Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
BAROSSA
VALLEY
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
TOURS
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
TANUNDA
usualbrochuresand info, plus an interpretive
centreand the recommissioned1911 paddle
steamerPS Industry(gold-coindonation)�
Rumouredto be relocating–call themif they’re
not wherethey’resupposedto be �BAROSSA VALLEY
With hot, dry summers and cool, moderate
winters, the Barossa is one of the world’s
great wine regions − an absolute must for
anyone with even the slightest interest in a
good drop. It’s a compact valley − just 25km
long − yet it manages to produce 21% of Aus-
tralia’s wine, and makes a no-fuss day trip
from Adelaide, 65km to the southwest.
The local towns have a distinctly Ger-
man heritage, dating back to 1842. Fleeing
religious persecution in Prussia and Si-
lesia, settlers (bringing their vine cuttings
with them) created a Lutheran heartland
where German traditions persist today. The
physical remnants of colonisation − gothic
church steeples and stone cottages − are
everywhere. Cultural legacies of the early
days include a dubious passion for oom-pah
bands, and an appetite for wurst, pretzels
and sauerkraut.
Online, see http://www.barossa.com.T ̈Tours
Wine-flavoured day tours departing from
Adelaide or locally are bountiful. The Baros-
sa visitor information centre makes book-
ings. Just a few of the many tours available:Barossa ̈Epicurean ̈Tours ̈ FOOD&WINE
(%08-85642191; www �barossatours�com �au; full-/
half-day tours $100/70) Good-value, small-
group tours visiting the wineries of your
choice and Mengler Hill Lookout.Barossa ̈Classic ̈Cycle ̈Tours ̈CYCLING
(%0427 000 957; www �bccycletours�com �au; tours
per personper day from $260) One- and two-day
cycling tours of the valley, covering about
30km per day. Cheaper rates for bigger
groups.Barossa ̈Wine ̈Lovers ̈Tours ̈ WINE
(%08-8270 5500; www �wineloverstours�com �au;
tours incl lunch from $70) Minibus or car tours
to wineries, lookouts, shops and heritage
buildings...a good blend.Barossa ̈Experience ̈Tours ̈ SIGHTSEEING
(%08-8563 3248; www �barossavalleytours�com;
half-/full-daytours from $85/120) Local small-group operator whisking you around the
major sites. The Food & Wine Experience
($240) includes lunch, cheese tastings and a
glass of wine.Balloon ̈Adventures ̈ BALLOONING
(%08-83893195; www �balloonadventures�com �au;
flights adult/child $300/195) Fly the Barossa
sky in a hot-air balloon. One-hour flights
depart Tanunda and include a champagne
breakfast.z ̈Festivals ̈& ̈Events
Barossa ̈under ̈the ̈Stars ̈MUSIC
(www�barossaunderthestars�com �au) Wine-slurp-
ing picnickers watch easy-listening crooners
such as Chris Isaak and Sting in January.Barossa ̈Vintage ̈Festival ̈ FOOD&WINE
(www�barossavintagefestival�com �au) This week-
long festival has music, maypole dancing,
tug-of-war contests etc; around Easter in
odd-numbered years.Barossa ̈Gourmet ̈Weekend ̈ FOOD&WINE
(www�barossagourmetweekend�com �au) Fab food
matched with winning wines at select win-
eries; happens in late winter or early spring.A ̈Day ̈on ̈the ̈Green ̈ MUSIC
(www�adayonthegreen�com �au) A mature-age
moshpit at Peter Lehmann Wines, with acts
such as Simply Red and Diana Krall. Held
in December.88 Getting ̈There ̈& ̈Around
BUS & TRAIN
Adelaide Metro(www�adelaidemetro�com �au)
runsdailytrainstoGawler($4�90,onehour),
fromwhereLinkSA(www�linksa�com �au)buses
runtoTanunda($9�50,45minutes),Nuriootpa
($12,onehour)andAngaston($14�50,1¼
hours)�TAXI
Barossa Taxis(%0411 150 850) Taxis for up to
nine people;24-hourservice�Tanunda
POP 4690
At the centre of the valley both geographi-
cally and socially, Tanunda is the Barossa’s
main tourist town. Tanunda manages to
morph the practicality of Nuriootpa with the
charm of Angaston without a sniff of self-
importance. The wineries are what you’re
here for − sip, sip, sip!