No matter what you call it, the Adelaide Festival or the Adelaide Festival of Arts, is one of the best cultural experiences on the Australian festival calendar.
The festival has grown from its 1960 inception thanks to an impressive list of festival directors and continues to deliver an array of cultural genres including opera, theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, cabaret, literature, visual art and new media! Meaning, there is something for everyone – travellers, families, couples, groups or solo culture vultures.
However, when you add a Barossa Valley road trip to your Adelaide Festival itinerary, you suddenly have a holiday that provides the best of what life has to offer: culture, art, food and wine!
Barossa Valley Road Trip
The Barossa is a fabulous experience and easy road trip to do when visiting Adelaide. A one, two or three-day road trip that begins and ends in Adelaide and is only an hour’s drive from the city.
However, with something like 160 wineries, 80-plus cellar-doors and a wine history that dates back to 1842, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. So, we recommend you head for Tanunda and the Barossa Visitor Information Centre, who can provide handy hints on wineries, dining options and other local heritage attractions based on your time frame.
Tanunda also boasts a number of wineries, including Peter Lehmann Wines, Langmeil, Richmond Grove, Lambert Estate and Chateau Tanunda, with its impressive buildings and grounds, located next to the Tanunda railway station.
Another must-see is Seppeltsfield and Marananga where everything Barossa comes together to deliver the ultimate food, wine, music, and boutique accommodation experience. In fact, you can almost spend an entire day at Seppeltsfield with over 15 cellar doors, the Jam Factory (a world class, not-for-profit art studio, and gallery and retail space). Plus, the delicious Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, serving all-day picnic fare and sales of her famous gourmet products. Or, if you are suffering from serious hunger pains, book a table at the extraordinary Hently Farm or Fino @ Seppeltsfield.
Angaston is another must-visit community with vibrant cafes, wine bars, cellar doors, and nifty little antique shops – it’s also home to the Barossa Farmers’ Market which are held each Saturday morning.
For a holistic, wellbeing encounter drop into the Lyndoch Lavender Farm with over five acres of lavender to stroll through. It’s a wonderful reward at the end of a beautiful drive through the rolling hills of the Barossa. Lyndoch is at the southern end of the Barossa and is also home to Barossa Chateau, which features an antique gallery, a small wine museum, and more than 30,000 roses.
The above sights are just a few of the highlights, but no matter how long you spend, the Barossa Valley will definitely be an incredible and memorable experience. And, you can drink to that!
The Adelaide Festival/The Adelaide Festival of the Arts runs from 28 Feb – 16 Mar 2025