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Our guide to the best McLaren Vale accommodation

Tegan Forder Tegan Forder
Stay in style at one of these comfortable retreats.

McLaren Vale offers a wealth of options for a perfect stay, from grand country retreats to cosy cottages, and camping under the stars. These McLaren Vale accommodation options ensure a comfortable and memorable base from which to explore the region’s wineries, restaurants and scenic highlights of one of Australia’s most celebrated wine regions.

In short

For a country-style stay in the McLaren Vale, make it the Sandalwood Shearing Shed for a truly rustic – but comfortable – experience surrounded by nature.

Hotels and motels

McLaren Vale Motel and Apartments

McLaren Vale Motel and Apartments
Unwind in a stylish studio apartment tucked away in the heart of McLaren Vale.

Located in the heart of the McLaren Vale wine region, this modern accommodation offers large, comfortable, and quiet motel units alongside 12 stylish studio apartments. Guests can stroll through the award-winning gardens or take a dip in the heated pool (closed May to September), while the new outdoor kitchen and barbecue area, undercover dining, outdoor television, and fireplace provide the perfect setting for relaxation or entertaining.

Located: 267 Main Rd Main Rd, McLaren Vale

Price range: From $399 for a queen room

Serafino

a peaceful lake at Serafino, Mclaren Vale
Stay next to a tranquil lake surrounded by century-old gum trees. (Image: Glenn Alderson Photography)

Set amidst centuries-old gum trees, a peaceful lake, and sprawling lawns, this welcoming winery is as beautiful as it is convenient. With 30 self-contained rooms, including family-friendly options, spa suites, and spacious units, guests enjoy comfort and privacy just minutes from McLaren Vale’s wineries, restaurants and bars. Each room features air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, tea and coffee facilities, mini bar, wi-fi, parking and charging stations, with gourmet breakfast baskets available. Relax by the lake or pool, indulge at the award-winning restaurant, explore the Shiraz Trail or enjoy a wine tasting adventure.

Location: 39 Kangarilla Rd, McLaren Vale

Price range: A unit starts at $185 per night

Caravan Parks

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BIG4 Port Willunga Tourist Park

the outdoor deck of a cabin at BIG4 Port Willunga Tourist Park, McLaren Vale accommodation
Book a cosy escape with your family at this pet-friendly park cabin. (Image: BIG4 Port Willunga Tourist Park)

Popular with South Australians on long weekends, this caravan park goes above and beyond, offering craft activities for kids and movie nights, as well as a pool, large playground, and even a jumping castle. Surrounded by bush and set back off the main road, it’s a well-equipped camping ground for families wanting to lounge around or explore the surrounding region. Powered and unpowered sites are available, along with cabins for those who prefer a bit more comfort.

Location: 22 Tuitt Road, Aldinga (Port Willunga)

Price range: Powered sites start from $32 per night; 2-bedroom villas start from $158 per night

Pink Gum Campground

Pink Gum Campground, McLaren Vale
Pink Gum Campground offers spacious sites for caravanners and campers. (Image: National Parks and Wildlife ServiceSouth Australia)

Set in dappled pink gum woodland near the Onkaparinga Gorge, this bush campsite has eleven cleared sites with plenty of space for tents beside your car. A network of walking trails winds through the forest and down into the gorge, where kangaroos, koalas, echidnas and even bandicoots are often spotted at dawn.

Location: Onkaparinga River National Park

Price range: $38.50 per night

McLaren Vale Cabin & Caravan Park

a studio apartment at McLaren Vale Cabin & Caravan Park
The studio apartment is a solid option for families, couples and groups. (Image: McLaren Vale Cabin & Caravan Park)

Spread across 33 acres of landscaped grounds, this park offers a range of accommodation, including Superior 2- and 3-Bedroom Nature View Cottages, Standard Cabins, Pet-Friendly Cabins, Ensuite Sites, Powered Sites and Unpowered Sites. With ample space to explore, playgrounds, BBQ facilities, and shady picnic areas, it’s a versatile choice for families, couples or groups wanting to stay close to the McLaren Vale wine region.

