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.

a herd of cows at Beerenberg Farm — 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.

kangaroos at Cleland Wildlife Park — 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.

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.

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.

the Waterfall Gully in Adelaide Hills — 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.

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.

14 of the best things to do in the Adelaide Hills