Adel Aide & South AuStr Ali ANARACOORTECAVESNATIONALPARKAdel Aide & South AuStr Ali AINFORMATIONAdel Aide & South AuStr Ali ANARACOORTECAVESNATIONALPARKGeorgie’s ̈Cottage ̈ B&B $$
(%08-87373540;www �georgiescottage�com; 1Rid-
doch St; dfrom $185; a) Feeling romantic? A
short stroll from town on the road to Mil-
licent, Georgie’s is a cute little stone cottage
fronted by blooming roses and hollyhocks.
Gourmet provisions include chocolates and
wine, which you may or may not feel like
cracking into for breakfast.
Pipers ̈of ̈Penola ̈ MODERNAUSTRALIAN$$$
(%08-87373999;www �pipersofpenola�com �au; 58
Riddoch St; mains $30-37;h6-9pm Tue-Sat) A
classy, intimate dining room tastefully con-
structed inside an old Methodist church,
with friendly staff and seasonal fare. The
menu is studded with words like ‘galette’,
‘kromeski’ and ‘rotollo’ − seriously gourmet
indicators! The prices are getting up there,
but quality is too. Superb wine list with lots
of locals.
diVine ̈ CAFE$
(%08-8737 2122; www �penola�org/divine�htm; 39
ChurchSt; mains$10-19;h9am-5pm) A bright,
mod cafe serving baguettes, all-day break-
fasts, great coffee and internationally in-
spired lunches (try the steamed Chinese
pork buns). Nattering Penolans chew muf-
fins and local cheeses, discussing the nu-
ances of various vintages.
88 Information
Penola Visitor Information Centre(%08-
8737 2855,1300 045 373; www �wattlerange�
sa �gov �au/tourism;27 ArthurSt; h9am-5pm
Mon-Fri,10am-4pmSat &Sun) Servicesthe
Coonawarraregion,with info aboutlocal
cyclingroutesand winerytours� The John
RiddochCentreis also here � Pick up the Penola
Cycle Trailsand Walk With Historybrochures�NARACOORTE CAVES
NATIONAL PARK
About 10km southeast of Naracoorte town-
ship, off the Penola road, is the only World
Heritage–listed site in SA. The discovery
of an ancient fossilised marsupial in these
limestone caves raised palaeontological eye-
brows around the world, and featured in
the BBC’s David Attenborough series Life on
Earth.
The park visitor centre doubles as
the impressive Wonambi ̈ Fossil ̈ Centre
(%08-8762 2340; www �environment�sa �gov �au/
naracoorte; Hynam-Caves Rd; adult/child/family
$13/8/36;h9am-5pm) − a re-creation of the
rainforest that covered this area 200,000
years ago. Follow a ramp down past grunt-
ing, life-sized reconstructions of extinctCOONAWARRA ̈WINERIESWhen it comes to spicy cabernet sauvignon, it’s just plain foolish to dispute the virtues
of the Coonawarra Wine Region (www.coonawarra.org). The terra rossa (red earth) soils
here also produce irresistible shiraz and chardonnay. Five of the best:
̈ ̈Zema ̈Estate (www�zema�com �au; RiddochHwy; h9am-5pm) A steadfast, traditional
winery started by the Zema family in the early ’80s. It’s a low-key affair with a handmade
vibe infusing the shiraz and cab sav.
̈ ̈Rymill ̈Coonawarra (www�rymill�com �au; RiddochHwy; h10am-5pm) Rymill rocks the
local boat by turning out some of the best sauvignon blanc you’ll ever taste. The cellar
door is fronted by a statue of two duelling steeds − appropriately rebellious.
̈ ̈Majella ̈Wines (www�majellawines�com �au; Lynn Rd; h10am-4�30pm) The family that
runs Majella are fourth-generation Coonawarrans, so they know a thing or two about
gutsy reds.
̈ ̈Balnaves ̈of ̈Coonawarra (www�balnaves�com �au; RiddochHwy; h9am-5pmMon-Fri,
noon-5pmSat &Sun) The tasting notes here ooze florid wine speak (dark seaweed,
anyone?), but even if your nosing skills aren’t that subtle, you’ll enjoy the cab sav and
chardonnay.
̈ ̈Wynns ̈Coonawarra ̈Estate (www�wynns�com �au; 2MemorialDr; h10am-5pm) The
oldest Coonawarra winery, Wynns’ cellar door dates from 1896 and was built by Penola
pioneer John Riddoch. Top-quality shiraz, fragrant riesling and golden chardonnay are
the mainstays.