14 Best Things To Do In The Adelaide Hills

Start here for the best things to do in the Adelaide hills that go beyond wine tasting.

Of course, you’re going to be spending a sizeable measure of time in the undulating Adelaide Hills sipping wine. We have that itinerary covered for you here, and dining, too. But there are plenty of other things you really should do on a visit to this beautiful region.

From strawberry-picking to ice-cream-licking, and bike-riding to summit-hiking, you’ll find plenty of extra-curricular activities to complement your viticultural pursuits. It’s worth adding an extra day or two just to ensure you can adopt a leisurely pace to explore more. Here are 14 of the best things to do in the Adelaide Hills.

1. Beerenberg Farm

An Adelaide Hills institution, Beerenberg is a must-visit on your tour of the region. The family name may be familiar from supermarket shelves across the country, but here you’ll discover the provenance of flavour that makes Beerenberg’s jams, sauces and marinades so delicious.

a mother with her kids strawberry picking at the Beerenberg Farm

Strawberry picking is a fun family activity. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

In strawberry season (November to April), head to the Hahndorf farm to pick your own basket of berries from the patch or pop in any time to enjoy breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea at the farm cafe and shop.

the cafe and shop inside Beerenberg Farm

Shop the delicious array of jams. (Image: Beerenberg Farm)

Kids won’t leave without a visit to The Dairy, the farm’s ice creamery, where waffles, thickshakes and homemade gelati will hit the insatiable sweet spot head-on.

See cows and goats at the small farm. (Image: We Are Komodo and Daisy Hofstetter)

2. Sticky Rice Cooking School

Fire up the wok and expand your signature dish repertoire with some culinary tuition at Sticky Rice Cooking School. This well-run Adelaide Hills favourite has been honing the skills of home chefs since 2008, plumping up their pad Thai, fine-tuning their dumpling-folding technique and crisping up their pork belly.

a cooking class at Sticky Rice Cooking School

Join a culinary class covering Spanish and Middle Eastern cuisines. (Image: Sticky Rice Cooking School)

It’s mostly Asian-style menus here, from Japanese to Malaysian and Thai, but you’ll also find classes covering Spanish and Middle Eastern. If you’re too full from your own masterful creations, stay onsite at one of the three beautiful, Asian-inspired villas.

cooking an Asian-style dish in a pan at Sticky Rice Cooking School

Master Asian-style dishes. (Image: Adelaide Hills Wine Region)

3. Cycle the Hills

Take to two wheels for a fun way to wind through the Adelaide Hills. Bike About guides culinarily inclined cyclists on a tour of Hahndorf and her surrounds, stopping at local wine and food producers along the way.

a group of women exploring Shaw + Smith, Adelaide Hills

Stop by Shaw + Smith to try their signature wines. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

The five-hour outing sees you pedal to Beerenberg to pick strawberries, into Udder Delights to sample cheese, and onto Shaw + Smith to sip their award-winning wines.

food dipped into cheese at Udder Delights

Sample irresistable cheese at Udder Delights. (Image: Udder Delights)

While some effort is involved, it’s relatively minimal given you’re issued with an e-bike for the journey – allowing you to enjoy the breeze on your face as you woosh past the stunning countryside.

4. Cleland Wildlife Park

Furred and fluffy locals hang about at Cleland Wildlife Park wowing visitors with their adorable cuddliness.

a koala resting on a branch at Cleland Wildlife Park

Cuddle cute koalas at Cleland Wildlife Park. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Most animals here live in a natural habitat but are quite accustomed to fawning parkgoers and will often willingly accept pats and feed and pose for the occasional photo.

Spot kangaroos in their natural habitat. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

While koalas are the headliners, you may also spot kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, potoroos, dingoes, native birds, reptiles and even the shy echidna. Stay tuned for the soon-to-open educational hub, Koala Loft, where visitors can interact with koalas and learn about their conservation.

a yellow-footed rock wallaby at Cleland Wildlife Park

You can also see yellow-footed rock wallabies. (Image: Greg Snell)

5. Ambleside Distillers

Even the most devout oenophiles need to cleanse their palate every now and then. Break up a wine-focused excursion with a visit to the Ambleside Distillery to try their selection of botanically infused gins.

the exterior of Ambleside Distillers, Adelaide Hills

Amble through Ambleside Distillers. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission)

Their spirited collection includes seasonal releases, such as mandarin gin made from South Australian citrus and the blossom gin crafted with strawberries from Beerenberg and rose from Jurlique, as well as their core range infused with local and native ingredients.

a bartender mixing drinks at Ambleside Distillers

Sample their world-class gin tipples. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission)

