18 Unique Things To Do In The Barossa Valley- Australian Traveller

This article was originally written by Kristie Lau-Adams with updates by Megan Arkinstall.

Shake off dusty morning-after brain with our list of fun things to do in the Barossa Valley that don’t include (too much) wine.

While almost 100 cellar doors, each pouring their own version of the world’s finest liquid gold, are this region’s shining stars, the Barossa Valley also doubles as a playground for gourmands, creatives and outdoorsy types. These 18 things to do in the Barossa Valley will keep your entire group happy – even kids – from art galleries to walking tracks and wellness experiences (with a few sips of wine for good measure).  

1. Natural Perfumery Workshop at Vasse Virgin

Vasse Virgin Workshops — Book in for a Natural Perfumery Workshop at Vasse Virgin. (Image: Josie Withers)

While most Barossans dabble in the art of winemaking, Louis and Edwina Scherini played around with skincare. Striking the perfect blend of sensitivity and luxury through a base of quality extra virgin olive oil, the couple launched a successful product range which eventually broadened to gourmet foods and a couple of stores.

Today, they offer a 60-minute Natural Perfumery Workshop at their Vasse Virgin Soap Factory on Seppeltsfield Road where the team share their know-how in layering scents to find your own winner. Priced at $100 per person, the class includes a 15ml bottle of your creation, plus the detailed recipe to take home with you.

2. Barossa Sculpture Park

Allow a series of arresting marble and granite sculptures to steal your gaze from vineyards – and the bottom of a glass – momentarily. The Barossa Sculpture Park on Mengler Hill Road in Bethany is home to a collection of 17 locally crafted abstract artworks that each glisten against the region’s rugged landscape.

They’re a captivating sight, almost as though they’ve slowly risen from the ground to further beautify the magical region, so visiting even for a few minutes is a surprisingly rewarding thing to do in the Barossa Valley.

The earliest sculptures date back to 1988 and standouts include ‘A Memory of the Keyhole’, reminiscent of Egyptian hieroglyphics, and ‘Persephone’ complete with a beautiful lounging woman carved atop.

3. Mengler Hill Lookout

While you’re parked in the car park servicing the Sculpture Park, head on up to the Mengler Hill Lookout for sweeping, panoramic views of the Barossa Valley. A popular pit-stop on many of the region’s top-rated wine tours, this vantage point offers the best of the area in just a single glance – rows of vines, rich farmland, 50 shades of greenery and those signature rolling hills. The Sculpture Park is located right at the base of the lookout, so you can double-dip without any hassle.

4. Gardens at Barossa Valley Estate

Glorious scenery can also be spied at Barossa Valley Estate’s rainbow-hued gardens , a soothing, joyful thing to do in the Barossa Valley all on its own. Claiming the title of “Australia’s largest perennial gardens", the space was designed by legendary Australian landscape designer and author Paul Bangay, and it’s utterly delightful.

Whether you’re a lover of landscape artistry or not, there’s no denying the charms of this heavenly design. Throwing an entire colour wheel of shades as the seasons rotate, it’s a photographer’s dream, even if your skills extend as far as social media. It’s also the perfect backdrop to the brand’s contemporary cellar door, and you’ll marvel and meander much longer than you initially plan.

5. Barossa Arts Centre

Time your visit to the region with a performance at the Barossa Arts Centre , located in central Tanunda, a venue that’s also hired out for intimate events such as local school services and forums. Home to a range of regular shows that span musicals, comedy, rock, orchestras, choirs and theatre, the centre offers a constant string of entertainment. Past events have included Elvis Presley tribute nights, country music acts such as Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole, and operatic royalty Marina Prior and David Hobson. Check out the website for ticketing information and dates.

6. Barossa Valley Golf Club

kangaroos on a golf course, Barossa Valley — Meet the resident roos at the Barossa Valley Golf Club.

Grip it and rip it surrounded by the region’s distinct natural beauty at the Barossa Valley Golf Club . This luscious 18-hole golf course is in Nuriootpa, home to a superb range of Barossa Valley accommodation options plus a scattering of the finest wineries, so teeing off in the early morning (as early as 6am on Saturdays) should be nice and convenient.

