This EV road trip in SA's wine country is the perfect weekender

South Australia’s wine country is a prime destination for an epic all-electric car road trip.

When it comes to accessibility, South Australia’s wine regions can’t be beaten. Only 40 or so minutes from Adelaide Airport, the Barossa Valley is not only a convenient drive, but far away enough to feel like you’re on a proper break.

There are wheat fields and gum trees, vineyards and magpies sitting on rusty farm gates, and you can see a blanket of stars on a clear night. Best of all, you can easily lower your environmental impact by travelling in an all-electric vehicle.

Compact wine regions make for prime driving conditions

Road-tripping in an electric vehicle once seemed dicey, but now it’s become mainstream. For this trip I’m behind the wheel of the new Volvo EX90, which has a range of up to 570 kilometres. According to SA Power Networks, there are 3000 public EV charging points across Australia, with over 750 operational or under construction in South Australia alone. You can now charge your ride at a long list of locations, from Coober Pedy to Kangaroo Island and even Pimba (population: 25), 480 clicks north of Adelaide.

Sure, there are abundant EV charging options. But I could easily manage a two-day jaunt in the Barossa and Adelaide Hills without recharging. In this corner of the world, the compact wine regions overlap each other, making driving a cinch.

a Volvo EX90 at Kingsford The Barossa — Arrive in style to Kingsford The Barossa in a Volvo EX90. (Image: Jo Stewart)

A destination hotel and vines in the Barossa

a couple walking to Kingsford The Barossa — The historic Kingsford The Barossa dates back to 1856. (Image: Adam Bruzzone)

Staying at a luxe destination hotel is a good start. A heritage-listed jewel, Kingsford The Barossa has all the hallmarks of a mid-1800s pastoral estate: a two-storey Georgian-style sandstone homestead, shearing shed and clawfoot bush baths. You can see why this was chosen as the location for TV drama McLeod’s Daughters to be filmed (fans can check out show memorabilia in the property’s library).

the rolling fields surrounding Kingsford The Barossa — The heritage accommodation is surrounded by rolling fields. (Image: Yuncong Ma)

The real star of the show, however, is the surrounding landscape. Despite the region battling a drought, the parched land still has an austere beauty. The Kingsford restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows frame the quintessentially Australian outlook perfectly, best viewed in the morning with poached eggs, sourdough and a strong brew.

a couple having a drink at Kingsford The Barossa — Raise a glass to romance at the secluded property. (Image: Yuncong Ma)

After dark, the bar is the place to be for a cheeky nightcap. Home to wine vaults laden with Barossa and Eden Valley drops, this is heaven for New World wine lovers. Downstairs, there’s a surprise: a two-lane Kegelbahn for European-style nine-pin bowling – a nod to the area’s German roots.

the volvo EX90 is parked in front of Kingsford The Barossa, SA by EV — Recharge at Kingsford The Barossa after a road trip around SA wine regions in the Volvo EX90. (Image: Jo Stewart)

Alkina Wine Estate produces local wines you can savour here. Alternatively, you can visit the cellar door yourself, which is just 15 minutes away. At this biodynamic vineyard you’ll get an unpretentious, convivial tasting experience.

“We don’t want our shiraz to punch you between the eyes," says Dan Coward of Alkina Wine Estate, signalling that shiraz-shy drinkers are safe to sip. He also chats about the pendulum swinging on popularity, explaining that semillon has become “deeply uncool" but deserves a chance, especially when visiting South Australia. And he’s right; I’m a convert.

the biodynamic vineyard at Alkina Wine Estate — Stay onsite in the heart of the biodynamic vineyard. (Image: Alkina Wine Estate)

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Providores and farmgates in the Adelaide Hills

an aerial view of Jurlique Farm in the Adelaide Hills — Jurlique uses ingredients grown on its farm in its products. (Image: Tourism Australia/South Australia Tourism Commission)

After driving south of the Barossa for an hour, we hit the village of Verdun in the Adelaide Hills, making a pit stop at the warm and welcoming Fourth Hill Providore. On a sunny day, the shaded tables in the garden are prime real estate, and for good reason – this is a sublime spot for a latte and a pastry.

Across the road, the longstanding Stanley Bridge Tavern is a place best visited with a designated driver thanks to its very well-stocked wine room (home to 300 labels from around the world). In nearby Biggs Flat, the Jurlique Farm offers more wholesome pursuits, like tours and masterclasses using hand-picked botanical ingredients.

a beekeeper in a bee suit is holding a hive at Jurlique Farm — It’s all about beauty and the bees at Jurlique Farm in the Adelaide Hills. (Image: Jurlique International)

Therein lies the rub; around here, you could drive in any direction and find incredible food, wine, people and scenery. Now that the new generation of electric cars has a 500-plus kilometre range – there’s nothing stopping you.

a bird flying from a tree — South Australia is home to a variety of birdlife. (Image: Yuncong Ma)

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Getting there

The Barossa is about an hour’s drive north of Adelaide/Tarntanya. The Adelaide Hills is a 20-minute drive from the city’s CBD.

Staying there

the cosy interior of Kingsford The Barossa — Kingsford The Barossa is a top spot to recharge and unwind. (Image: Yuncong Ma)

Stay at a heritage-listed estate with silver-screen pedigree at Kingsford The Barossa.

Playing there

premium wines at Alkina Wine Estate — Top-shelf drops at Alkina Wine Estate. (Image: Alkina Wine Estate)

Taste wine and cheese at Alkina Wine Estate and stay in the heart of the vineyard.

The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.

Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.

The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.

Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.

1. Check in

aerial of Ardour Milton Park Bowral in winter — Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.

After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.

2. Hunt for treasure

couple exploring Dirty Janes bowral — Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.

Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.

3. Slow down in a beautiful gallery

kids posing with donald bradman statue in bowral's The Bradman Museum — Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.

Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.

4. A taste of France

table spread at Lucette bowral — Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.

For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.

Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.

5. Indulge in a tipple

Centennial Vineyards bowral in winter — Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)

The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.

This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.

6. Blend your own gin

Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.

7. Go for a walk at dawn

Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.

8. Cosy up by the fireplace

A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.

At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.

Start planning your Bowral escape at visitsouthernhighlands.com.au.

This EV road trip through SA‘s wine country is the perfect weekender

South Australia’s wine country is a prime destination for an epic all-electric car road trip.

Compact wine regions make for prime driving conditions

A destination hotel and vines in the Barossa

Providores and farmgates in the Adelaide Hills