Day-tripping: Adelaide to McLaren Vale

Day-tripping
Adelaide to McLaren Vale

When you’re in between holidays and the city grind is taking its toll, why not get out of town! A well-planned day trip can work wonders.

Departing Adelaide CBD, we’re winding our way through the beautiful Adelaide hills on route to McLaren Vale, naturally. In what feels like minutes out of town, there’s not a traffic light in sight, the rolling hills beckon and fresh air begins to fill the cabin.

Our round trip is about 115km all up, which means there’s plenty of time to stop along the way to take in the sights before enjoying a long lunch and maybe a home-grown vino at Maxwell’s Winery, our destination.

To get there, we’re taking the scenic route that includes some more interesting roads... it’s a great route to explore while you’re fresh and alert.

The best thing is, you don’t need a sports car to enjoy these roads – our choice for our series of daytrips, an AWD Ford Kuga, is loving the bends.

Like most Fords these days, the Kuga’s steering is quick, nicely weighted, accurate and responsive – more sporty hatch than mid-size SUV in character. It is complemented by the well resolved suspension that copes with most of the stuff thrown at it on regular roads and easily swallows mid-corner bumps without being thrown around.

But our advice is whatever your pick of vehicle, take it slow and enjoy the Adelaide Hills scenery.

Exit the freeway onto the B34 and before you know it, you’ll arrive at Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, its history dating back to 1838. These days, you’ll find it frequented by the hip and the chic, drawn to Hahndorf by its eclectic mix of historic charm and modern vibes. Think boutique breweries, umpteen cellar doors, art galleries, antiques, collectibles, home wares and hearty pub meals.

The Haus Restaurant is a popular spot, serving both German and modern cuisine in a rustic and welcoming environment. And the bakery door swings open all day long for good reason.

If the kids are tagging along, don’t miss the Hahndorf Farm Barn where littlies (and oldies) can get up close and personal with animals – touching, holding, riding and feeding.

If fresh local produce is more your thing, visit the Beerenberg Family Farm where you can pick your own strawberries (late October to early May) or snap up one of the many jams, sauces and condiments produced in the sixth-generation family-owned farm kitchen.

Around 73km into your trip you’ll discover the vast estate of Maxwell Wines in McLaren Vale – where you can eat, unwind and soak up the fresh air. Established in 1979, the eighty-acre vineyard is known for its robust reds – a specialty in this region. The family-run property is also the most significant producer of mead – a honey wine – in the southern hemisphere.

The greatest problem with this route is that there are so many tempting places to stop along the way – world class wines and culinary delights. Oh, and over 70 cellar doors! [Note to self: clear the boot!] A little bit of take-away never hurt anybody – did we mention the Ford Kuga has 406-litres of boot space?

Eat in Maxwell’s award-winning Ellen Street Restaurant, fill any space left in the boot at the cellar door and stretch your legs (or burn off some calories) in the Maxwell Maze... it’s fun for young and old – and you will get lost! But I could think of worse places to do so.

Best thing about a day trip to McLaren Vale is, you’ll be home in plenty of time to let a full-bodied shiraz breathe before dinner.

Fast facts:
The trip – Adelaide to McLaren Vale
Distance – 115km round trip
Top 3 – Hahndorf, Maxwell Wines, Maxwell Maze
Top Eat – Ellen Street Restaurant at Maxwell Wines
Top Tip – nominate a designated driver!

Quick links:
Hahndorf Winery
Farmbarn
Beernberg
Haus Hahndorf
Maxwell Wines
Handy car tech for your next road trip

Check out more in our series of one-day escapes
Hobart: surprises south from the Apple Isle's capital
Perth: beer, bread and a hint of the good life
Sydney: head to Avalon. Now!
Melbourne: getaways on the city's doorstep
Brisbane: dream of a different world and head for the hills