Vineyards near Piccadilly in the Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hills (including Magill and Piccadilly)
Popular and hugely attractive district to the east of Adelaide
There is considerable confusion amongst South Australians as to just exactly what and where the Adelaide Hills are. Some people tend to say 'Oh its the area around Stirling and Bridgewater'. Others, including one cynical taxi driver, describe it as a trendy area which should be turned into a theme park to attract tourists to the state. And others, after thinking about it, describe it as the area to the west of Adelaide which extends from the foothills behind Adelaide and stretches from Williamstown in the north to Strathalbyn in the south and includes the major centres of Hahndorf, Mount Barker, Stirling, Crafers-Bridgewater, Aldgate, Lobethal, Birdwood, Mylor, Summertownand Gumeracha.

Each of those destinations is covered under separate entries. This general coverage is an attempt to cover some of the particular attractions of the smaller villages in the Adelaide Hills.

Once an area of small scale farming, milling and cool summer retreats, the Adelaide Hills are now one of South Australia's most popular tourist destinations.

Correctly known as the Mount Lofty Ranges the area, at various times has supported mixed farming, sheep and cattle, vineyards, flour mills, commercial vegetable gardens and a rich diversity of arts and crafts. But ultimately the small villages which nestle into the hills - Birdwood, Cudlee Creek, Blackwood, Clarendon, Glen Osmond, Gumeracha, Hahndorf, Lobethal, Mount Barker and dozens more - are now commuter zones where people escape from Adelaide's city life.

This escape from city life has a long tradition. At the Belair Recreation Park, for example, there is the beautifully preserved Old Government House where the early governors would eagerly retreat from the hot, dry summer weather of Adelaide.

The streams which flow through the hills were ideal sources of power for the establishment of flour mills. At Birdwood the famous Murray river-boat pioneer and adventurer, Captain William Randell built a mill in 1852, at Bridgewater the old flour mill is now used in the production of sparkling wines, and between Hahndorf and Mount Barker stands another disused mill.

Randell's mill, like so much of the history of the area is now home to a typical "tourist trap" which includes the National Motor Museum.

There is a toy factory at Gumeracha which, with the Australian penchant for "things big", is home to the "biggest rocking horse in the world" - an 18.3 metre high monstrosity which towers over the village.

At Kersbrook there is a trout farm, Springfield has "Carrick Hill", the former home of Sir Edward and Lady Hayward, on display, and Norton Summit boasts another vice-regal summer retreat.

The centrepiece of the whole area is, however, Hahndorf - the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia. The European flavour of the area is given special significance when the large numbers of deciduous trees turn on spectacular autumnal displays.

The novelist Barbara Hanrahan captured this European feel when she wrote of the hills that they "were more like England than any other place in the state. As well as tea-tree and wattle there were ivy bushes and oak-trees, hedges of sweet-brier and monthly roses ...Each mansion was surrounded by plants that would have died on the plains in summer. There were rhododendrons, camelias, even strawberries. In winter it was known for snow to fall."

Things to see:  

Market gardens in the Adelaide Hills near Piccadilly

Piccadilly
The Piccadilly Valley (take the Piccadilly Road from Crafers to Summertown) is the market gardening centre of the Adelaide Hills and, as such, offers views and experiences which seem to be more connected with the Mediterranean than South Australia. Its location close to the city and its mild climate and excellent soils have ensured that its reputation has been sustained. The road winds through the hills and falls to fertile valleys where vegetables and vines abound.

Grapes ready for picking at the Magill Penfolds Grange Hermitage vineyard

Penfold Magill Estate
Today Magill is effectively a suburb of Adelaide. It nestles under the mountains to the north of Mount Lofty and has the steep, windy Norton Summit Road which offers access to the Hills.

Magill's fame rests on the Penfolds Magill Estate which, although it has been greatly reduced in recent years, is responsible for Australia's most famous, and most admired, red wine - Grange Hermitage.

