Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
FLEURIEU
PENINSULA
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
SIGHTS
&ACTIVITIES
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
MCLAREN
VALE
festival in December. Repair to the Lobethal ̈
Bierhaus (%08-83895570;www �bierhaus�com �
au; 3a Main St, Lobethal;hnoon-10pmFri &Sat,
noon-6pmSun) for some serious microbrewed
concoctions.FLEURIEU PENINSULA
Patterned with vineyards, olive groves and
almond plantations running down to the
sea, the Fleurieu (pronounced floo-ree-oh)
is Adelaide’s weekend playground. The
McLaren Vale Wine Region is booming,
producing gutsy reds (salubrious shiraz)
to rival those from the Barossa Valley (ac-
tually, we think McLaren Vale wins hands
down). Further east, the Fleurieu’s En-
counter Coast is an engaging mix of surf
beaches, historic towns and whales cavort-
ing offshore.
Online, see http://www.fleurieupeninsula.com.au.McLaren Vale
POP 2910
Flanked by the wheat-coloured Willunga
Scarp and encircled by vines, McLaren Vale
is just 40 minutes south of Adelaide. Servic-
ing the wine industry, it’s an energetic, utili-
tarian town that’s not much to look at, but
has some great eateries.1 ̈Sights ̈& ̈Activities
Most people come to McLaren Vale to cruise
the wineries. You could spend days doing
nothing else!It seems like most of Adelaide gets tizzied-
up and buses down to the annual Sea ̈& ̈
Vines ̈ Festival (www�southaustralia�com/info�
aspx?id=9001064) over the June long week-
end. Local wineries cook up seafood, splash
wine around and host live bands.Shiraz ̈Trail ̈ CYCLING
An up-tempo way to get the McLaren Vale
vibe is to explore this 8km walking/cycling
track, running along an old railway line be-
tween McLaren Vale and Willunga. Hire a
bike from Oxygen ̈Cycles (%08-83237345;
www �oxygencycles�com; 143 Main Rd; bike hire per
half/full day $15/40;h10am-6pm Tue-Fri, 9am-
5pm Sat, 11am-4pmSun); ask the visitor infor-
mation centre for a map.T ̈Tours
You can also organise McLaren Vale tours
departing Adelaide (see p723).Bums ̈on ̈Seats ̈ GUIDEDTOUR
(%0438 808 253; www �bumsonseats�com �au; per
personfrom $75) McLaren Vale and Fleurieu
day tours for small groups.Chook’s ̈Little ̈Winery ̈Tours ̈GUIDEDTOUR
(%0414 922 200; www �chookslittlewinerytours�
com �au; per personfrom $90) Small-group tours
visiting some of the lesser-known boutique
McLaren Vale wineries.McLaren ̈Vale ̈Tours ̈ GUIDEDTOUR
(%0414 784 666; www �mclarenvaletours�com �
au) Customised, locally-run tours around
McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu; call for
prices.CURRENCY ̈CREEK ̈& ̈ LANGHORNE ̈CREEK ̈WINERIESOnce slated as the capital of SA, Currency Creek, 10km north of Goolwa, is now content
with producing award-winning wines. Currency ̈Creek ̈Winery (%08-85554069;www �
currencycreekwinery�com� au; WineryRd, CurrencyCreek;h10am-5pm) has 160 acres under
vine (brilliant cabernet sauvignon) plus a fab restaurant (mains $18 to $32, open noon
to 3pm Thursday to Sunday and 6pm to 9pm Friday and Saturday). Bookings advised.
Further north, 16km east of Strathalbyn, Langhorne Creek is one of Australia’s oldest
wine-growing regions (www.langhornewine.com.au), producing shiraz, cabernet sauvi-
gnon and chardonnay. A couple of the 20-plus wineries here:
̈ ̈Bleasdale ̈Winery (www�bleasdale�com �au; WellingtonRd, LanghorneCreek;h10am-5pm)
The district’s first winery, with a large range, historic cellars and an old redgum lever
press.
̈ ̈Bremerton (www�bremerton�com �au; StrathalbynRd, LanghorneCreek;h10am-5pm)
Run by two sisters, Bremerton is an innovative operator in an old-school region. Top
chardonnay and shiraz.