spa, sauna, tennis, barbecue $95-120.
Barossa Weintal Resort, Murray Street, 8563 2303. 40 units, licensed restaurant,
bistro (Fri-Sun), swimming pool, sauna, tennis, barbecue $105-150.
Barossa Junction Motel, Barossa Valley Way, 8563 3400. 33 units, licensed
restaurant, indoor heated swimming pool, spa, tennis, squash, barbecue
$70-130.
Tanunda Caravan & Tourist Park, Barossa Valley Way, 8563 2784. (Pets
allowed on application) 276 sites, excellent facilities - powered sites
$17 for two, on-site vans $35 for two, cabins $75 for two.
Nuriootpa
Nooriootpa Vine Inn, 14 Murray Street, 8562 2133. 9 units, licensed restaurant,
bistro, swimming pool, spa $105.
Nooriootpa Vine Court, 49 Murray Street, 8562 2133. 17 units, heated swimming
pool, spa, barbecue $85.
Barossa Gateway Motel, off Sturt Highway, 8562 1033. 23 units, basic facilities
$55-65.
Barossa Valley SA Tourist Park, Penrice Road, 8562 1404. (Pets allowed
on leash) 176 sites, tennis, barbecue, excellent facilities - powered sites
$18 for two, cabins $35-55 for two.
Eating Out
Most of the hotels and motels mentioned in the Accommodation Section have
licensed restaurants, and each town has the usual amount of coffee lounges
and takeaway outlets. The Tourist Information centres in each town have
a complete list of eateries, and many are mentioned in the Points of
Interest section.
Points of Interest Gawler
Gawler was the second country town to be created in South Australia (Port
Adelaide was the first), and its official birthday is January 31, 1839.
Many of the buildings reflect the architectural design and influence of
the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with beautiful stonework. Most
were constructed of local stone, and the nearby hills show the scars of
the excavation of the bluestone used for the Town Hall and churches, the
Post Office and the Old Telegraph Station.
The Gawler Visitor Centre is at 2 Lyndoch Road, 8522 6814, and they have
information and maps for walking, cycling and driving tours of historical
sites. You can email them at visitor.centre@gawler. sa.gov.au or visit
the website www.gawler.sa.gov.au The
Centre is open 9am-5pm seven days and can organise wine tours and other
activities for you.
Stroll down Murray Street for a place to dine out. Here you will find the
Gawler Palace Chinese Restaurant, the Bamboo Hut Bistro, Cafe Nova. If
none of these suit you, try The Wheatsheaf Inn in Sunnydale Road, 8522
5762, or Zeebous in Calton Road, 8522 3621.
From Gawler, the main road to the Whispering Wall Reservoir turns off to
the right in Sandy Creek, passing the village of Cockatoo Valley, with
its general store. Near here are the remains of the old Barossa Goldfields
along Goldfields Road, and a converted miner's cottage which offers accommodation,
8524 6213.
Further on is the Barossa Reservoir, built in 1898 and the largest in South
Australia. The retaining wall has an unusual acoustic effect so that a
person standing on one side can hear whispers from the other side of the
dam - hence the name Whispering Wall.
Rosedale is on the western side of the Barossa Valley Highway, driving
from Sandy Creek north to Lyndoch, and in the district there are many beautiful
old buildings and a farm cottage that has been converted to provide accommodation.
Lyndoch
The town was named by Colonel William Light in 1838 to honour Lord Lynedoch,
under whom he had served in the Napoleonic Wars. The present name came
from a spelling mistake. The first settlers arrived in 1839 and farming
was the main early industry. In late 1847, a group of Germans settled
at Hoffnungsthal (or Valley of Hope) in the hills behind Lyndoch. The
valley basin formed a lake during wet seasons, and the village was destroyed
by floods in 1853, the only remnants now being the foundations of a church
and a plaque.
Vineyards were established in the early years and the first winery was
set up in 1896 in a converted flour mill. Today there are ten wineries
in the immediate area, all family owned, ranging in size from very small
to one of the largest in the Barossa. Tourist Information is available
at Kies Family Wines, Barossa Highway, 8524 4110, and they can provide
a map pinpointing the location of the various wineries, and a pamphlet
outlining a walking tour of the town.
