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.

Tucked between rolling green hills and the crystal blue of Gulf St Vincent, McLaren Vale is one of Australia’s most naturally beautiful wine regions so it makes sense to stay somewhere that truly gives this beautiful region full credit.

Whether you’re dreaming of a secluded escape with sweeping views from your outdoor bath, an off-grid hideaway surrounded by native bushland or a stylish retreat made for group celebrations, these luxury accommodation options in the McLaren Vale make it all too easy to linger just a little longer.

In short

If there’s one luxury accommodation in McLaren Vale wine region that is worth the splurge, make it Rare Earth Retreats for its secluded luxe cabins that disappear into the surrounding landscape.

McLaren Eye

Tucked away on a beautiful hill in Kangarilla, McLaren Eye truly feels worlds away.  Owners Joylene and Rob Edwards have poured their heart and soul into creating a sustainable, luxurious retreat in an eco-designed building which generates its own power and collects its own water.

With space for up to four guests, it’s the perfect spot to disconnect from everything and enjoy time with close friends or reconnect with family (not suitable for younger children). The two king bedrooms each come with an ensuite featuring a circular bath and a private deck to soak in the panoramic views. There’s also a cottage available for extra accommodation, two minutes away.

McLaren Vale is just 13 kilometres away, making wineries easily accessible when ready to explore.

Address: 54 Peters Creek Road, Kangarilla

Price: 1 Bedroom $675 per night or $1,200 per night for 2 bedrooms

The Vineyard Retreat McLaren Vale

The Vineyard Retreat - Cadole Sierra, McLaren Vale — The Vineyard Retreat Cadole Sierra is set on the edge of an idyllic vine canopy. (Image: heidi who photos)

Just a short drive from the heart of the Vale, this elevated property in Blewitt Springs overlooks 15 acres of working vineyard.

Stay in one of six boutique accommodation options – either on the hill for the views, or on the valley floor to be close to the area’s cellar doors, restaurants and breweries. The six options are all different, from Cadole Avalon – a sleek cabin with all the modern amenities to The Highland, a two-bedroom house built for entertaining with a chef’s kitchen. While the options might come in all shapes and sizes, they all share luxe furnishings, a private deck and complimentary breakfast provisions.

As another option, the Strand Guesthouse, newly renovated in 2021, is a one-bedroom hideaway with huge windows framing the vineyard, a wood-burning fire and a private deck – perfect for taking in the scenery.

Address: 165 Whitings Rd, Blewitt Springs

Price: From $655 AUD per night to $955 AUD per night for The Highland

Rare Earth Retreats

For couples after a true off-grid experience, these three elevated cabins hidden away on a working winery are exquisite. Choose from the Stone, Clay or Slate cabins, each with an open-plan layout with a king-size bed dressed in French linen, kitchen, living area, bathroom and outdoor bath.

Opened in late 2024, the cabin’s designs are inspired by the McLaren Vale’s terroir and lands, and feature exclusive pieces crafted by South Australian artists from the Jam Factory.

Stays can be tailored and there’s in-house massage or a private yoga class on offer.

Address: 23 Coppermine Road, McLaren Vale

Price: $650 per night

Beresford Luxury Suites and Villas

On Blewitt Springs Road in McLaren Flat, Beresford Luxury Suites offers an impressive 15 modern accommodation options , from studio rooms to the Grand Reserve Suites which feature extra space, a bath and private plunge pool.

Need more room? The redeveloped Beresford House features imported Italian furniture, luxury fittings and high-end appliances for a luxurious long weekend with friends.

Enjoy a slow wakeup in the morning with a make-your-own breakfast, before wandering down to the on-site Vale Restaurant and Tasting Room for a cheese platter and a microbrew.

Address: 252 Blewitt Springs Rd, McLaren Flat

Price: Reserve Suites start at $ 345 per night

Karawatha Cottages

Blewitt Springs’ Karawatha Cottages come in three – Ponder, Unwind and Relish . With stunning views towards the Mount Lofty Ranges and modern amenities, it’s easy to see why it’s been awarded one of Australia’s top 25 B&Bs for five consecutive years.