Location: 48 Field Street, McLaren Vale

Price range: The 2-bedroom Nature View Cottage starts at $400

Holiday homes and Airbnb’s

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Sandalwood Shearing Shed

Sandalwood Shearing Shed offers a lovely country escape just 10 minutes from McLaren Vale. This cosy, romantic dwelling features a comfortable queen bed, stylish interiors, reverse-cycle air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and a fully equipped kitchen for self-catering. Step out onto the deck overlooking a winter creek, perfect for outdoor dining and barbecues, or curl up by the wood fire in winter.

Guests can explore nearby cellar doors, vineyards, beaches, and restaurants, or simply enjoy walks around the property. In season, help yourself to produce from the orchard, vegetable garden, and chook pen for a true farm-to-table experience.

Location: 28 Elliott Road, The Range, Fleurieu Peninsula

Price range: From $508 for two nights

Wine Down

a modern cottage in Wine Down, McLaren Vale
Wind down at Wine Down.

Expansive windows overlooking the vines, modern cottage-style interiors and neighbouring farm animals. This charming house is an idyllic haven for up to seven guests. The large outdoor deck overlooks the vines, perfect for alfresco summer meals prepared in the fully-equipped sage green kitchen, while the outdoor fire pit encourages cosy evenings outdoors.

The house is situated a five-minute drive from the iconic d’Arenberg Cube and a 10-minute drive to Willunga Farmers Market.

Location: McLaren Vale

Price range: From $1077 for two nights

Sage

the dining area at Sage, Mclaren Vale accommodation
The dining room is bright and airy with warm wood tones.

This beautifully renovated two-bedroom cottage blends warm limestone walls and a soothing neutral palette to create a relaxed, secluded hideaway just minutes from McLaren Vale’s main street. Built by local stonemasons and thoughtfully restored, it’s ideal for couples, small families, bridal parties, or friends, with each bedroom featuring its own bathroom.

The open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, flooded with natural light, opens onto a garden with a fire pit and redwood benches – perfect for evening wine. Guests can step straight onto the Shiraz Trail or stroll to nearby cafes, wine bars, and restaurants, making Sage a memorable and charming retreat.

Location: McLaren Vale

Price range: From $682 for two nights

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Tegan Forder

Tegan Forder

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The Vineyard Retreat - Cadole Sierra, McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale

Our guide to luxury accommodation in McLaren Vale

From boutique vineyard villas to elegant heritage homes and eco hilltop escapes, these are the most luxurious stays in McLaren Vale.

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Theatre, art and music: Our top picks from this year’s Perth Festival lineup

Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy

    Lynn Gail Lynn Gail
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    Blend the addictive energy of dance, creative cinematic movies, captivating theatre, and energising music during Perth Festival.

    Perth Festival has extraordinary roots. Born as a summer community experiment back in 1953, the brainchild of Professor Fred Alexander, it’s now Australia’s longest-running international art-based festival. From its first event at University of Western Australia, it now spans across Noongar Boodjar country (Perth City) bringing worldclass performances into the hearts of ardent festivalgoers. Hundreds of curtain calls, including numerous free events, are set to linger and leave a lasting impression on those who seek thrills that fill life’s in-between spaces. Featuring unmissable highlights from 6th February to 1st March, we’ve done the legwork for you – here’s what’s on, and where:

    1. East Perth Power Station

    East Perth Power Station during Perth Festival
    See East Perth Power Station come alive. (Image: Jessica Wyld Photography)

    Abandoned, run-down and shutdown in 1981, East Perth Power Station, located on the banks of the stunning Swan River, was reinvented in 2025 as an entertainment venue for the Perth Festival. Pack a picnic, bring the family and kick back under paperbark trees at Casa Musica – a free event featuring a melting pot of world-class musicians from Australian shores and around the globe. The diversity will have you bopping until the final encore.

    A decade after David Bowie’s passing, his powerful music lives on in the electrifying show, Rebel Rebel. Powerhouse vocalists join Perth Symphony Orchestra for one incredible night showcasing the singer-songwriter’s iconic hits. Illuminate your world through the eyes of First Nation Noongar artist, Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo in a free event. His distinctive paintings and Dreamtime stories decorate the Power Station’s walls depicting spiritual beliefs. Or settle in to watch British indie pop singer-songwriter, Nilüfer Yanya.