Wineries
Wards Gateway Cellar, Barossa Highway, 8524 4138, has a good range of interesting
wines, and is open for tasting and sales daily 9am-5.30pm.
Burge Family Winemakers, Wilsford, 8524 4644, is open seven days, and is
a must for quality wine enthusiasts. Limited output is available ex-vineyard
only.
Charles Cimicky Premium Wines, 8524 4025, is a small winery renowned for
premium boutique-style wine making. There is a Cellar Bistro offering lunch,
and the winery is open for tastings and sales daily 10am-4pm.
Chateau Yaldara, 8524 5637, is hopen for tasting and sales 7 days a week,
and has conducted tours of the winery and the Chateau Collection. There
is also a Garden Bistro serving lunch and morning and afternoon teas.
Kies Estate Cellars, 8524 4110, have premium dry and sweet table wines,
and are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. There is ample parking,
and a children's playground in the grounds.
Kellermeister Wines Pty Ltd, 8524 4303, are hopen every day 9am-6pm, and
have award winning wines for tasting in an historic building.
Barossa Settlers, 8524 4017, was established by descendants of Barossa
pioneers in an historic stable, and there is a collection of artefacts
and implements. Award winning wines are available at the cellar door only.
The winery is open Wed-Sat & Mon 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm.
Eating places in the town include the Lyndoch Bakery and Restaurant,
8524 4422, fully licensed and serving home-cooked German meals, and the
Lyndoch Hotel, 8524 4211, also with home-cooked style offerings.
Rowland Flat
Johann Gramp began commercial wine making at Jacobs Creek in 1847, and
Rowland Flat was also the home of one of South Australia's earliest potters,
Samuel Hoffmann. Today, the town is well known for the large winery complex,
and the souvenir and craft shops in its grounds.
Driving towards Tanunda there are four wineries along Krondorf Road, running
from Hallett Valley, on the western side, to the foothills of Kaiser Stuhl
on the east. There are many typical valley buildings, many of which have
been restored and offer farm-style accommodation. A nearby road gives access
to the Heysen Trail, and the high country of the Barossa Ranges. In Hallett
Valley there is a keg factory where coopers carry on their traditional
craft, and welcome visitors Mon-Sat 8am-4.30pm, 8563 3012.
Wineries
Miranda Wines, Barossa Highway, 8524 4537, is open for tastings and sales
Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4.30pm.
Orlando Wines, 8521 3111, have a picnic and barbecue area, and staff who
are very proud of their products. The complex is open daily.
Grant Burge Wines, Barossa Valley Highway, Jacobs Creek, 8563 3700, have
excellent wines and tasting facilities, and cellar door sales daily 10am-5pm.
Rockford Wines, have full bodied Australian wine styles in a restored 1850s
cottage and farm buildings. Tastings and sales daily 11am-5.30pm, 8563
2720.
Charles Melton Wines, Krondorf Road, 8563 3606, specialise in premium Barossa
reds, and are highly acclaimed for quality and presentation. Open daily
11am-5.30pm.
Liebuchwein, 8524 4543, have reds, whites and fortified wines, and are
open daily 11am-5pm.
Bethany
Situated near Tanunda, Bethany was the first German settlement in the Barossa.
In 1842, a group of Silesian families settled near the Tanunda Creek,
and named their village after the biblical Bethany. The town has many
lovely old stone houses, farms and cottage gardens, and many of the old
buildings have been tastefully restored. Some are still used as houses,
while others have been transformed into art galleries, a restaurant and
Australia's smallest motel, the Landhaus, 8563 2191, which also has a
very good restaurant. Of interest in the town are the Pioneer Cemetery
and the Lutheran Church.
Winery
Bethany Wines - Bethany Road, 8563 2086, is open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun
1-5pm. The Winery selects grapes from the Schrapel Family vineyards,
and commands the best views of the Barossa Valley.
Tanunda
Tanunda was originally the village of Langmeil, the second German settlement
in the Barossa in 1843. A drive through the back streets of Tanunda on
the western side of the main street, takes you through Goat Square and
Langmeil Road where many of the early stone buildings can still be seen.
