Coonawarra Wine Region

The Coonawarra region is located about 375 kilometres south west of Adelaide close to the Victorian border.

It is renowned for producing world class red wines especially Cabernet Sauvignon and its secret is the magical marriage of rich red terra rossa soil, limestone, pure underground water and a long cool ripening season for the grapes.

Its a great wine area to visit as the wineries are all located close together basically along a 21 kilometre stretch of the main road.

29 wineries make up the region with 25 having cellar door sales. Whilst this is an area famous for its red wines a number of the wineries also produce white varieties  Patrick of Coonawarra also produces Applelation a very tasty apple cider.

Patrick of Coonawarra

 Hollick Wines

Where to eat

Hollick Wines is the only winery with a restaurant and 5  serve coffee and food.  Upstairs at Hollick is open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner on Saturday.

Pipers of Penola is an award winning restaurant located in the town of Penola on the southern end of the Coonawarra. Open Tuesday's to Saturday this restaurant is great if you enjoy a formal dinner and quality food.

Pipers of Penola

If you prefer a more relaxed feel  Fodder's changing menu includes wood fired pizza and other meals all using local and fresh produce. Open for lunch and dinner Thursday to Sunday Fodder is located in Coonawarra.

Fodder

Penola Station is another option serving modern international food. This restaurant is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner in the summer and closed Tuesday during winter. 

Where to stay

There is a range of accommodation in Coonawarra or nearby in Penola and Mount Gambier which is about 30 minutes south. Our choices include:

Coonawarra Country Cottages  all tastefully decorated and furnished these 3 lovely cottages provide comfortable and charming self catering accommodation and 2 have the benefit of large gardens.

Must @ Coonawarra  with stylish and fresh apartments with modern appliances this property is located in Penola a short drive to the Coonwarra wineries.

Highbank Winery Accommodation  has a choice of accommodation including 2 romantic guest retreats - the Cottage and the Villa both have picturesque views of the vines.  

The Barn is located a short distance from Mount Gambier and set in beautiful gardens with an award winning steakhouse. With their award winning Steakhouse and a range of suites spread throughout the gardens its our  first choice when we're touring the area.  

The Barn

Other attractions

The Coonawarra Region is also close to a number of other tourist attractions including:

The Blue Lake Mount Gambier  is located in a volcanic crater. The colour of the water changes from grey to a vivid blue in November each year changing back to grey after March. Its a beautiful scenic spot and a great illustration of how fascinating nature can be.  Nearby are a number of other lakes called the crater lakes.

Blue Lake

Umpherston Sinkhole /Sunken Garden is located in the heart of Mount Gambier. Once a cave the sinkhole was created when the top of a chamber collapsed downwards. The topsoil on the floor of the cave creates a perfect environment for a sunken garden.

Umpherston Sinkhole

The Cave Gardens are a State Heritage Area and also located in the city of Mount Gambier. You can walk down into the caves and view the gardens from a suspended viewing platform. Each night there is a sound and light show which tells of Indigenous Dreamtime stories.

Cave Gardens

Bool Lagoon  is located a short distance to the north of Coonawarra and is visited by up to 150 species of birds many migrating from the Northern Hemisphere. UNESCO have designated the wetlands as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. 

Bool Lagoon

Heading further north towards Adelaide are the Naracoote Caves. Palaeontologists have been studying the fossils and bones found in the caves for over 30 years and now Naracoote Caves are recognised as one of the world's most important fossil sites. 

There are more than 26 caves in the National Park with a number are open to the public and others maintained for continuing scientific research.  Check tour times and pricing

Naracoote Caves

Wonambi Fossil Centre  

If you don't like to go underground The Wonambi Fossil Centre provides an opportunity to step back in time and discover what Naracoorte was like over 200,000 years ago. The Fossil Centre is a walk-through diorama with life-sized models of extinct animals in their ancient habitats.

Wonambi Fossil Centre

Why not come explore this area with us on a 3 day or 4 day private tour from Melbourne to Adelaide tour 

Adelaide for free

With a population of 1 million people Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia. The Adelaide HIlls, outback South Australia and wine regions are within easy reach.

Free Transport

A free city loop bus known as Route 99C is available and runs every day. Check timetables as times change depending on the day of the week.

There are also 2 free trams - the City Tram runs between South Terrace and the Entertainment Centre and the Jetty Road Glenelg tram runs between Brighton Road and Moseley Square.

South Australia Museum

The South Australian Museum has a range of permanent displays showcasing South Australia's natural and cultural heritage. These include Ancient Egypt, Aboriginal Australia, Ediacara Fossils, Megafauna, Minerals and Meteorites, Opal Fossils, Mawson, Pacific Cultures, South Australia Biodiversity, Whales and Dolphins and World Mammals. 

There are also changing exhibits which may require payment of entry fees.

The Museum is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (opening at 12 noon on ANZAC Day). Closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Migration Museum

The Migration Museum provides insights into the stories of the diverse range of individual and communities that make up the people of South Australia.

There are a number of defined collections. The migration stories collection includes textiles and documents and the Museum also houses the State Weapons Collection and the Historical Relics Collection.  

Open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends and public holidays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.

Botanical Gardens of Adelaide

These 16 hectare gardens are located in the heart of the city and feature a stunning collection of Australia natives, exotics and ornamental plants.

The Gardens feature the SA Water Mediterranean Garden with 3 elements that tell the story of Mediterranean plants, an International Rose Garden with its range of colours and beautiful scents.  

