Top Things To Do In McLaren Vale | Australian Traveller

Come for the food and wine, and stay for the rugged coastline, long walks and adventuring.

Boasting arguably the most family-friendly wine region in South Australia, McLaren Vale also offers the opportunity to get outside to enjoy the stunning scenery, explore the history of the area and admire local art. Our guide shows there are plenty of things to do in the McLaren Vale to fill a weekend – or two.

In short

If there’s one thing all visitors should do when visiting the McLaren Vale, it’s a walk through Onkaparinga River National Park to work up an appetite for that winery lunch.

Sip world-class wine

Paxton Wines, McLaren Vale — Paxton Wines is a leader in sustainable farming and biodynamic winemaking. (Image: Paxton Wines)

With more than 80 cellar doors to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start but the good thing is it’s easy to tailor by area or wine variety. Family-friendly options include Down the Rabbit Hole, where kids can run wild in the gardens, or Lloyd Brothers, which has plenty of lawn space.

For serious wine lovers, the region offers everything from boutique vineyards (Mollydooker, Hither & Yon and Gemtree are great options), large estates (Chalk Hill Wines, Angove Family Winemakers and Maxwell Wines) and everything in between.

Many of the wineries in the region now offer more than just tastings, including workshops, art exhibitions, tours, food and wine masterclasses and live music. A favourite is spending sunny afternoons at Paxton Wines against a backdrop of local tunes, while Summer Vines brings together crisp drops, dreamy outdoor settings and epicurean offerings. Later in the year, Grenache & Gourmet heroes the region’s famed variety.

Indulge in a long lunch

a waiter organising a table at Maxwell Restaurant, McLaren Vale — Settle in for a long lunch at Maxwell Restaurant. (Image: Maxwell Wines)

The McLaren Vale wine region is made for long, leisurely moments savoured over great food and wine. Book a degustation at The Currant Shed in McLaren Flat and savour Asian and European-inspired dishes like Port Lincoln cold-smoked tuna, chargrilled miso-glazed eggplant and braised lamb shoulder with pan-fried goats curd gnocchi.

Or sample the tasting menu at award-winning Maxwell Restaurant – known for its fine food, wine, mead, stunning limestone cave (where it grows mushrooms for its restaurant) and even an outdoor maze constructed with tightly-packed conifers. It’s a delight to work your way through nine courses starring ingredients such as squid, mussels, venison and wagyu.

Large groups can gather over a long lunch at Silver Sands Beach Club, Pizzateca, d’Arry’s Verandah, Star of Greece or at Angove Family Winemakers at one of their many festive feasts . More casual catchups can be had at Willa in Willunga or The Slow Food Kitchen in Aldinga.

Raise your spirits

holding craft beer and wine at Goodieson Brewery, McLaren Vale — Savour award-winning classics and craft brews. (Image: Meaghan Coles)

McLaren Vale isn’t just about wine. Craft beer destinations are popping up across the region, from Vale Brewing, with its taphouse, restaurant, and luxury accommodation, to smaller breweries pouring fresh, hop-forward beers. Swell Brewing Co. Taphouse and Kick Back Brewing are go-to family favourites for their mix of outdoor space, classic lunch fare and of course, the perfect afternoon beverage.

Distilleries are also gaining attention, giving visitors a chance to taste gins, whiskies, and liqueurs made on-site. Never Never Distillery within the Chalk Hill Collective establishment brings in the crowds with its inventive gin concoctions (oyster shell gin anyone?), tours and masterclasses.

Head for the coast

Sellicks Hill, Fleurieu Peninsula from above — Hear the roaring surf at Sellicks Beach. (Image: Thomas Quan)

Not content with rolling hills and acres of vineyards, the McLaren Vale region also includes 31 kilometres of pristine coastline from O’Sullivan Beach to Sellicks Beach.

Stop at Port Willunga for a walk along the beach which reveals limestone cliffs, caves and a shipwreck at low tide. With the beach forming a natural cove, it’s a perfect spot for swimming with calmer waters for younger swimmers. Drive onto Aldinga Beach for some convenient family fun or stay on dry land and marvel at the view with coffee and lunch from Pearl kiosk.

For something more active, take to the surf at Sellicks Beach or paddleboard with SUP Down South or Gone AWOL who combine watersports with e-bike rides and winery stops. Pack a snorkel when heading to Southport Beach, where the Port Noarlunga Reef sits just offshore, revealing a hidden underwater world with more than 50 species of fish.

The Victory Hotel on Sellicks Hill is a prime beach viewing vantage point. A restored restaurant and pub built in 1858, dine in the undercover outdoor area to get the best views. Choose from the extensive wine cellar and pair with their top-notch fare including prawn and ginger dumplings, SA King George whiting and Southeast Angus Purse grain-fed porterhouse.