Try a selection with a gin flight at the distillery or sip one (or more) of their refreshing gin cocktails. If the sun is shining, find a spot on the lawn and temper your tasting with some nibbles or a toastie.

friends enjoying a gin and wine tasting session at Ambleside Distillers, Adelaide Hills

Gather a few mates for a gin-tasting session. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission)

6. Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens

To see how the cool-climate garden grows in the Adelaide Hills, carve out a little time from your rigorous wine-tasting schedule to wander the beautiful Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens.

an aerial view of Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens

Be surrounded by a tapestry of foliage. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

Meandering over 97 hectares and planted with different gardens and gullies – including a fragrant rose garden – it’s the prettiest place for a stroll in any season.

Wander the beautiful Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

Along your walk, you’ll encounter a collection of sculptures, many by celebrated artist Greg Johns, as well as the Noel Lothian Viewing Platform, which spoils visitors with a pretty tapestry of foliage.

The gardens come alive with colour in autumn. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

7. Wander through Hahndorf

It won’t take you long to discern something of a Bavarian theme in this charming Adelaide Hills town. Established in 1839, Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement and this identity has been cleverly parlayed into a tourist drawcard. But apart from the toppings for your bratwurst, there’s nothing all that cheesy about Hahndorf.

friends exploring the Grunthal Brewery in Hahndorf

Explore the historic Grunthal Brewery in Hahndorf. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission)

While there are a handful of German pubs, eateries and themed shops, it’s also just an adorable tree-lined town with historic buildings and a vaguely European vibe. Here you’ll also find the craft Grunthal Brewery, the chic Waldon’s General Store, and a stylish Spanish restaurant, Comida, among other finds.

friends enjoying at Grunthal Brewery in Hahndorf

Catch up over a cold pint at Grunthal Brewery. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission)

8. The Stirling Market

If you happen to arrive in the Hills on the weekend of this long-established monthly market, you’ll have struck artisan gold. The Stirling Market is a collective of makers and creators with a bit of everything on offer to tempt any type of shopper. Peruse stalls selling plants, handicrafts, local honey, produce, toys, books, antiques and ceramics. There’s also hot food and coffee and live entertainment lending a convivial atmosphere to this community event.

9. Hike to the Mounty Lofty Summit

All the fine wining and dining done in the Adelaide Hills may call for a counterbalance of physical activity. The 7.8-kilometre return Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty summit hike is a good way to offset indulgence given it’s an uphill climb. The steep hike is graded as ‘hard’, but should take no more than three hours up and back.

the Waterfall Gully near Mt Lofty summit

Walk from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

However, at the top, you will find The Summit Café and Function Centre, where you may feel like rewarding yourself with an Aperol spritz and delaying your descent or calling for a pick-up.

Reach the summit for more rewarding views. (Image: Ben Goode)

10. Browse Antiques

Country towns are often a goldmine for bygone bric-a-brac and the Adelaide Hills antique trade is no different. Scattered about is a collection of stores selling found and foraged objects with a certain rustic and rusted charm to delight the Antiques Roadshow set. Check out The Warehouse at Woodside, Hahdorf’s Grass Roots Vintage and Hahndorf Antiques and Collectibles, as well as Ambleside Antiques and the weekends-only The Local Produce Shop & Farmer’s Daughter, among others dotted about.

a couple browsing through antique items at The Warehouse at Woodside

Step into The Warehouse at Woodside for all things antique. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

11. Woodside Cheese Wrights cellar door

This artisan cheesemaker has been separating their curds and whey since 1994. The Woodside Cheese Wrights range includes cow and goat milk varieties made using local milk from surrounding dairies, so you’ll be able to taste the distinct terroir of the region. Their chevre is a cult product but swing by the Woodside cellar door to taste a number of deliciously creamy concoctions. Best enjoyed with a crusty loaf of bread and a crisp, Adelaide Hills white, of course.

a cheese offering at Woodside Cheese Wrights cellar door

Taste creamy delights at Woodside Cheese Wrights. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

12. Pull into roadside stalls

The fecund Adelaide Hills may be best known for its proliferation of grapes, but these hills are also alive with all manner of tempting produce. While you’ll find plenty on restaurant menus around the region, you can also collect your own provisions from the many roadside stalls and farm gates dotted from Verdun to Balhannah and Piccadilly to Uraidla. Particularly good if you’re staying in accommodation equipped with a kitchen. If you’re visiting in the summer months, you’ll find yourself amid a cherry fest. Find the plump, sweet fruit sold at stalls or you even pick your own. This guide will show you the way.