Its popular competition days are staged every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and visitors are always welcome. Snap up 18 holes for $45 per adult, or just 9 holes for $35, and golf buggies can be hired with prices starting at $30.

There’s also a strict heat policy so when the mercury hits 41 degrees, the club shuts its doors to ensure guest safety, so your experience should be comfortable (albeit dotted with the odd visit from a local kangaroo) every time.

7. Beyond Wellness

Soothe yourself with a scenic yoga session at Beyond Wellness. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Turning your Barossa adventure into a wellness makeover is easy, too, thanks to the team at Beyond Wellness . Whether you’re after a scenic yoga session, sunrise hiking or a multi-day health retreat, they’ll have you at your sparkling best before you toast to the new you with a bottle of shiraz.

Family experiences are also available, such as Forest Foraging and a Family Adventure, which includes activities such as bushwalking and kayaking, all aimed at fostering bonds and exploration with your family.

Wellness retreats are held across the Barossa, from Seppeltsfield Estate to Kingsford The Barossa, and include the perfect balance between nourishing your body with exercise and mindful activities and enjoying some beautiful wine and food, for which the region is known.

8. Barossa Bike Hire

Bike Hire Jacobs Creek Barossa — Cycle to some of Barossa’s top wineries. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Keen to tackle Barossa on a set of wheels? Barossa Bike Hire not only has a wide range of e-bikes, helping you see the best of the area without breaking a sweat, but it also offers tours for every kind of cyclist.

The six-hour ‘Barista, Brewer, Wine Cycle Tour’ runs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and circles 20 kilometres of the northern end of the region through Nuriootpa, home to some of the Barossa Valley’s best foodie experiences including Maggie Beer’s farm and her daughter’s The Farm Eatery restaurant.

It includes coffee, thank goodness, three cellar-door wine tastings and lunch. The ultra-romantic, self-guided ‘Sunset and Sparkles Cycle Tour’ is also available. Its three-hour itinerary kicks off with a care package of local sparkling wine before winding through many of the Barossa’s busiest towns along mostly flat terrain.

9. Barossa Valley Chocolate Company

Delight the kids in tow, plus your own inner child, with a visit to the famous Barossa Valley Chocolate Company , a must-experience for sweet tooths of all ages. The multi-award-winning team handcrafts more than 250 delicious creations from locally sourced ingredients, blending them with high-quality Aussie and Belgian chocolate.

But there’s so much more than the stash of goodies you’ll take home. Offering irresistible chocolate pairings with wine or cheese, plus a cafe serving up lunch on a beautiful waterfront deck and an ice creamery, this culinary hot spot ticks a lot of boxes.

10. Seppeltsfield Road Distillers

Switch out the vino for some excellent gin at Seppeltsfield Road Distillers , a mover and shaker on the Barossa scene. Not only are the spirits themselves exceptional, with the brand’s ‘Barossa Shiraz Gin’ a standout among critics, but the space itself is also relaxed and full of good times.

Take a seat in an alcove amongst the venue’s outdoor multi-level deck or sink into a comfy chair on the lush lawn. If it’s miserable out, the indoor space is equally inviting as clever cocktails roll out around you. Make it a day to remember by grabbing a gin flight to sample the best in stock, and pair it with one of their small and simple, yet sensational, charcuterie platters.

11. Lyndoch Lavender Farm and Cafe

While the on-site cafe is one of the best Barossa Valley destinations for an epic lunch of lavender-infused treats, Lyndoch Lavender Farm and Cafe is worth a journey to inspect the grounds alone. More than two hectares of the pretty purple blooms spread right across the landscape, as does the odd sprinkling of herbs including sage, basil and rosemary.

You can learn more about the working farm on one of their tours, available within groups or as self-guided expeditions. Scones, plus tea and coffee are also included, but the real take-home will be one of their outstanding lavender cookies. Consider us lavender converts.

12. Barossa Valley winery cellar doors

We held off as long as we could. While the Barossa Valley’s wonderful cellar doors are obviously primely positioned for a day of wine tasting, plenty of the Barossa Valley’s finest cellar doors offer an incredible amount more.

Frequented by the region’s best-rated winery tours, the likes of Yalumba, which offers a tour of its personal cooperage, the only winery cooperage in the country, and Jacob’s Creek, which offers table tennis and gourmet group picnics on its picture-perfect lawn, deserve quality time to be explored in full.