Spend time in the great outdoors

a person crossing a suspension bridge under a forest canopy at Earth Adventure, McLaren Vale — Release your inner Tarzan at Earth Adventure. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

Explore rugged cliff tops with magnificent views, rock pools teeming with life and the dramatic ridgelines and river valley of Onkaparinga Gorge in the Onkaparinga River National Park. Native bushland and abundant wildlife – from birds and koalas to kangaroos and even the occasional echidna – thrive alongside heritage-listed huts and 1880s ruins. Choose a challenging hike or opt for the Punchbowl Lookout Trail which is just an hour return. Next door the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park offers wetlands, boardwalks and opportunities for kayaking.

Nature lovers can join Earth Adventure for a climb in the national park followed by a gin tasting, or take the family to TreeClimb at Kuitpo Forest , a 20-minute drive from McLaren Vale. For wildlife encounters closer to town, Woodstock Winery hosts daily kangaroo feedings at its onsite sanctuary.

For more hiking options, tackle the 4.8-kilometre Wattle Loop hike in the Wangkuntila – Aldinga Conservation Park. Made up of a rare ephemeral freshwater wetland, the park is a protected home to a diverse range of rare flora and fauna and holds spiritual and cultural significance to the Kaurna people.

Get pedalling

bikers during the Gone AWOL - Coast to Vines Tour — Explore the 38-kilometre Coast to Vines Rail Trail with Gone AWOL. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Cycling and walking enthusiasts will love the Shiraz Trail , an eight-kilometre route from McLaren Vale to Willunga, built along a disused rail corridor. Part of the longer 38-kilometre Coast to Vines Rail Trail, the route offers mostly flat terrain, vineyard views and plenty of points to stop, recuperate and enjoy a refreshment.

A popular starting point is Oxenberry Farm Wines on Kangarilla Road, where there’s roadside parking and e-bike hire available. Before setting off, fuel up with breakfast, or start tastings with a view of the Pedler Creek wetlands. From here, head north to McLaren Vale, south to Willunga, or connect to the Flat to Vale Trail , a safe and mostly sealed scenic trail between McLaren Flat and McLaren Vale.

Die-hard cycling fans won’t want to miss the Tour Down Under which rolls through Willunga in January. Head to Hillside Social to watch them tackle Willunga Hill with a drink in hand.

Stock up on local produce

fresh produce at Willunga Farmers’ Market — There are more than 80 stalls that sell fresh farm produce and artisan foodstuffs at Willunga Farmers Markets. (Image: Karen Walker Photography)

On Saturday mornings, the Willunga Farmers’ Market brings together over 80 stalls selling fresh produce including meat, seafood, fruit and veg, dairy and bakery items and artisan foods. Peruse what’s on offer while tucking into a bacon and egg roll with homemade tomato chutney.

While travelling through the region, keep an eye out for local gourmet produce and artisan fare – from cheeses and olives to preserves and small-batch bakery goods at providores and specialty shops. Good options include Ellis Butchers, The Organic Store McLaren Vale, Home Grain Bakery and Willunga General Store.

The area’s foody credentials are showcased every August as part of the Fleurieu Food Festival . The whole region gets involved in this month-long celebration with vineyard feasts, farm experiences and chef-hosted events that put its incredible produce front and centre.

Go back in time

Hardys Wines, McLaren Vale — Unearth the rich history of the Hardy wine empire. (Image: Safari Global)

The McLaren Vale’s rich wine heritage began when John Reynell and Thomas Hardy planted grape vines way back in 1838. Be transported back to this time by following the heritage trail taking in the charming 1880s heritage buildings of Clarendon and Kangarilla, the iconic horse-changing station at Old Reynella and the old courthouse and slate museum at Willunga.

For further insight, join a tour of Hardys Hidden Secrets to discover the rich history of the Hardy wine empire at the historic Hardys Tintara property followed by a tasting of five of their best wines.

Get artsy

d'Arenberg Cube, McLaren Vale — The eye-catching d’Arenberg Cube looks out over the lush Lofty Ranges. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

McLaren Vale’s creative side is flourishing. Fleurieu Arthouse , on McLaren Vale’s main street, is a vibrant hub with a gallery, studio and cafe. Red Poles winery regularly displays artwork and hosts art exhibitions and workshops. It’s also a great place for breakfast or lunch, and to indulge in local craft beer, wine and gin paddles. Further up towards Adelaide, it’s worth checking out Port Noarlunga’s Arts Centre and Saurbier House .

The d’Arenberg Cube is a must-visit for art lovers and architecture enthusiasts, even if a wine tasting isn’t on the agenda. Begin with a hosted tour of the Alternate Realities Museum, a space filled with immersive, wall-to-wall art installations designed to excite and awaken the senses. Afterwards, enjoy two tastings in the Cube, including a hand-picked selection of d’Arenberg wines and a flight of three gins.