The Magill Estate was founded by Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold in 1844 and formed the basis of what would eventually become the vast Penfolds wine company. When the company was taken over by Southcorp Holdings Ltd in 1996 much of the vineyard was sold so that today the vineyard is small, there is an excellent restaurant attached, the original Penfolds home is still located in amongst the vines, and there is a good range of wines available at the cellar door.

Magill Estate is located at 78 Penfold Road, Magill. This winery specialises in both red and white table wines and fortified wines derived from cabernet, shiraz, riesling, semillon and chardonnay grapes. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8301 5569.

Historic home of the Penfold Family at the Magill vineyard

Grove Hill
Located at 120 Old Norton Summit Road at Norton Summit this historic winery (Grove Hill nursery and orchard was established in 1846) was established in 1992 and specialises in both white table wines and sparkling wine derived from pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay grapes. It is open on weekends for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8390 1437.

Barossa Valley Estate
Located on Heaslip Road in Angle Vale this winery was established in 1985 and specialises in both red and white table wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, pinot noir, merlot, semillon, riesling and chardonnay grapes. It is open seven days a week for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8284 7000.

Ashton Hills Vineyard
Located on Tregarthen Road in Ashton this tiny winery (the cellar door is in a corrugated shed) was established in 1982 and specialises in both dry red and white table wines and sparkling wines derived from cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot, cabernet franc, riesling and chardonnay grapes. It is open weekends for tastings and sales. For more details contact (08) 8390 1243.

Accommodation and Eating
The Adelaide Hills are famous for their excellent eating destinations - places like Petaluma at Bridgewater Mill and the Magill Estate Restaurant. For more detailed information you should check the following entries which offer a comprehensive list of accommodation and eating destinations in the district.

Hahndorf, Mount Barker, Stirling, Crafers-Bridgewater, Aldgate, Lobethal and Gumeracha.

