Advice on first real SA "tour including wine"...

[DJZany]

...not quite a "wine tour".

I'm going to be in Adelaide for a few days next January and want to know how I can best work some wine in. I'll have the family including young kids so it needs to be reasonably family friendly. The wine should be one of a few things to do, rather than the only reason...

I was thinking of a couple of nights in the Barossa or Coonawarra. Any advice on which area is nicer to visit as a place (as opposed to wine tastes)? Any good tips for places to stay? Other tips.

Was thinking about working Tour Down Under in, and now they reckon Lance will ride, stage 4 into the Barossa is high on the list!!!!!!

edit: Went to McLarenVale years ago for Sea and Vines, before I really understood wine...

[Daryl Douglas]

Barossa sounds good, Coonawarra probably a bit too far away with kids - "Are we ther yet?" Clare would probably be a better alternative. Then there's Adelaide Hills and Adelaide Plains.

Hope you have a great trip!

Cheers

daz

[Wayno]

I picked McV. Rationale - more of an obvious food culture, it's close to the beach, and it's not far from the city if you're looking for other things to do. There's also the Fleurieu Peninsula just south, lots of places and a good national park for hikes, walks etc. The Tour Down Under also usually takes in Willunga Hill/Aldinga etc, which is essentially in the McV region.

Barossa also good but I'm not sure there's quite the same diversity nearby.

Clare is a good choice and a lot quieter, there's the Riesling Trail for walks and bike rides but it's a fair distance from Adelaide.

[Gavin Trott]

Base yourself in Adelaide.

Catch the Tour Down Under, and from Adelaide itself can easily day trip to

Barossa Valley
McLaren Vale
Adelaide Hills

even the Clare Valley, although its a longer day trip!

Just some thoughts.

[DJZany]

Thanks for the tips.

I'm thinking I might do 2 nights staying in the Barossa (including when the stage finishes there) and then 3 nights in town.

From there I can do another day trip.

Any tips for the Barossa that 2 young kids might enjoy (and me too!!)?

[Barney]

Thanks for the tips.

I'm thinking I might do 2 nights staying in the Barossa (including when the stage finishes there) and then 3 nights in town.

From there I can do another day trip.

Any tips for the Barossa that 2 young kids might enjoy (and me too!!)?

The Barossa is not great for kids IMO, have done it myself with a 5 and 6 year old recently and really struggled to find anything other than the standard pool and park thing. Can also get very hot in Jan.

I found McLaren Vale much better, close to the beach, better accomodation and food options and a diverse range of wineries in close proximity to eachother. Also much closer to other ocean based attractions.

Spent five days there, beach in the morning, lunch at a cafe and a few wineries and the park in the afternoon, felt much more like a holiday for all rather than the 'Daddy is dragging us on another wine trip' thing.