13. Jurlique Farm tour

For 35 years, Jurlique has been hydrating hands and other body parts using naturally grown botanicals from their Adelaide Hills farm. For skincare fanatics or anyone who enjoys a stroll around a beautiful garden, add a tour of this B-Corp Certified company to your itinerary. The 90-minute tour will take you behind the scenes of this beloved Australian skincare brand, while explaining the nature and science that goes into their products. If you’d rather go skin-deeper, opt for the eight-hour tour that includes an afternoon in the Jurlique Spa.

14. Eat, drink and be merry

Of course, the top-tier reason for visiting the Adelaide Hills is to savour the area’s incredible wineries and complementary restaurants. While there are far too many to list here if you’d like to hit the vines, read our top picks here. And for booking in those gastronomic adventures, these are the best restaurants in the Adelaide Hills.

al fresco dining at Pike and Joyce Lenswood

Dine al fresco at Pike and Joyce. (Image: Adelaide Hills Wine Region/South Australian Tourism Commission)

Need somewhere to rest your head? Choose from one of the best accommodations in Adelaide Hills.

Wander your way through Mount Lofty Botanic Garden with these six walks.

There’s never a better time to visit Adelaide Hills’ Mount Lofty Botanic Garden than in spring. Take in 97 hectares blooming to life, changing the land with vibrant colours and scenting the air with sweet fragrances. And these six Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walking trails will help you make the most of it.

1. Rhododendron Trail

women on Rhododendron Gully Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walking trails

See all the Rhododendron colours. (Image: Paula McManus)

Distance: 700 metres

Love the pink and purple hues of this flower, hailing from eastern Asia and the Himalayas? Take the short (but somewhat steep) walk through some of the most spectacular Rhododendron displays. Enter from either the upper car park or past the duck pond and wander through gorgeous woodland with a carpet of colourful petals at your feet.

Just try to time this walk for early spring or late winter, when the flowers will be at their blooming best.

2. Lakeside Loop

Lakeside Loop, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walking trails

Stop to hug a tree. (Image: SATC)

Distance: 1 kilometre

Short on time and energy, or in need of an accessible option? Get a short but sweet taste of Mount Lofty on this Lakeside Loop, taking walkers around the central lake. Starting from the lower car park where the seasonal display garden bed lies, continue past soft meadows of moss, through strikingly shaped trees and a rainforest canopy featuring plenty of ferns. Stop to look at a collection of sculptures along the way.

3. Lower Loop

Distance: 1.2 kilometres

This easy walk certainly isn’t short on views. Start at the duck pond and follow the path along gardens featuring plant life from around the world. Take a seat on a bench in the forest to soak in the sights and smells around you, before heading into the South America gardens, with gorgeous views over the lake and treetops.

Along the walk, you’ll spot everything from exotic flora from China to monkey trees that are usually found thriving in the Andes Mountains of Chile and Argentina.

4. Central Walk

Mount Lofty comes alive with colour in spring. (Image: Jake Wundersitz)

Distance: 2 kilometres

This is the first walk with an incline, but it’s only medium. Starting from the lower car park again, head uphill past the Central Gazebo before heading down to the quiet Woodland Garden. Continue on to spot waterfalls, California redwood trunks and a stunning view over Piccadilly Valley.

5. Boundary Loop

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walking trails

Explore Boundary Loop. (Image: SATC)

Distance: 2 kilometres

Now we’re getting into steeper incline territory, but it’s an absolute showstopper come spring. Head uphill, through pin oak canopies, the Heritage Rose Gardens and the Cherry Tree Collection (brought over from Adelaide’s Japanese sister city, Okayama). Be rewarded with panoramic views of the Adelaide Hills and the Rhododendron Gully from above. Once you’ve had your fill, continue on through the Southeast Asian Gully and Magnolia Gully – where 36 different magnolia species come to life in spring.

6. Heysen Trail

people walking in Cleland Conservation Park

Walk through stringybarks at Cleland National Park. (Image: SATC)

Distance: 7.5 kilometres

Want to get off the beaten path? This trail takes you to the untamed side of Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, and you’ll have to return the way you came. The paths won’t always be sealed, and the inclines can be steep, but you’ll get a wonderful mix of all the sights mentioned on the walks above. Plus, you’ll get a panoramic view from the summit of Mt Lofty, the small farms of Piccadilly Valley and the stringybark forests of Cleland National Park. Start at the car park at the entrance to Mt Lofty Summit.

The garden is open daily with free entry every day, and free parking on Sundays (thought it’s still very cheap during the week at $4.40 a day). Discover more beautiful walks around Adelaide.

14 of the best things to do in the Adelaide Hills