Goat Square was the site of the first town market, and many of the bordering
cottages have now been classified by the National Trust. Restored buildings
in the tree-lined main street include the hotel, the museum and the old
institute.
Tourist Information is available at the Barossa Wine and Visitor Information
Centre, at 66-68 Murray Street, (08) 8563 0600, and they can advise on
the many attractions in the town, which include Story Book Cottage and
Whacky Wood, Oak Street, 8563 2910; and Norm's Coolie Sheep Dog Performance,
8563 2198. They also have a pamphlet on a walking tour of the town, which
visits all the important sites.
Eating places include the fully licensed, or BYO, Park Restaurant, 24 Murray
Street, 8563 3500, open for lunch and dinner seven days, and serving German
and Australian meals; Cafe Heidelberg and Art Gallery, 8 Murray Street,
8563 2151, open Wed-Mon 10am-10pm (children welcome); and Tanunda Hotel,
51 Murray Street, 8563 2030, with an a la carte bistro and restaurant.
Wineries
Tanunda Cellars, Murray Street, 8563 3544, specialise in premium and museum
wines. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm.
Basedow Wines, Murray Street, 8563 0333, were established in 1896, and
have tastings of premium tables wines in an underground cellar. There are
picnic grounds, and the winery is open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm.
Langmeil Winery, cnr Para & Langmeil Roads, 8563 2595, is set on the
river bank, and has picnic facilities and barbecues. It is open for tastings
and sales daily 11am-5pm.
Chateau Tanunda, Basedow Road, 8563 3888, featuers an historic French-style
chateau surrounded by gardens. Tastings, gourmet snacks and premium wines
are available daily 10am-5pm.
Peter Lehmann Wines, 8563 2500, is also on the banks of the North Para
River, and has a full range of premium Barossa varietals. Open Mon-Fri
9.30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10.30am-4.30pm, and there are picnic facilities and
barbecues.
Barossa Valley Way
It only takes about five minutes to drive between Tanunda and Nuriootpa,
through the vineyards that stretch across the valley to the Barossa Hills.
There have been some new developments along the road in recent years,
as well as the continuation of long established businesses.
You can wander through a fascinating private museum, or enjoy the history
of Dorrien contained in murals at the old Seppelt winery building which
is on the corner of Seppeltsfield Road. The village of Siegersdorf was
also in this area, and the name was one of those changed during World War
I (to Bultawilta) and restored in 1975. Just past the Dorrien corner on
the Seppeltsfield Road there is an old cemetery, Seppelt's Mausoleum, and
from the corner Siegersdorf Road takes you to Angaston.
Along Barossa Valley Way and also on Seppeltsfield Road and Research Road,
are a number of wineries, some long established and others recent enterprises.
Accommodation in the area is available at the travellers' hostel, a guest
house, and in some imaginatively converted railway carriages. Tourist Information
is available in the Rohrlach Kev Museum, 8563 3407, which is hopen daily
10am-5pm. The Museum has a kiosk, and can advise on eating establishments.
Wineries
Chateau Dorrien Winery, 8562 2850, has wine and meal tastings daily 10am-5pm,
and don't miss the murals on the original wine tanks.
Tarchalice Schmidt Family Winery, Research Road, Vine Vale, 8563 0667,
have picnic facilities under the vines and tastings of their complete range
of wines.
Mildara Blass, 8562 1366, have tastings of premium red and white table
wines at their Medlands winery, Seppeltsfield Road, Dorrien, on Fri and
Sat 10am-5pm, and Mon-Sat during school holidays.
Marananga
Marananga, which is Aboriginal for 'my hands', was settled in the mid-1840s
and originally named Gnadenfrei, meaning 'Freed by the Grace of God',
by the pioneers who had gained freedom from religious persecution in
Silesia.
The original Gnadenfrei Church was begun in 1857, and there are many other
interesting old buildings including the old school house.
Tourist Information is available in the Gnadenfrei Estate, which is on
Seppeltsfield Road, 8562 2522.
For good restaurants, try the The Hermitage of Marananga Restaurant on
Seppeltsfield Road, 8562 2722, which is fully licensed, or BYO, and is
open for lunch Wed-Mon, and dinner Thurs-Sat, with bookings taken for other
nights.