Ponder and Unwind cater for a couple, while Relish has two bedrooms and a wood fire for those cosy winter escapes. Fully self-contained, a stay also comes with a gourmet breakfast hamper (granola, free-range eggs, wood-smoked bacon and fresh bread) and a bottle of premium wine. Stay in or visit the several cellar doors and restaurants within walking distance.

Address: 285 Blewitt Springs Road, Blewitt Springs

Price: From $320 per night

Shadow Creek

For complete seclusion, head to Shadow Creek , set on a 20-acre vineyard between McLaren Vale and Willunga. The one-bedroom house has a king-size bed, double shower, deep bath, fireplace and expansive deck with uninterrupted ocean and vineyard views.

Linger on the balcony with a grazing plate of local treats (cheese, cured meats, olives, crackers) followed by an aged steak from Ian at Ellis Butchers cooked on the barbecue.

Explore their small batch wines including The Kinky Alpaca Grenache Rose, Vermentino and Ticket Window Shiraz. The cellar door is located on the far side of the property across Turraparri Creek so as not to disturb guests.

Address: Cnr Edwards Rd and Jackson Hill Rd, McLaren Vale

Price: From $520 per night

Hillenvale

Hidden between the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale, the five-bedroom Hillenvale homestead, built in 1859, is ideal for groups or families. Lovingly restored and modernised over the years while retaining its original charm, it includes a wine cellar, lounge, kitchen and dining areas. Cook up local produce in the country-style kitchen, then relax on the deck with sweeping vineyard views.

The Coach House provides a secluded, luxurious couple’s retreat on the same property. One of the first farms in the area, it now houses purebred and pasture-raised lambs, while the first vintages of Hillenvale wine are on the way.

Address: 194 Cut Hill Rd, Kangarilla

Price: TBC

Hotel California Road

Don’t be fooled by the shipping container exterior as inside, this adult-only micro-hotel has the ‘wow’ factor. The 20 repurposed shipping containers make up the eco-friendly building designed and built by Dudley Brown and Irina Santiago-Brown.

Each of the three 50-square-metre suites has a floating king bed, gorgeous soaking tub (complete with wine glass holder), floor-to-ceiling windows and a deck just metres from the vineyard.

The Inkwell cellar door is directly above the suites – choose from one of four tastings of Australia’s first Regenerative Organic Certified® vineyard, including their fortified wines.

Address: 377 California Rd, Tatachilla

Price: From $350 per night. Book direct to receive a complimentary continental breakfast for two.

Weemilah Luxury Retreat

Situated 200 metres above the valley floor at the southern end of the Vale, this off-grid sanctuary has uninterrupted views across the region. The open-plan living area, with its slate floors, wood-burning stove and floor-to-ceiling windows, makes it easy to just sit back and not move for the weekend.

Both king bedrooms have ensuites, and access to the deck and outdoor bath from which to view the native wildlife on the 52-acre property.

Elevate a stay further with a 30-minute helicopter flight over the Fleurieu Peninsula for an $750 per couple, or for $1180 get a ride from the Weemilah helipad via the coast and vines to Shottesbrooke Winery.

Address: 187 Delabole Rd, Willunga

Price: $1,220 for two nights

Ukiyo House

Close enough to the beach for the summer months but far enough to capture peace and quiet, Ukiyo House feels blissfully secluded. Set on a tranquil stretch of property adjacent to Willunga Creek, this architecturally designed one-bedroom house is fitted out with natural materials like charred shou sugi ban timber, rammed earth walls and Venetian plaster creating a calming experience.

The modern kitchen has everything one needs, and the welcome pack of local gin (with lemons from the garden), wine, granola and almonds start off an indulgent stay.  

Beach essentials are available as is a kayak for the adventurous guest.

Address: 37 Martin St, Port Willunga

Price: $1,500 for two nights

Discover the best things to do in McLaren Vale

Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023 , it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

Aerial view of Mandurah. — Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

The best things to do in Mandurah

Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries . The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

Dolphins swimming in Mandurah. — Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah. — Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

Where to eat in Mandurah

Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery . Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery ; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

On a Murray River Lunch Cruise , the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience , where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops. — Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

Where to stay in Mandurah

With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

The Sebel Mandurah , just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre , cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats . You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river — Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.