13. Barossa Valley Ballooning’s hot air balloons

a hot air balloon over the Barossa Valley — Admire the landscape from up above in a hot air balloon over the Barossa. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

What better way to soak in the region’s most spectacular vistas than in a gentle-moving, hour-long hot air balloon ride at sunrise, courtesy of Barossa Valley Ballooning ? Meeting you at the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort in Rowland Flat around an hour before the sun commences its ascent, the expert team will have you sensationally soaring before landing you safely back at the resort. There, you’ll be treated to a champagne breakfast with a generous side of views out across the Barossa Ranges. A morning for the ages, it’s priced at $395 per person.

14. Small Batch Wine Tours

a tasting platter at Small Batch Wine Tours, Barossa Valley — Don’t miss out on indulgent tastings with Small Batch Wine Tours. (Image: Duy Dash)

With more than 90 cellar doors across the Barossa Valley, it can be overwhelming to know which to visit. Small Batch Wine Tours is like your private wine concierge, opening doors to bespoke cellar doors that you may otherwise overlook in Australia’s most famous wine region, as well as neighbouring McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills.

There’s a premium shared group tour and a private flexible tour option, both of which include wine tastings and lunch. Oenophiles should consider the Barossa Shiraz Subregion Tour on which you’ll learn about and taste some of the region’s most rare and collective shirazes. If you’re more interested in the iconic heavyweights that put Barossa Valley wine on the world map – Penfolds and Henschke – book the Ultimate Barossa Wine Tour, which is the only tour that has access to tastings of both Penfold’s Grange and Henschke’s Hill of Grace in one day.

15. Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park

western grey kangaroos at Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park — Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park is a lush haven for western grey kangaroos. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Stretch your legs with a visit to Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park , just 12 kilometres south-east of Tanunda and home to two walking tracks. The 4.7-kilometre Wallowa Hike leads to a lookout at the top of a granite rock outcrop for panoramic views of the Barossa ranges and the valley floor below.

While the shorter two-kilometre Stringybark Hike is a flat and easy walk through dense stringybark forest, perfect for families to do together. Watch for western grey kangaroos and native birds such as honeyeaters, tree-creepers, rosellas and lorikeets.

16. Third Space Float & Wellness Studio

a look inside Third Space Float & Wellness Studio — Spend a wellness weekend with friends at Third Space Float & Wellness Studio.

The Barossa is known for its delectable food and wine offerings. But when it’s time for a break from the indulgence, focus on your body and mind at Third Space Float & Wellness Studio .

Located within Tanunda, this studio offers naturopathy, massage, reiki, kinesiology and a float studio, where you can completely switch off and experience weightlessness. It’s a calming space to zen out after a few days of cellar-door-hopping.

17. Wonderground

This immersive contemporary art gallery and cellar door is worth seeking out if you’re an art and wine lover.

Located at the new Mirus Vineyards in Marananga, the Wondergound gallery is housed within an old farmhouse and comprises five rooms of art, showcasing both local and interstate artists. You’re welcome to enjoy a glass of wine as you browse the artworks and linger longer at the cellar door, which has views of the rolling vineyards of Seppeltsfield and Marananga.

There are plenty of experiences to be had, too, with twice-weekly yoga classes, bespoke art workshops and platters available to purchase and enjoy on the lawns, terrace or by the fire pit in the cooler months.

18. Barossa Bowland

the bowling centre at Barossa Bowland — Gear up for a memorable bowl time. (Image: Barossa Bowland)

Adults can’t have all the fun. Families can offset the energy of their little ones between winery visits at Barossa Bowland , which has dinosaur-themed mini golf, a maze and dinosaur walk, and a ten-pin bowling centre.

The 18-hole mini golf features giant prehistoric creatures such as T-rex and triceratops, while the good old-fashioned ten-pin bowling arcade is the perfect activity for rainy days (or simply when you’ve had your fill of vino).

This article was originally written by Kristie Lau-Adams with updates by Megan Arkinstall.