    2. St Mary’s Cathedral

    Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth
    Take in Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth. (Image: Anja Schutz)

    Step into the lofty ceilings of Perth’s grandest cathedral, St Mary’s, and soak up choral harmonies. Dating back to 1865, the stained-glass reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper are a talking point, add talented maestros, and the stage is set to enthral.

    The international line-up is impressive. Master Irish fiddler, Martin Hayes takes to the stage with exquisite lyrical compositions from his native land. Åkervinda, an award winning Swedish quartet, weave stories of love, loss, and resilience into harmonious Nordic folk songs. The USA Grammy Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth, break all the rules. Hear their voices echo through the arched vaulted ceilings.

    3. Lotterywest Films

    guests at Lotterywest Films as part of Perth Festival
    Discover the Lotterywest Films program. (Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy)

    One of the festivals longest-running favourites, Lotterywest Films run a rich tapestry of cinematic features showing until 29th of March. Pack a picnic, cushions, popcorn and pop a cork under a Somerville Pine Tree as the sun sets and screenings begin. Cinema lovers, choose your poison from thrillers, deep-dive documentaries, tearjerkers, raunchy rom-coms and side-splitting comedies. The program is fantastically full, the filmmakers the best in the business, and the outdoor setting, unequalled.

    4. The Embassy

    guests at The EMbassy as part of Perth Festival
    Step into the old world glitz of The Embassy. (Image: Franz Bato)

    Modelled on Perth’s historic Embassy Ballroom, a devilish dance venue that operated in the 1900s, The Embassy in Perth Town Hall, serves sophistication in its A-list shows. Set your sequins a’sparkle at the, What’s TINA Got to Do With It extravaganza where guest artists play tribute as they belt out the glitzy star’s hits. The returning act, Ali Bodycoat & The Embassy Big Band, will have you jiving as you take to the dance floor reimagining a bygone era. Who doesn’t like chocolate? Black-bearded drag sensation, La Gateau Chocolat puts the raw in cacao. World-renowned for his feisty range of storied songs, he reveals the inner-man come artist through his deliciously sweet and intimate act.

    5. Unusual locations

    still from The Trial theatre
    Watch a star-studded cast in The Trial. (Image: Cole Baxter)

    We’ve all heard of the hit show, The Office, but a spinetingling operatic thriller acted out in disused office space? Philip Glass’ nail-biter, The Trial, has a star-studded line-up. Together they deliver a dramatic ordeal showcasing Oscar-winner Christopher Hampton’s libretto; the suspense lingers after the final bow.

    Sit back under starry skies and soak up dynamic dance at Ballet at the Quarry: Incandescence.  Four exclusive classical and contemporary acts illuminate the amphitheatre’s stage as Perth City twinkles at nightfall. Mystery excites the mind. West Australian Opera returns again with another ‘secret opera’. Be led from an undisclosed meeting point and let the music lead to the secret.

    6. A View From A Bridge

    A View From A Bridge special event at Perth Festival
    Share your innermost thoughts at A View From A Bridge.

    Free, connecting strangers, and inclusive to everyone, artist, Joe Bloom’s collaborative project, A View From A Bridge has one prop – an old red telephone. Talk into the receiver, share thoughts, innermost feelings, memories, hopes and dreams as Bloom captures you from afar. The freedom to speak through the telephone movement has a worldwide following. A range of clips will be shown online.

    What else to do in Perth

    Shadow Wine Bar in perth
    Taste the best of Perth at eateries like Shadow Wine Bar.

    Endless blue skies crown Perth during February, making it the perfect time to explore Australia’s most western capital city. The city might be compact, but it packs a punch when it comes to what’s on. Perth Cultural Centre houses the city’s art-scene venues: Western Australian Art Gallery, WA Museum Boola Bardip and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).

    After exploring the city’s alleyways, hidden corners, and main hub, savour worldclass food in Perth’s vibrant eateries. Award-winning restaurants, rooftop bars, and cafes can be found throughout; the leisurely eat-and-drink scene is literally mouthwatering, so book extra nights.

    Start planing your 2026 trip to Perth Festival at perthfestival.com.au.