Wineries
Heritage Wines, a small family winery on Seppeltsfield Road, 8562 2880,
which is hopen daily for tastings and sales.
Gnadenfrei Estate Winery, 8562 2522, open for tastings and sales daily
10am-5.30pm. They have picnic areas, and provide picnic baskets.
Seppeltsfield
The town was established in 1851 when Joseph Seppelt, his family and workmen
arrived to run a dairy and grow tobacco and wheat in the valley. The
tobacco grew too rank, so Joseph started to experiment with winemaking.
Soon Seppelts became the largest winery in the colony, and the cellars
and stores were described in the London Gazette 1892 as 'the most modern
in the world'. They have been maintained in their original condition.
Close by the winery is the old Seppelt family house, which has been restored
and provides accommodation. There are also holiday units in the town.
The winery to visit here is Seppelt's, and they have tastings of their
award winning wines daily, 8568 6200. You can explore the extensive grounds
and the preserved buildings, and picnic and barbecue facilities are available.
They are hopen Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm and conduct daily tours.
Greenock
Situated on the western edge of the Valley en route to the mid-north, Greenock
is home to one of the Barossa's famous bakeries, and the local hotel
dates back to the 1870s. It is a pretty place for a picnic, or you can
call into the Greenock Creek Tavern in Kapunda Road for a counter lunch
Mon-Sat, or dinner Fri and Sat, 8562 8136.
Nuriootpa
The North Para River winds through the town of Nuriootpa, at the northern
end of the Barossa Valley. The name is Aboriginal for 'a meeting place',
and it was an important tribal centre for bartering. Now, Nuriootpa is
the commercial and service centre of the region, with a number of government
agencies' regional offices.
William Coulthard laid out the first town acre in 1854, and the town grew
around his red gum slab hotel. The building is no longer there, but his
home at the other end of the main street (66 Murray Street), has been preserved.
The The Barossa Wine and Visitor Information Centre in Tanunda have information
on a walking tour of the town, which visits about 20 sites. They can also
advise on restaurants, but you might like to try the Shangri-La Thai Restaurant,
at 31 Murray Street, 8562 3559.
Wineries
Penfolds Wines - Nuriootpa, is the largest winery complex in the Valley,
and is the home of Kaiser Stuhl and Tollana wines. Tours are held Mon-Fri
at 10am, 11am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, and tasting and sales are available Mon-Fri
9am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm. The winery is on the Barossa Highway,
8568 9408.
Elderton Wines, on the corner of Murray Street and New Road, 8562 1058,
is a family winery with award winning wines at reasonable prices. Available
are vineyard tours, bike rental, moke rental and picnic grounds.
Wolf Blass Wines International, on the Sturt Highway, 8568 7311, have tastings
of the full range of award winning wines in picturesque surroundings. They
are open Mon-Fri 9.15am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm.
The Willows Vineyard, 8562 1080, has tastings of varietal wines made from
fruit grown on the Scholz Family's historic property, and are open daily
10.30am-4.30pm. Drive through the vineyard to Huldas Cottage for the tastings.
Stockwell
Situated at the northern approach to the Valley, the peaceful village of
Stockwell is dominated by the Lutheran Church and the old flour mill
group of buildings, both of which have played an important role in the
town's history. The mill still produces a variety of high quality flours.
The hotel and the small winery offer a change to experience the days gone
by. The historic 1865 Gaol House was converted to a boutique winery with
a fine selection of 15 year old liqueur fortifieds and Barossa table wines.
Stockwell Hotel, established in 1857, is open daily for counter meals,
with the dining room open Fri and Sat evenings and Sun lunch, 8562 2008.
Angaston
The town is named after George Fife Angas, a prominent figure in South
Australia's history, who took up large land holdings in the Barossa Ranges
and Valley in the 1830s. Angas himself settled Lindsay Park, near the
present town, in 1851. Angaston is the centre of a rich pastoral district,
with viticulture and fruit growing playing an important part in the local
economy.
Tourist Information is available at Angaston Abbey, 18 Murray Street, 8564
2648, a 125-year-old former church, now an art and craft exhibition. It
is hopen Thurs-Mon 10am-5pm. Another information place is the Collingrove
Homestead on Angaston Road, a former home of the Angas family. The homestead
offers casual accommodation, morning and afternoon teas, light lunches,
and formal dining on Fri and Sat nights. It is open daily 10.30am-5pm,
8564 2061.
