Featured Photo: The Lane Vineyard, Adelaide Hills
Ginny Cumming spends a gorgeous couple of days in South Australia’s most delicious corner
The Hills are alive with… award-winning wines, extraordinary food, and serious stay-a-while energy.
Just 20 minutes from Adelaide, this dreamy patch of South Australia feels like a world away. Think European charm with an unmistakably Australian twist. It’s unique, inviting and wonderfully moreish. Winding country roads snake through a patchwork of vineyards, orchards and bushland, dotted with historic towns and creative little communities. It’s an epicurean paradise, bursting with cellar doors, distilleries, bakeries, smokehouses, providores and restaurants where the food is as local – and as delicious – as it gets.
Adelaide is one of only a dozen Great Wine Capitals of the World – up there with the likes of Bordeaux, Cape Town and the Napa Valley – and the Adelaide Hills region proves exactly why. There are extraordinary cool-climate wines to rival the best on the planet, passionate producers doing beautiful things with botanicals and barrel aging, and menus that change with the season (and sometimes the morning’s harvest).
You’ll need a hire car to get around – or maybe a driver, if you’re planning to sample as much wine as you should! But you won’t need a packed itinerary. Just a loose plan, a good playlist, and a healthy appetite.
There are endless ways to spend a weekend here – but if you’re looking for something romantic, indulgent and a little bit magic, we’ve mapped out the perfect 48 hours to get you started.
Where to Stay: Cladich Pavilions
First up, check in to your home away from home. For us, it was the delightful, multi award-winning B&B, Cladich Pavilions. Tucked into the bushland of Aldgate, it’s a serene little hideaway that feels utterly in tune with its surroundings. It’s peaceful, private and perfectly positioned for exploring the Adelaide Hills. Offering three beautifully designed, self-contained pavilions – think clean lines, natural materials and huge windows that frame the glorious trees outside – it’s stylish and contemporary, but oh-so warm and welcoming, too. We stayed in <The Gums>, the largest of the three, which features a generous open-plan living area, a full kitchen, and a private deck with bushland views and the occasional kookaburra cameo. Breakfast is DIY with quality local provisions – crusty bread, muesli, fruit, juice and strong plunger coffee – and there are lovely little details throughout, including Jurlique products in the neatly appointed bathroom, and homemade chocolate-dipped caramels for the ages. Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend or just want a beautiful base to return to each day, Cladich hits the sweet spot – in every sense.
Day 1: Morning
From Cladich Pavilions it’s just a 10-minute drive to Mount Lofty Summit where, on a clear day, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of Adelaide and beyond. Just down the road, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is a gorgeous spot for a stroll year-round, but it gets a special thumbs-up in autumn when the foliage puts on a fiery show. Then pop into Mount Lofty House for a coffee or a cheeky glass of wine, and a peek at one of the Hills’ most iconic heritage estates. With its glorious views of the Piccadilly Valley, lavish heritage, and award-winning fine dining, Mount Lofty House is not just one of South Australia’s finest – it’s easily among the grandest boutique stays in the country.
Day 1: Lunch
If you manage to resist the lure of the acclaimed Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant at Mount Lofty House, another brilliant lunch option is Bird in Hand winery, about 20 minutes away in the town of Woodside. At LVN Restaurant, a seasonal seven- to 10-course lunch is paired with award-winning wines – or you can pick up a picnic hamper from the cellar door and dine among award-winning grounds, crowned South Australia’s ‘Garden of the Year’ in 2024.
Hot tip: LVN is open for lunch on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, while the cellar door is open daily from 11am to 5pm.
Day 1: Afternoon
After warming up at Bird in Hand, keep the wine vibes flowing at one or two of the many incredible cellar doors scattered throughout the Hills. With standout names like Nepenthe, Pike & Joyce, Cobb’s Hill Estate and Tapanappa, you’ll find world-class cool-climate wines served in stunning settings – think rolling vineyards, lush gardens and valley views that pair perfectly with every pour. Finish your trail at The Lane Vineyard, perched just outside Hahndorf, then head into this charming German village to stock up on treats like artisanal goodies from Ernest Delicatessen and a classic Kitchener bun from Otto’s Bakery. After that, it’s just a short drive to Verdun, where dinner at Ondeen awaits.