The Santos Museum of Economic Botany; the last purpose built colonial museum which features high ceilings and ornate Victorian detail and displaying touring and permanent collections. The Amazon Waterlily Pavilion; a glass palace for the Victoria Amazonica waterlily, the Australian Native Garden showcasing the use of Australian natives and the elegant curves of the Bicentennial Conservatory and much more.

Ducks, swans, pigeons and other wildlife can be found in the Gardens. Friends of the Botanical Gardens provide a free guided walking tour which leaves from Schomburgk Pavilion at 10.30 daily except for Christmas Day and Good Friday.

Admission is free and opening times vary so check the website for more information.

Rose Gardens Walking Trail

With over 5 million roses under cultivation in South Australia and a rose named after the City of Adelaide roses are special to the city. There are rose gardens scattered across the city and a rose garden walking trail has been developed to explore their beauty. Spring is the best time to visit.

Himeji Garden

These Japanese inspired gardens celebrate Adelaide's sister city Himeji in Japan. The gardens were established in 1985 and  are a popular destination for quiet reflection or just to wander and explore their tranquillity and beauty.

River Torrens Linear Park Trail

You can cycle, walk or jog this trail which runs right through the city centre. The trail passes the Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Convention Centre and the Adelaide Zoo.

Adelaide Town Hall

Join a free tour of the Adelaide Town Hall which was hailed as the "largest municipal building south of the Equator" in 1866 when it opened. Tours are conducted  on Mondays at 10.30 a.m.

Art Gallery of SA

The Art Gallery of SA has a huge collection of Australian, European, North American and Asian works of art. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, textiles, ceramics, photographs, metalwork, jewellery and furniture.

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Christmas Day. Entry is free except for special exhibitions.

Public Art

There is a range of public art throughout the city. A few that quirked my interest...

14 Pieces

Is a black granite sculpture located at the front of the South Australian Museum. The 14 pieces have been designed in an egg shape evoking the fossilised bones of a marine reptile displayed in the Museum.

A Day Out

4 bronze pigs in various poses are located in Rundle Mall. The pigs were named Truffles, Oliver, Horatio and Augusta after a public poll.

Girl on a Slide

A bronze sculpture, aptly name, is another quaint piece located in Rundle Mall.

Lie of the Land

Made from Kanmantoo Slate and consisting of 25 sculptural stone structures this interesting piece is located on Sir Donald Bradman Drive.

Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute

If you're interested in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture you should visit Tandanya where you can  experience contemporary and traditional  art, culture, history and heritage. The centre has a gallery and various displays and exhibitions. 

Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Entry into the Gallery is free a $5 (adult) and $3 (children) entry applies to the cultural performance held at 12 noon Tuesday to Sunday.

Adelaide Festival

The Adelaide Festival which runs from late February to mid March has a number of free events listed for 2014. Check out their website for more information if you're visiting during that time. 

National Wine Centre

The National Wine Centre located on the edge of the Botanical Gardens showcases the Australian wine industry. With its eye-catching architecture, wine discovery journey and cellar door tastings. Its worth a visit.

The Centre is open  Monay to Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Parliament House 

Visit Parliament House and see where the decisions of South Australia's Government are made. Entry to the public gallery in both the House of Assembly and Legislative Council is free and open to visitors when Parliament is sitting.

West Terrace Cemetery

This historic Cemetery dates back to European settlement and its endless rows of 19th century marble and slate headstones mark the graves of leading political, religious social and business people. 

A road less travelled - Melbourne to Flinders Ranges

I'm sitting in the sunshine at Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges. It's 11 a.m. and Shirley and I are in day 3 of another of our outback adventures.

Day 1 was spent travelling from Melbourne to Waikerie in South Australia. Victorian farmland in this area is lovely and green normally at this time of the year, but it was really sad to see so many fields with very little crop growing and hardly any dams anywhere near full.

Farmers really do need all the help we can give them as they are the lifeblood of the country.

By the way if you don't know already when crossing into SA you need to dispose of any fruit so disease isn't spread across borders. Your car will be checked at the checkpoint once in SA.

Waikerie is situated along the mighty Murray River and is a timely spot to stop for the night. it is home to Nippys who make some of the best orange juice, iced coffee and ginger beer around and we stocked up on each for our trip.

Day 2 and it was a cold start to the day as we hit the road again with our destination this afternoon Wilpena Pound Resort. We drive through orange and mandarin groves and vine country then the rolling hills of the SA countryside and of course it pays to stop at roadside stores to pick up fresh mandarins and dried apricots to have as "munchies".

We cross the Murray River via ferry at Cadell. This service runs day and night and is fun to experience and probably less expensive than trying to span the river with bridges at every town.

Next we pass through the town of Morgan and onto Burra and a number of other towns it seems time has forgotten. One of the most telling examples is Terowie where we turn off to head to Peterborough. This town has lots of beautiful old buildings that it seems people have just packed up and abandoned as the town drops off the map.

Driving through we only saw 2 people, a mother and child, who were only too happy to give us a cheerful wave. 

A short drive takes us to Peterborough a fantastic town with magnificent stone buildings. Their Town Hall is heritage listed and claimed to be the largest Town Hall in Counrty South Australia. This town has a history with the Southern Pacific Railway and is still on the train line from Adelaide to Broken Hill and Sydney.

Continuing on the road we come to the town of Orroroo and its amazing sculptures. We turned onto RM Williams way and headed to Hawker. On the way we passed through several one pub towns. The one that sticks out is always Craddock where the old stone pub always looks inviting. We keep saying we will stop there for refreshments but alas we never do and I think we are poorer for not allowing time for it.

Turning off at Hawker we head into the Flinders Ranges and onto Wilpena Pound where we will camp for 2 nights and relax around a welcoming camp fire.

More to follow.....

Join us on an outback tour