Adelaide Travelers Recommend

Home to big name wineries such as Penfolds, Wolf Blass, and Jacob's Creek, the Barossa Valley is South Australia’s most important wine region, and the picturesque vineyards make a popular day trip destination. Here are your options for tours from Adelaide.

Full-Day Tours

Just an hour’s drive from the city, it’s easy to explore the Barossa Valley on a day tour from Adelaide. Tours often include wine tasting at Barossa Valley wineries or cellars, as well as tastings at the Maggie Beers Farm Shop and the Barossa Valley Cheese Company, plus stops at regional attractions such as the Mengler’s Hill Lookout, Tanunda, or Hahndorf. For a more personalized experience, choose a private or small-group tour, or customize your visit on a Barossa Valley hop-on, hop-off bus tour. 

Multi-Day Tours

With time to spare, consider a 2-day tour combining a Barossa Valley visit with a day trip to the Adelaide Hills or an Adelaide city tour, including optional extras such as entrance to Adelaide Zoo or a River Torrens cruise. Multi-day tours typically include accommodation, meals, and entrance fees, making them a great-value option for those looking to explore more of the area.  

Things to Know

• The Barossa Valley is located 43 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Adelaide, a journey of about one hour by road.

• Day tours from Adelaide typically last six to 10 hours, and many tours include hotel pickup, wine tasting, and lunch.

• The legal drinking age of 18 applies for all wine tasting in the Barossa Valley.

With three days in Adelaide, you can admire the city’s historic architecture, cruise the water in search of dolphins, get up close to Kangaroo Island’s abundant wildlife, and enjoy a full day on the wine trail in McLaren Vale or the Barossa Valley. That even leaves time to savor gourmet cuisine and experience a haunted jail. Here’s how.

Day 1: Dolphins and the City

When weather permits, start day one in Adelaide on the ocean in search of the dolphins that frequent the sanctuary off Glenelg Beach—in summer, you can even get in the water with them. Next, discover the city’s historic center, designed in the 18th century by Francis Light. Stroll along the Torrens River, wander the Botanic Garden, check out architecture from St. Peter’s Cathedral to Government House, and enjoy a shopping session at Rundle Mall. On a summer Sunday, finish with a visit to the bustling Adelaide Night Market; alternatively, get into the sporting spirit at the Adelaide Oval or slurp down international foods on Gouger Street.

Day 2: Kangaroo Island Explorer

No trip to South Australia would be complete without a visit to the nation’s third-largest island, Kangaroo Island—and many visitors choose to spend the night on this stunning wildlife reserve. Don’t miss the chance to walk on the beach among sea lions; meet native species such as wallabies, koalas, kangaroos, and echidnas; and capture dramatic rocky landscapes such as Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks. Perhaps opt for a 4WD adventure that takes you off the beaten track. Once you’re back in the city, enjoy a ghost tour—and a window into Australia’s turbulent past—at Adelaide Gaol, which dates back to 1841. Finish the night with a trip to one of the city’s new wave of craft beer bars such as Lady Burra, which majors on Portuguese food.

Day 3: Wining and Dining

South Australia’s wine country is known around the world, and three days in Adelaide gives you the chance to properly explore either McLaren Vale or the Barossa Valley—with plenty of tastings too. On a typical wine tour, you visit as many as five different wineries and taste varietals from shiraz to chardonnay, enjoy a gourmet lunch at a winery restaurant, and perhaps stop at an artisan food store such as Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, run by the eponymous Australian celebrity chef. Once you return to the city, discover a different style of Australian original as you dine on indigenous ingredients such as lemon myrtle, quandong, plum pine, emu, and kangaroo at restaurants such as fine diner Orana or Red Ochre Grill. Wrap up your stay over a cocktail in a laneway bar.

Two days in Adelaide enables you to see the best of the city, journey into the wine country, look for dolphins, and admire the spectacular wildlife of Kangaroo Island, home to native creatures from sea lions to koalas. You can also discover South Australia’s spectacular cuisine, including game, seafood, and artisan cheeses. Here’s how.

Day 1: City, Wine, and Dolphins

**Morning:**During summer, start the day with a trip to the dolphin sanctuary, whether by boat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard. At cooler times, spend the morning orienting yourself in Adelaide’s historic center, soaking up sights like St. Peter’s Cathedral, North Terrace, and the Torrens River.

**Afternoon:**South Australia is home to two of the nation’s top wine regions—the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale—so a tasting session is a must. With a history dating to 1844 and just a 15-minute drive from the city, Penfolds is a solid choice, although the Barossa Valley’s fine shiraz is worth the trip.

**Night:**If you’re in town on a summer Sunday, don’t miss the foodie extravaganza on offer at the Adelaide Night Market, home to more than 100 stalls. Alternatively, catch a night game at the iconic Adelaide Oval or simply discover the global cuisine on offer along vibrant Gouger Street.

Day 2: Kangaroo Island Adventure

**Morning:**Australia’s 3rd-largest island, Kangaroo Island is home to startling natural rock formations, unspoiled beaches, and abundant wildlife—from koalas and kangaroos to echidnas and emus—as well as gardens, farms, and craft stores. You can reach it by plane or ferry from Adelaide.