Day 1: Dinner
Everyone we spoke to about the Hills raved about one place: Ondeen. “There’s no one doing Modern Australian dining better,” said one in-the-know foodie – and they weren’t wrong. With a focus on creativity, sustainability and 95% South Aussie produce, this tiny spot serves big flavours – think wood-grilled Tommy Ruff with fermented chilli butter, or frozen honey parfait with blood plum. The menu’s short, seasonal and superb, with every ingredient used thoughtfully (and deliciously). We’ll be dreaming about that meal for a <long> time.
Hot tip: Ondeen’s only open for dinner on weekends – so if you’re there midweek, make it a long lunch instead.
Day 2: Morning
If you’re lucky enough to be in the Hills during winter, there’s one experience that’s simply too special to miss: truffle hunting. After a gentle start to the day, soaking up the serenity at Cladich Pavilions, we made our way to a secret spot in the Piccadilly Valley, where black Perigord truffles ripen beneath 650 oak trees and kangaroos mow the grass. Quercus Truffles is a boutique trufferie run by brother-and-sister duo Matt and Emma. It’s set on Piccadilly Spring Farm, which is owned by Matt and his wife Georgie, and managed by Emma. She also leads the truffle hunts with Riley, her brilliant scent-detecting Weimaraner (Rowlf, a black Lab, is currently in training). Wander through the trufferie, learn the art of the hunt and how these gourmet treasures are grown and harvested, and then help unearth your own prize. You can join a two-hour truffle hunt and tasting experience, or stay on for lunch…
Hot tip: Bespoke private tours and experiences are also available by prior arrangement.
Day 2: Lunch
Lunch at Quercus is all part of their four-hour fully immersive truffle experience, which begins with morning tea by the fire, followed by a hunt in the trufferie, a tasting, and then a six-course truffle-laced degustation at the homestead. Cooked by Emma and paired with premium Adelaide Hills wines, it’s exclusive, indulgent – and wildly delicious. The season is short (June to August), so bookings are essential. Expect generous hospitality, bold local wines and a seriously memorable meal. Not visiting in winter? Swap truffles for strawberries and head to Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf for a spot of strawberry picking (in season) followed by lunch at their café.
Day 2: Afternoon
Time for some more wine tasting or, if you fancy mixing things up a bit, head to Nairne for a wee dram of whisky instead. The Tin Shed Distilling Co. is a proudly local outfit with a global reputation – their Iniquity Whisky has been dubbed “liquid gold” and won big at the World Whiskies Awards. The vibe is laid-back, the pours small-batch, and the lineup includes whisky, vodka and rum, smokehouse BBQ, and live local music on weekends.
Day 2: Dinner
There are endless fine-dining options in the Hills, but sometimes you want something more laid-back – without losing the charm. In tree-lined Stirling, the local pub, the Stirling Hotel, nails it: it’s relaxed yet stylish, with warm service, and a menu full of crowd-pleasers.
Day 3: Morning
After saying goodbye to the delightful Cladich Pavilions, make the most of your final day and pop down the road to Fred’s, a local favourite in Aldgate known for its great coffee and relaxed vibes. Or venture a little further to Verté Kitchen in Mylor – the setting is beautiful, and the seasonal menu is worth the trip. However you spend it, enjoy a slow and delicious start to your final morning in the Hills.
Read more: Best Things to See & Do in the Adelaide Hills // 9 Fabulous Foodie Getaways in Australia
Ginny Cumming
An editor of Holidays for Couples in its early days, Ginny spent a decade in London before returning to Australia and rejoining the brand. Now a freelance journalist, she remains a valued contributor, filing stories from both overseas journeys and Australian escapes.