Join a cultural festival

South Australia is known for its festivals and this extends to the McLaren Vale wine region. Every year Willunga hosts the Almond Blossom Festival – celebrating the generations of almonds that have been farmed in the region. Two days of fun for families, with rides, entertainers, food trucks, live music and market stalls. Enter the almond cookery competition, have a go in the almond cracking competition and stay for the Saturday night fireworks.

For those more musically inclined, Willunga’s Fleurieu Folk Festival brings foot-stomping traditional and contemporary folk, Americana bluegrass and Celtic melodies to town. There are workshops, dancers, jam sessions and children’s entertainment to get the feet moving.

If that isn’t enough, there’s also the opportunity to watch a spectacular convoy of classic cars roll through McLaren Vale’s Main Street at the McLaren Vale Vintage and Classic . The spectacle departs from Serafino Wines and passes by selected wineries, each hosting its own mix of food, entertainment and festivities.

Shop for crafts, homewares and plants

It’s hard to resist the smorgasbord of boutiques, specialty food stores and gift shops dotted along the high streets in the region. Peruse for one-of-a-kind gifts and homewares, gourmet smallgoods, local wines, chocolates, olives and more.

Need to stock up on plants? Jungle in Willunga is an experience in itself – planted 30 years ago by the Simon family, it specialises in bamboo, palms, tropical plants, ferns, bromeliads, ornamental trees, shrubs, succulents, unusual edibles and a huge indoor plant range. Wander the meandering boardwalk through the private palm forest while the kids hunt for hidden animals.

For homemade crafts and artwork, take a look at the Willunga Artisans & Handmade Market and Willunga Quarry Market every second Saturday. With more than 70 stalls filled with handmade crafts, local foods, plants, artworks, it’s a real showcase of the area’s many talented residents.

A town charmingly paused in time has become a hot mountain biking destination.

There’s a forest reserve full of eucalyptus and pines surrounding town – when you combine all the greenery with a main street of grand old buildings still standing from the Victorian Gold Rush, Creswick looks more period movie set than a 21st-century town.

old gold bank Victoria — Grand buildings from the Victorian gold rush. (Image: Visit Victoria)

This entire region of Victoria – the Central Goldfields – is as pretty-as-a-picture, but there’s something extra-special about Creswick. I used to live 30 minutes north; I’d drive in some evenings to cruise its main street at dusk, and pretend I was travelling back in time.

It was sleepy back then, but that’s changed. Where I used to walk through its forest, now I’m hurtling down the state’s best new mountain bike trails. There’s a 60-kilometre network of mountain bike trails – dubbed Djuwang Baring – which make Creswick the state’s hottest new mountain biking destination.

Meet Victoria’s new mountain biking capital

Creswick bike trail — This historic town has become a mountain biking hotspot.

Victoria has a habit of turning quiet country towns into mountain biking hotspots. I was there in the mid-2000s when the tiny Otways village of Forrest embarked on an ambitious plan to save itself (after the death of its timber cutting industry) courtesy of some of the world’s best mountain bike trails. A screaming success it proved to be, and soon mountain bike trails began popping up all over Victoria.

I’m no expert, so I like that a lot of Creswick’s trails are as scenic as they are challenging. I prefer intermediate trails, such as Down Martuk, with its flowing berms and a view round every corner. Everyone from outright beginners to experts can be happy here. There’s trails that take me down technical rock sections with plenty of bumps. But there’s enough on offer to appeal to day-trippers, as much as hard-core mountain-bikers.

I love that the trails empty onto that grand old main street. There’s bars still standing from the Gold Rush of the 1850s I can refuel at. Like the award-winning Farmers Arms, not to be confused with the pub sharing its name in Daylesford. It’s stood since 1857. And The American Creswick built two years later, or Odessa Wine Bar, part of Leaver’s Hotel in an 1856-built former gold exchange bank.

The Woodlands is set on a large bushland property. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

Creswick is also full of great cafes and restaurants, many of them set in the same old buildings that have stood for 170 years. So whether you’re here for the rush of the trails or the calm of town life, Creswick provides.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Inside the Woodlands, a chic 1970s log cabin. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

RACV Goldfields Resort is a contemporary stay with a restaurant, swimming pool and golf course. The Woodlands in nearby Lal Lal comprises a chic log cabin set on a 16-hectare property abundant in native wildlife.

Eating there

Le Peche Gourmand makes for the perfect pitstop for carb and sugar-loading.

The menu at Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel includes some Thai-inspired fare. Fuel up for your ride on baguettes and pastries from French patisserie Le Peche Gourmand . The Farmers Arms has been a much-loved local institution since 1857.

Playing there

Creswick State Forest has a variety of hiking trails, including a section of the 210-kilometre-long Goldfields Track. Miss Northcotts Garden is a quaint garden store with tea room.

This coastal wine region serves up world-class shiraz, fresh produce and scenic trails