Adelaide Hills Accommodation

How to Get to Your Adelaide Hills Accommodation

Arriving at your accommodation in the Adelaide Hills is easy, with the area being located an easy 20min drive from the Adelaide CBD. If flying to Adelaide from overseas or driving into the city via the interstate, you will arrive at Adelaide Airport. Here there are a number of car rental companies on-site, so you can rent a car to take you to your holiday home. From the airport, take Sir Donald Bradman Drive into the city, and then turn onto Glen Osmond Road to head up to the Hills via the South Eastern Freeway. If driving from Sydney or Melbourne, this freeway is also the main route to Adelaide, so follow the signs to Adelaide to arrive later in the Adelaide Hills.

Although public transport to some parts of the Adelaide Hills is limited, you can catch the public bus from Adelaide CBD to key locations in the hills, including Stirling, Crafers and Bridgewater. There are also connecting buses running between the city and Adelaide airport, the JetExpress, which run frequently and have a very reasonable fare. You will need to catch a JetExpress bus from the airport into the city and then transfer to one of the regular Adelaide Metro buses running up to the Adelaide Hills.

Fresh, Organic Food and Wine in the Adelaide Hills

The Adelaide Hills are famous for its wine and in recent years has become one of Australia's top foodie destinations. The region produces a range of delicious food products, usually organic, from stone fruits to cheese and olive oil. There are a number of fine restaurants such as the Bridgewater Mill at Bridgewater, The Haus at Hahndorf and Maximilians at Verdun. Another great option is to visit the Stirling Market, which runs every Sunday morning from 10am, and pick up some fresh produce to take back to your holiday cottage.

Of course, no visit to the Adelaide Hills would be complete without tasting the region's legendary local wine. Through the hills, you will find literally hundreds of wineries, many offering cellar-door tastings. Some of the best to visit include Bird in Hand, Shaw & Smith and Barratt Wines. Some of these wineries have excellent restaurants on-site, such as The Lane Vineyard and Anderson Hill Cellar Door Restaurant. Why not make a day of it by combining a wine tasting with a leisurely lunch?

Family Fun in the Adelaide Hills

The Adelaide Hills make a great destination for a family holiday. You can take the kids to see native animals at the Cleland Wildlife Park. Here you can see kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and more in natural habitat enclosures. There are also hands-on experiences with Koalas as well as a reptile enclosure.

The Big Rocking Horse has been another family favourite for many years. In the great Australian tradition of "big" things, this large rocking horse is located at Gumeracha. The site not only features the oversize attraction but also a wooden toy factory and shop, making it perennially popular with kids. The whole family is sure to enjoy the National Motor Museum at Birdwood, which has a large permanent display of vintage and antique cars as part of educational exhibitions.

History and Nature in the Adelaide Hills

The Adelaide Hills are steeped in history and was one of the first areas to be settled by Europeans in South Australia. Accommodation options include many cosy country cottages, perfect for relaxing and enjoying blissful peace and quiet just a stone's throw from the city of Adelaide. Fascinating historical sites to visit include Hans Heysen's cottage "The Cedars". Here you can visit the home, studio and gardens of one of Australia's most famous painters. The town of Hahndorf is also a great place to learn about local history, with a fascinating main street featuring many buildings dating back to the mid-1800s.

Here you will also find many opportunities to enjoy nature. Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens is a large, sprawling park and gardens displaying mostly European and exotic plant species which offers walking trails, picnicking spots and stunning lookouts over the city. These gardens are particularly spectacular in Autumn when its many deciduous trees turn stunning shades of orange and red. The Heysen trail also runs through the Adelaide Hills, with a variety of walks available mostly through traditional bushland, though also taking in vineyards and farmland.

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