	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Abba Bed & Breakfast Lot A Coach Rd Ashton Adelaide Hills SA 5137 Telephone: (08) 8390 1172 Facsimile: (08) 8390 1172 Email: bnb@abba.com.au Rating: ****
	Albert Mill Bed & Breakfast 4 Junction St Nairne Adelaide Hills SA 5252 Telephone: (08) 8388 6858 Facsimile: (08) 8388 6155 Email: bnb@abba.com.au Rating: ****1/2
	Chateau Gardenique 15 Gleggett Rd Littlehampton Adelaide Hills SA 5250 Telephone: (08) 8398 4720 Facsimile: (08) 8398 4720 Email: chateaug@ozemail.com.au Rating: ****
	Drysdale Bed & Breakfast Debneys Rd Norton Summit Adelaide Hills SA 5136 Telephone: (08) 8390 1652
	Liebelt House Junction Rd Littlehampton Adelaide Hills SA 5250 Telephone: (08) 8391 2696 Facsimile: (08) 8391 6864 Email: liebelt@hotkey.net.au Rating: ***1/2
	Marybank Farm Montacute Rd Restrevor Adelaide Hills SA 5073 Telephone: (08) 8337 1282 Facsimile: (08) 8336 1575
	Monte Bello Villa Harris Rd Lenswood Adelaide Hills SA 5240 Telephone: (08) 8389 8504 Facsimile: (08) 8389 82114
	Morialta Bed & Breakfast 5 Baroota Ave Restrevor Adelaide Hills SA 5073 Telephone: (08) 8365 2707 Facsimile: (08) 8365 2707 Rating: ***1/2
	The Chapel Bed & Breakfast Lot 1 Lobethal Rd Ashton Adelaide Hills SA 5137 Telephone: (08) 8390 1792 Facsimile: (08) 8390 3182 Email: sophie@myaccess.com.au
	Warrawee House 177 Coromandel Pde Coromandel Valley Adelaide Hills SA 5051 Telephone: (08) 8278 7391 Facsimile: (08) 8378 2308 Email: warrawee@arcom.com.au Rating: *****
	Adelaide Hills Getaway & Three Brothers Arms 23-25 & 40-42 Venables St Macclesfield Adelaide Hills SA 5153 Telephone: (08) 8388 9295 or (08) 8388 9265
	Carramar Ridge Lot 746 Lower Hermitage Rd Lower Hermitage Adelaide Hills SA 5131 Telephone: (08) 8380 5661 Facsimile: (08) 8380 5893 Email: carramar@senet.com.au
	Fernwood Estate Bed & Breakfast Mountview Rd Mount Torrens Adelaide Hills SA 5244 Telephone: (08) 8389 4342 Facsimile: (08) 8389 4464 Rating: ****
	Mirrabooka Bed & Breakfast Strathalbyn Rd Macclesfield Adelaide Hills SA 5153 Telephone: (08) 8388 9733 Facsimile: (08) 8388 9467
	Mount Osmond House 115 Osmond Rd Mount Osmond Adelaide Hills SA 5064 Telephone: (08) 8379 7650 Facsimile: (08) 8379 9412
	Bishops of Basket Range Lobethal Rd Basket Range Adelaide Hills SA 5138 Telephone: (08) 8390 3469 Facsimile: (08) 8390 0450
	'French-ip' Cottage Bed & Breakfast cnr Goolwa Rd & Bald Hill Rd Bull Creek via Meadows Adelaide Hills SA 5201 Telephone: (08) 8536 6013
	Nottinghamway Lot 2 Nottingamway Blackwood Adelaide Hills SA 5051 Telephone: (08) 8278 7732 Facsimile: (08) 8278 7732 Email: nottingm@senet.com.au Rating: ****
	The Gums Bed & Breakfast 6 Patricia St Coromandel Valley Adelaide Hills SA 5051 Telephone: (08) 8270 6623 Facsimile: (08) 8270 6624 Email: thegumbbandbcv@hotmail.com Rating: ****
	Toripark Stud Bed & Breakfast Lot 12 Swamp Rd Balhannah Adelaide Hills SA 5242 Telephone: (08) 8388 4770 Facsimile: (08) 8388 4771 Email: toripark@bigpond.com
	Cottages & Cabins
	Adelaide Hills Country Cottages Oakwood Rd Oakbank Adelaide Hills SA 5243 Telephone: (08) 8388 4193 Facsimile: (08) 8388 4733
	Cloverhill Cottage Lobeethal Rd Lenswood Adelaide Hills SA 5240 Telephone: (08) 8389 6543 Facsimile: (08) 8277 2454 Rating: ***
	Curlew Hill Sanctuary RMB 277 Pole Rd Ironbank Adelaide Hills SA 5153 Telephone: (08) 8388 2035
	Morialta Cottage Colonial Dve Norton Summit Adelaide Hills SA 5136 Telephone: (08) 8390 1111 Rating: ***1/2
	Willow Tree Cottage Springhead Rd Mount Torrens Adelaide Hills SA 5244 Telephone: 0417 814 123 1800 227 677 Facsimile: (08) 8389 4412
	Burdett's Country Retreats Burdett's Rd Basket Range Adelaide Hills SA 5138 Telephone: (08) 8390 0296 Facsimile: (08) 8390 0358 Email: amburdett@ozemail.com.au Rating: ****1/2
	Koolyangarra Cottage Rangeview Dve Carey Gully Adelaide Hills SA 5144 Telephone: (08) 8390 0238 Facsimile: (08) 8390 0238 Email: koolyangarra@hotmail.com Rating: ****
	Little Hill Farm Clarendon Rd Clarendon Adelaide Hills SA 5157 Telephone: (08) 8383 6509 Facsimile: (08) 8383 6509 Email: littlehillfarm@bigpond.com Rating: ****
	Paddy Carey's cnr Gully & Bowling Green Rds Carey Gully Adelaide Hills SA 5144 Telephone: (08) 8390 3216 Facsimile: (08) 8390 3216
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	El-Kadera Farm RMB 228 Ironbank Rd Ironbank Adelaide Hills SA 5153 Telephone: (08) 8388 2500 Facsimile: (08) 8388 2533
	Restaurants
	The Gums Bed & Breakfast 6 Patricia St Coromandel Valley Adelaide Hills SA 5051 Telephone: (08) 8270 6623 Facsimile: (08) 8370 6624 Email: warrawee@arcom.com.au