This is a road trip that’s bound to be a hit with foodies! The German heritage village of Hahndorf is only 45 minutes up the South Eastern Freeway from the Adelaide CBD. The main street is packed with cafes, restaurants, pubs and all sorts of shops to explore, so make sure to spend some time strolling the street and enjoy the bustling atmosphere. It’s a tourist hotspot all year around and parking can be difficult, but don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a park on the main street.
Enjoy a hearty German lunch or try some something more contemporary at Hahn and Hamlin or The Whitehouse before heading off on a drive through the bucolic countryside along the Onkaparinga River Valley. Before you go though, head out of Hahndorf on the main street and check out the world famous Beerenberg strawberry farm, you can even pick your own!
You’ll pass through Verdun, Balhannah, and Woodside. The Adelaide Hills is a renowned wine region, particularly Sauvignon Blanc, and there are heaps of cellar doors to explore. Along the roadside there are old-school apple stalls selling fresh apples and all sorts of homemade treats to take home.
Stop in Woodside to check out Melba’s Chocolate Factory (kids fave). They make all the chocolates and sweets on site and you can watch them as they use heritage equipment and methods to produce a vast array of sweets. From here, you can decide to cross the watershed of the Onkaparinga River to Mt Torrens and explore further north towards Birdwood and the Torrens River Valley, or wind your way back through Lobethal and along the twisting hills roads back to Adelaide. During December, the entire town of Lobethal lights up in a Xmas light display long favoured by Adelaideans.
This is an easy drive which allows plenty of time to wander, eat, drink, play, and explore.