Need somewhere to stay? Discover the best accommodation in the Barossa Valley

Victoria’s ‘mussel capital’ is the source of exceptional shellfish used by top chefs far and wide. Step aboard a beautifully refurbished trawler to see how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

A curtain is slowly winched from the placid, teal waters just off Portarlington , like a floating garland beside our boat. The ropes heave with blue mussels, the star attraction of our tour. But as we reach to pluck our own, it’s quickly clear they’re not alone; a mass of weird and wonderful creatures has colonised the ropes, turning them into a living tapestry. ‘Fairy’ oysters, jelly-like sea squirts, and tiny, wriggling skeleton shrimp all inhabit this underwater ecosystem.

We prize our bivalve bounty from the ropes, and minutes later the mussels arrive split on a platter. The plump orange morsels are served raw, ready to be spritzed with wedges of lemon and a lick of chilli as we gaze out over the bay. They’re briny, tender and faintly sweet. “This wasn’t originally part of the tour,” explains Connie Trathen, who doubles as the boat’s cook, deckhand and guide. “But a chef [who came onboard] wanted to taste the mussels raw first, and it’s now become one of the key features.”

A humble trawler turned Hamptons-style dreamboat

inspecting bivalve bounty from the ropes — Inspecting the bounty. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

It’s a crisp, calm winter’s day, and the sun is pouring down upon Valerie, a restored Huon pine workhorse that was first launched in January 1980. In a previous life she trawled the turbulent Bass Strait. These days she takes jaunts into Port Phillip Bay under the helm of Lance Wiffen, a fourth-generation Bellarine farmer, and the owner of Portarlington Mussel Tours . While Lance has been involved in the fishing industry for 30-plus years, the company’s tour boat only debuted in 2023.

holding Portarlington mussels — See how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

It took more than three years to transform the former shark trawler into a dreamy, Hamptons-esque vessel, with little expense spared. Think muted green suede banquettes, white-washed walls, Breton-striped bench cushions, hardwood tables, bouquets of homegrown dahlias, and woollen blankets sourced from Waverley Mills, Australia’s oldest working textile mill. It’s intimate, too, welcoming 12 guests at most. And yet there’s nothing pretentious about the experience – just warm, down-to-earth Aussie hospitality.

As we cruise out, we crack open a bottle of local bubbles and nibble on the most beautifully curated cheese platter, adorned with seashells and grey saltbush picked from the water’s edge that very morning. Australasian gannets soar overhead, and I’m told it’s not uncommon for guests to spot the odd seal, pod of dolphins, or even the occasional little penguin.

The sustainable secret behind Victoria’s best mussels

blue mussels off Portarlington — Blue mussels sourced just off Portarlington.

Connie and Lance both extol the virtues of mussels. They’re delicious. A lean source of protein and packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, and zinc. They’re cooked in a flash (Connie steams our fresh harvest with cider and onion jam). And they’re also widely regarded as one of the most sustainable foods in the world.

Portarlington mussels with lemon and chilli — Mussels served with lemon and chilli.

“Aquaculture is [often] seen as destructive, so a lot of our guests are really surprised about how environmentally friendly and sustainable our industry is,” Lance says. “[Our mussels] would filter 1.4 billion litres of water a day,” he adds, explaining how mussels remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. “And through biomineralisation, we lock carbon into mussel shells.”

a hand holding a Portarlington mussel — Mussels are a sustainable food.

Despite their glowing list of accolades, these molluscs have long been seen as the oysters’ poorer cousins. “It was a really slow start,” explains Lance, who says that in the early days of his career, “you could not sell mussels in Victoria”.

But word has slowly caught on. Chefs as globally acclaimed as Attica’s Ben Shewry and even René Redzepi of Noma, Denmark, have travelled to these very waters just to try the shellfish at the source, sharing only the highest praise, and using Lance’s mussels in their restaurants.

guests sampling Portarlington mussels onboard — Sampling the goods onboard. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

According to Lance there’s one obvious reason why the cool depths of Portarlington outshine other locations for mussel farming. “The water quality is second to none,” he says, noting how other regions are frequently rocked by harvest closures due to poor water quality. “We grow, without a doubt, some of the best shellfish in the world.” And with Lance’s bold claims backed up by some of the industry’s greatest names, perhaps it won’t be much longer until more Aussies uncover the appeal of Portarlington’s mussels.

18 fun things to do in the Barossa Valley