Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hills is a region in South Australia. The Hills are just east of the Adelaide metropolitan area. It is mostly farming land, fruit production and wineries, with many small towns. After European settlement wealthy locals built here to escape the heat of the Adelaide Plain.

Understand
There are just a few larger towns: Mt Barker, Stirling for example, which are increasingly home to Adelaide workers. It is an easy 30-minute drive from Adelaide CBD. The highest point is Mount Lofty, 712 metres above sea level. In 2016, it was home to 72,000 people.

By car
There are many minor roads between Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills. These are through attractive rural areas but are not easy driving.

Easier access:
 * 1. via South East Freeway to Stirling, Hahndorf and Mt Barker. From Adelaide go SE, signed to Murray Bridge.


 * 2. via Payneham Road then Lower North East Road. From Adelaide go east, signed first to A11, Payneham or A11, Eastern Suburbs, then A11 Hancock Road. At Coles supermarket turn right (unsigned) onto North East Road. Takes 30-40 minutes to leave Adelaide suburbs and reach the start of the Adelaide Hills.
 * 2b. A very poorly signed right turn off Lower North East Road in Campbelltown leading to the B31 Gorge Road 'Gorge Scenic Drive' is an option to go alongside the Kangaroo Creek Reservoir.
 * 3. via North East Road. From Adelaide go north east, signed first to A10 North East Suburbs, then A10 Modbury. Takes 30-40 minutes to leave Adelaide suburbs and reach the start of the Adelaide Hills. Then follow B10 'Torrens Valley Scenic Drive' to Gumeracha and Birdwood (another 30 minutes). Goes alongside Millbrook Reservoir.

By bus
Adelaide Metro operates weekday services to Lobethal along the SE Freeway and Onkaparinga Valley Road. In most cases a change of bus is necessary to connect with the bus between Adelaide and Mt Barker. Adelaide Metro fares apply on this service.

Southlink operates services around the Mt Barker area, including bus services direct to Adelaide central bus station. The fares and timetables are integrated with the Adelaide services. Google Maps operates the trip planner service, and the fares and route details are on the Adelaide Metro site.

LinkSA operates services in the northern part of the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa. Intended for local users, there is an occasional service between the Tea Tree Plaza Interchange on the O-Bahn and Birdwood. LinkSA has a separate fare system.

Get around
The Hills is a challenge to drive around by car, with some inadequate signage and winding roads, but they are beautiful to drive. With a map you won't go too far in the wrong direction and no doubt have taken a scenic drive.

In addition to the sealed roads, there are many unsealed or 'dirt' roads. Do not expect to find signage along dirt roads, they are used by locals who mostly know where they are going. Dirt roads do not have a speed limit shown, you are supposed to drive at what you judge is a safe speed. A speed limit sign could be seen as a challenge by some people!

To the east of the main line of the Adelaide Hills is Onkaparinga Valley Road. This is a good standard, rural road and is mostly flat along its length. From the SE Freeway, it starts close to the Hahndorf turnoff which also directs you to Woodside and Birdwood along the Onkaparinga Scenic Drive. Going mostly in a NNE direction it passes through Verdun (originally Grunthal), Balhannah, Oakbank, Woodside, Charleston, Mt Torrens before finishing at Birdwood (originally Blumberg).

Public transport isn't great around the Hills, which is a shame given the fantastic wines of the region, however there are a couple of tour companies providing regular services.

See




Do

 * Visit some of the 29 winery cellar doors. The following are a range from the very small to the larger corporate producers.
 * Petaluma
 * Hahndorf Hill Winery
 * Nepenthe
 * Shaw & Smith
 * Tilbrook Estate
 * Bird in Hand
 * Barratt Wines
 * Ashton Hills
 * Wine tours
 * Visit food producers - small goods, cheese makers, chocolate makers, espcially in Hahndorf, Balhannah, and Woodside.
 * Visit country markets in Echunga, Uraidla, Woodside, Stirling.
 * Steam Ranger - occasionally from Mt Barker, more often between Goolwa and Victor Harbor (The Cockle Train). Despite the name and their advertising, most journeys are on railcars or diesel hauled.
 * Reservoirs A variety of activities are possible from hiking or fishing to kayaking, or simply enjoying the views.
 * Reservoirs A variety of activities are possible from hiking or fishing to kayaking, or simply enjoying the views.

Events

 * Santos Tour Down Under (TDU): Professional cycle race. Takes place in January partly in Adelaide and partly in the Adelaide Hills. The times and locations are published about November. Roads are closed when and where necessary. The daily race maps (for January 2024) are here.
 * Oakbank races: In particular the Easter weekend races are popular. Although there is controversy about horse racing, many attendees treat the event as purely a social occasion.
 * Bay to Birdwood: On a day in October, historic vehicles drive from West Beach to the National Motor Museum in Birdwood. This is not a race.
 * Lights of Lobethal: Local residents decorate their homes with Christmas lights. For two weeks before Christmas a one way road system is set each evening. Very popular with locals and people from Adelaide.

Sleep




Stay safe
Bushfires can occur during the hot, dry summers. The CFS issues a daily map of Fire Danger Ratings and a frequently updated map of current incidents. On a day classified as 'Catastrophic', most venues will be closed so stay away, and on an 'Extreme' day it is wise not to travel in the Hills.

Go next
It is easy to drive north to Barossa Valley or south to McLaren Vale to visit other wonderful wine region, or south to the ocean and the Murray and the towns of Victor Harbor and Goolwa.