For fine food, try the Brauhaus Hotel, 41 Murray Street, 8564 20144, home
of the renowned 'Brauhaus Pepper Steak' or get takeaway from Angaston Chicken
Shop, in the heart of town, 8564 2552.
Gawler Park Fruits (Mariani Australia), 29 Valley Road, 8564 2021, are
open Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm for sales of quality glace fruit and table raisins;
and Angas Park Fruit Co Pty Ltd, cnr Murray & North Streets, 8564 2052,
are open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm, for sales of quality nuts and dried
fruit related products.
Wineries
Saltram Winery, 8564 3355, was established in 1859, and is one of the oldest
wineries in the Valley. It is open for tastings and sales Mon-Fri 9am-5pm,
Sat-Sun noon-5pm.
Yalumba Winery, is in an old marble building with clocktower facia, and
is even older, having been established in 1849. Cellar door sales are in
the Old Bond Store, Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm, 8561
3200.
Keyneton
Keyneton is a small village 10km (6 miles) south-east of Angaston in the
Barossa Ranges. In the early 1900s, there were five wineries, all with
large vineyards, located in the Keyneton area. The one remaining today,
Henschke, is noted for the quality of its wines and old stone buildings.
Henschke is owned by the fifth generation of winemakers, and was established
in 1868. They are specialist makers of an exclusive range of premium
quality red and white estate bottled table wines, and are open Mon-Fri
9am-4.30pm, Sat 9am-noon, 8564 8223.
Eden Valley
Situated south of Keyneton, Eden Valley is home to Eden Springs Wine Estate
and the High Eden vineyard which produces classic regional wines. Tasting
is available in an old Melbourne tram. There are picnic and barbecue
areas, nature walks, and on Sunday a Lamp Spit Lunch. The estate is open
daily 10am-5pm, 8564 1166. In the town there is also an historic hotel,
which serves meals, and a general store which offers delicious Devonshire
teas.
Springton
At Springton is the historic Herbig Gum Tree, where pioneers Caroline and
Friedrich Herbig began their married life and had two of their sixteen
children! The original old stone blacksmith shop is now a small winery
and cafe, and the old store and post office has been restored and is
now an art and craft gallery. South of the town is the Merindah Mohair
Farm, in Springton Road, Mt Pleasant, 8568 2043, where you can buy hand
knits, or yarns and patterns to knit your own garments. The farm is open
daily 10am-4pm.
Wineries
Craneford Wine Co & Zilm's Cafe has full flavoured regional wines,
and cellar door tasting and sales are available daily 11am-5pm. The restaurant
provides lunches Wed-Mon 12.30pm-3pm, and dinner Fri and Sat, 8564 0003.
Robert Hamilton & Son - Sprinton Wine Estate, 3km east of Springton,
8556 2222, are 6th generation winemakers. Wine tasting and sales are in
an historic bluestone building, which is open daily 10am-4pm.
Festivals
The Barossa Valley Vintage Festival is a biennial event beginning on Easter
Monday - April 1, 1991, April 12, 1993 - with a week of activities.
The Angaston Show is in February. The Tanunda Show is in March, as is the
Essenfest (Eating Festival).
The Tanunda Christmas Parade is in December.
Facilities
Bike Hire - Barossa Valley Tourist Park, 8562 1404; Bunkhaus, cnr Barossa
Valley Highway and Nuraip Road, Nuriootpa, 8562 2260; Elderton Wines,
Nuriootpa, 8562 1058; Keil's Gift Centre, 63 Murray Street, Tanunda,
8563 2177.
Ten pin bowling - Barossa Bowl, Menge Road, Tanunda, 8563 3177.
Squash and Rollerskating - Barossa Valley Recreation & Fitness Centre,
cnr Menge Road & Magnolia Street, Tanunda, 8563 2766.
Golf - Gawler Par Three Golf Course, 8522 3060.
Ballooning - Balloon Adventures, Nooriootpa, 8562 3111.
Helicopter Rides - Barossa Helicopters, Lyndoch, 8524 4209.
