Chapel Hill Winery, McLaren Vale, SA: Visit Chapel Hill which takes its name from the historic ironstone chapel built on the property in 1865. d'Arenberg still uses traditional winemaking methods and its Veranddah Restaurant is one of South Australia's most highly awarded. Pack your picnic hamper with fresh bread cheese olives and fruit or linger over lunch in a picturesque vineyard restaurant. Head to nearby Willunga where the weekend Farmer's Market sells artisan breads and cakes relishes and sauces traditional cured and smoked meats and fresh seasonal produce. You can walk cycle or horse ride along the Shiraz Trail which follows an old railway line from McLaren Vale to Willunga. After wining and dining soak up the region's artistic culture on one of the many driving and walking trails.
paddle a canoe along the Onkaparinga River South Australia's second longest which flows into a magnificent gorge with soaring cliffs in the Onkaparinga National Park. Along the Echidna Trail you' ll discover heritage listed huts and ruins of houses that were built in the 1880s. The McLaren Vale is also a great base for exploring more of the Fleurieu Peninsula with its rich wildlife and excellent surfing fishing and diving. Stay in vacation hamlets such as Victor Harbor dive and snorkel with shipwrecks and leafy sea dragons in Rapid Bay or Cruise the Coorong wetlands from historic Goolwa. McLaren Vale is approximately 22 miles south of Adelaide.
McLaren Vale boasts around 65 wineries mostly boutique sized. About 270 independent grape growers can also be found here. Visit weekend farmer's markets and pack your picnic hamper with fresh bread cheese olives and fruit or linger over lunch in a picturesque vineyard restaurant. Walk cycle or horse ride along the Shiraz Trail which follows an old railway line from McLaren Vale to Willunga. Then soak up the region's artistic culture on one of the many driving and walking trails. Nestled between the rolling Mount Lofty ranges and Gulf St Vincent beaches the McLaren Vale region isknown for its impressive wines lush regional produce and scenery. McLaren Vale is also rich in history. It is the birthplace of the South Australia wine industry and home to some of the world's oldest grape vines.
