There is no doubt McLaren Vale has some amazing places to visit and we love our southern wine country cousins. The D’Arenberg Cube is spectacular and McLaren Vale cellar doors such as Coriole, Mitolo Wines and Leconfield Wines are just some of the many places where fabulous McLaren Vale wines can be enjoyed. For Adelaide locals and visitors alike, McLaren Vale’s close proximity to the city often makes it the “go to” place for a Sunday drive or a weekend getaway.
However we are very excited because with the imminent opening of the Northern Connector Road Project (a critical component of Adelaide’s 78 kilometre North South Superway), the Barossa will be easier and faster than ever to reach.
So how long does it take to get to the Barossa?
It’s anticipated the 15 kilometre non-stop 6 lane motorway linking the South Road Superway and Northern Expressway will take 10 minutes off the trip from Adelaide to the Barossa – that’s an easy 50 minute trip from the Adelaide CBD and the Adelaide International Airport.
Here’s why we’re excited!
Some recent guests from “down South” commented on how fast it was to get to the Barossa with the sections of the South Road Superway already completed and how they had been overlooking visiting the Barossa in favour of McLaren Vale but were now wondering why!! These guests also commented that the Barossa has such a relaxed and welcoming community feel, where everyone seems to know each other, with eateries and wineries and experiences all linked by like minded local business owners working together to provide the best of the Barossa for our visitors. We totally agree!
Not only is the trip to get here easy, the Barossa Valley itself is compact, easily accessible and home to some of South Australia’s best food, wine, cultural and shopping experiences.
Why the Barossa?
With such short time frames to escape from busy lives, visitors to the Barossa love the complete contrast of exploring new and exciting experiences in a slow, leisurely manner. As well as the more familiar wineries, there are many boutique and artisan wine producers such as Izway, Hayes Family Wines and Seabrook Wines, where you can usually chat directly with the wine makers or one of the family in a relaxed fashion while enjoying a taste and a glimpse into family life on a working vineyard. They will happily personally recommend other great places to visit and it’s this down to earth, honest approach that is becoming so popular with our guests.
Stay at Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage and it’s only a ten minute walk to Seppeltsfield Estate – a wonderful place to get lost for an afternoon. Walk the picturesque grounds, take a Segway tour or enjoy an ever evolving menu at FINO restaurant for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner. The Jam Factory Gallery space, where there’s always something new, is overseen by the effervescent Kristy who is always up for a chat and can help you with that perfect gift or JamFactory piece of art or jewellery to take home with you! Vasse Virgin Seppeltsfield was recently awarded South Australia’s Best New Tourism Business and gives another level of experience with their luxe natural olive oil skincare and soap products as well as gourmet food – all located in the beautifully restored old “Vinegar Haus” building on the Seppeltsfield estate.
With new places continuously popping up in the Barossa, there’s no shortage of things to discover. To give you just a taste, here are some places you may not have visited before! Seppeltsfield Road Distillers, Barossa Valley Estate Gardens, Vino Lokal and the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company. For more details visit our “What’s new in the Barossa” blog!
And with the Barossa Vintage Festival approaching there’s no better time to consider a visit to this side of the city, so next time you’re considering a day trip, or better still a relaxing two or three day stay in wine country, remember that the Barossa is closer and more accessible than ever!
