How to spend 24 hours in the Barossa

Food, wine and big balloons = the perfect place for an overnight escape.

By Jeremy Rochow
Published: Thursday, January 17, 2019

Looking for a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, but only have a weekend to spare? Head to the Barossa Valley for a short trip. It’s the perfect mix of food, wine and activities, and it’s just an hour from Adelaide.

Put your trust in The Eatery

You’ve driven in from Adelaide, it’s almost lunchtime, and your stomach is beginning to grumble.

Give in to your belly and begin your time in the Barossa at Maggie Beer’s iconic Farm Shop in Nuriootpa. If you really want to take your tastebuds on an adventure, head next door to The Eatery, run by Maggie Beer’s daughter Elli.

Here, you’ll find a restaurant that puts an emphasis on simple, seasonal food in a relaxed environment. In fact, Elli and chef Tim Bourke have taken seasonal to the next level, with the menu changing daily to include the freshest produce sourced locally.­

Quick tip – choose the ‘trust us’ menu and let the kitchen take you on a culinary journey with surprises around every corner. It’s reasonably priced and will let you try a range of dishes.

Although the Eatery’s fare changes daily, one thing that never sways is the way the flavour combinations, like the caramelised jersey milk and verjuice dessert, which makes you hum with pleasure at every bite.

Try the 'trust us' menu at The Eatery.

Try some of the Barossa’s finest drops

Now you’ve filled your belly with some fantastic food, you’re ready to explore the Barossa. If you like wine, you’ll be spoilt for choice, with wineries like Seppeltsfield, Jacob’s Creek and Penfold’s calling the Barossa home.

Established in 1851, Seppeltsfield is one of the area’s oldest wineries and is well-known for its signature wine, the 100-year-old Para Tawny.

There’s lots to do at this historic winery – you can see the estate on a Segway or go on a Grand Insight Tour and Tasting with one of the Seppeltsfield’s wine educators.

Take a historic wine tour of Seppeltsfield.

Want to learn more about wine? Stop in at Jacob’s Creek. Here, you can take a wine blending class to create your own signature drop.

Once you’ve ticked that off the list, try your hand at an intimate Jacob’s Creek cooking class and prepare a restaurant-worthy feast in the winery’s outdoor garden. This class involves picking fresh produce from the kitchen garden before putting your cooking skills to the test.

To sweeten the deal, RAA members get 5-10% off most food and wine experiences at Seppeltsfield and Jacob’s Creek.

Learn to cook some delicious food at Jacob’s Creek.

Get on your bike

After indulging in the Barossa’s finest produce, some leisurely exercise might be just the ticket.

What better way to work off all those calories than getting on a bicycle and taking in the region’s beautiful scenery. There’s plenty of places to hire bicycles, including Barossa Bike Hire in Nuriootpa. They can provide you with maps or organise a guided tour around the region.

The Barossa Trail – a high-quality sealed 40km cycling and walking path – will let you cycle around the area safely. Cycling along the 7km Angaston to Nuriootpa section of the trail, you can discover bush gardens, the Mengler Hill Sculpture Park and more cellar doors, of course.

Explore the Barossa on your bike.

Float away

Watching the sun rise over the Barossa Valley is sensational – it’s even more stunning if you’re floating hundreds of metres above the ground in a hot-air balloon.

You can see the row upon row of vineyards, the rolling hills that make up the Barossa and the many town centres from the sky.

Once back on the ground, finish the morning with a delicious gourmet breakfast created from the best Barossa produce. RAA members, who want to take to the skies, can get 10% off at Barossa Balloon Adventures.

Float over the Barossa as the sun rises.

Cuddle a koala in Cudlee Creek

As your time in the Barossa winds down and you begin the drive home, take the back route towards Adelaide and make a detour at the Gorge Wildlife Park in Cudlee Creek.

The park, which opened in 1965, is located on 14 acres of land and houses a variety of native and exotic animals. It has helped with the conservation and breeding of a number of animals, including albino kangaroos, wombats and marmosets.

You can stroll through the park and feed the kangaroos or cuddle a koala – a tourist favourite – at one of three sessions throughout the day.

An array of exotic animals, including meerkats, American alligators and 150 species of birds are also on display.

RAA members save 5% on tickets to the Gorge Wildlife Park.

Cuddle a koala at the Gorge Wildlife Park.

Getaway for the weekend

Create your own Barossa experience and save with RAA.

Or call 8202 4346

Looking to stay in the Barossa?

RAA can help organise your accommodation in SA too.

Or call 8202 4346

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