**Afternoon:**It’s worth spending a full day exploring Kangaroo Island. Walk among sea lions at Seal Bay, capture timeless photos of the Remarkable Rocks, get up close and personal with native critters at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, and soak up some sunshine on an unspoiled beach.

**Night:**For your last night in Adelaide, take the opportunity to discover the distinctive flavors of Australia’s indigenous ingredients. Taste game such as emu, kangaroo, or crocodile; native herbs, including mountain pepper and lemon myrtle; and curiosities such as green ants. Close the evening with a cocktail in a laneway bar.

With its memorable name, endless sandy beaches, and abundance of wildlife, Kangaroo Island is the quintessential Aussie island and the ideal place for a back-to-nature experience. With daily flights and boat transfers to the island, Adelaide is the best starting point for Kangaroo Island tours—here are your options.

Full-Day Tours

It’s possible to visit on a day tour, taking in highlights such as the Seal Bay Conservation Park, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, Remarkable Rocks, and Admirals Arch. Take in the native animals, from Australian sea lions to kangaroos and wallabies. Most day tours include hotel pickup, lunch, and a choice of either round-trip ferry transport or flights from Adelaide, ensuring that you maximize your time.

Multi-Day Tours

A 2-day tour offers plenty of time to explore further and enjoy activities such as sandboarding on the Little Sahara sand dunes, a tasting at the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, or a 4WD safari through the Kelly Hill Conservation Park or Flinders Chase National Park. Get up close to raptors, penguins, kangaroos, and other native species. Tours often include accommodation, meals, and round-trip transport, ensuring a Kangaroo Island experience that’s hassle-free and all-inclusive.

Things to Know

• Kangaroo Island is 13 kilometres (8 miles) off the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, around 125 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Adelaide.

• High-speed ferries take 45 minutes from Cape Jervis (around a 1.5-hour drive from Adelaide), or it’s a 30-minute flight from Adelaide Airport.

• It’s possible to visit on a long day tour from Adelaide (typically about 16 hours), but the most popular choice is a 2-day Kangaroo Island tour including overnight accommodation on the island.

• Cell phone coverage is scarce on the island, and Wi-Fi is rare.

Even if you only have one day in Adelaide, you can relish a taste of the region’s attractions. Go looking for dolphins on the ocean or cruise the Torrens River through the city’s neoclassical center, taste fine wines at one of the area’s internationally known wineries, and discover the rich flavors of indigenous ingredients. Here’s how.

Morning: Wander the Waters

Start the day by exploring Adelaide’s watery landscapes. Head out to the ocean in search of dolphins on a motorized boat or even a kayak, or simply stroll the sands of scenic Glenelg Beach. Alternatively, explore the intriguing city. Opt for a tour that includes a cruise along the little Torrens River, which runs through the city’s pretty parks and historic center, or ride a Segway along the riverbank. Along the way, admire 19th-century architecture such as St. Peter’s Cathedral and the grand homes of North Terrace.

Afternoon: Wine Wisdom

The state of South Australia is home to two of the nation’s most celebrated wine regions—the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale—and no trip to Adelaide is complete without discovering the area’s food and wine. The noted Penfolds winery, with a history dating to 1844, is just a 15-minute drive from Adelaide and offers spectacular lunch experiences, complete with tastings. Alternatively, you can visit a handful of Barossa Valley wineries on an afternoon tour and experience their unique vintages. Shiraz is the signature grape varietal of both regions, but you’ll likely taste other wines too, from rieslings to cabernets.

Night: Indigenous Ingredients

Farm-fresh produce makes Adelaide’s restaurant scene shine, yet one of the most exciting trends in Australian cuisine today is the rediscovery of indigenous ingredients. Over dinner at a modern Australian eatery, savor native and foraged foods—from surprising treats such as green ants to native herbs, including lemon myrtle and mountain pepper—and Australian game such as emu and kangaroo. Wrap up the evening at one of Adelaide’s contemporary cocktail bars, some themed as speakeasies, others as historic pharmacies, and learn how Australia’s 5th-largest city punches above its weight in foodie terms.

Running 1,500 miles (2,520 kilometers) from the peaks of the Snowy Mountains through New South Wales and Victoria to South Australia, the Murray River is the Australia’s longest river. A Murray River cruise makes a popular choice for a day trip from Adelaide—here are your options.

Highlights

• Combine a scenic cruise along the Murray River with visit to the Red River Gums and Tea Tree Gully in the Adelaide Hills on a day tour from Adelaide.

• Tuck into a delicious lunch, luncheon, or morning tea onboard as you float down the river.

• Set sail on a multi-day cruise and sleep onboard a historic paddle steamer.

• Hop off your cruise to visit historic towns along the riverbank, such as Mannum, Murray Bridge, Craignook, Blanchetown, and Swan Reach.

• Spot nocturnal wildlife such as grey kangaroos, hair-nosed wombats, and Murray long-necked tortoises on a thrilling Murray River night cruise.