Your Motorhome Guide To The Barossa Valley

Picture this: vineyards sprawling on your left and right from your motorhome windows, cellar door after cellar door, historic buildings and streets made to be explored…

 

Welcome to the Barossa!

Home to one of the world’s top wine-growing regions, this Tuscany-esque region can be tackled over the course of a few days without rushing from one attraction to the next. Wine might be the highlight of the area, but there is plenty waiting beyond the cellar door. Families, foodies and fellow motorhome travellers will find that there is much to do in this beautiful patch of South Australia.

The Barossa Valley region is about an 8-to-9 hour drive from the Cruisin’ Melbourne branch, so we highly recommend you include it as part of a broader itinerary for travelling to Adelaide! Check out our inland Melbourne to Adelaide itinerary here.

As you embark on your road trip to the Barossa, our biggest motorhome travel tip is to make sure you have a designated driver (or two) as you will be doing lots of wine tastings! 🍷

 

What To See And Do In The Barossa Valley

Other than moving from one winery to the next like a more refined pub crawl, give yourself time to explore the history-rich towns, get outdoors and try a few experiences you wouldn’t expect to find in the middle of wine country.

 

Barossa Farmers Market

There’s nothing better than stocking the motorhome fridge and your stomachs with fresh local produce. Make the Barossa Farmers Market one of your first stops and see what the region is growing, baking and producing. Having your own kitchen on the road definitely comes in handy in a region where good food seems to follow you everywhere!

 

Image: Fresh produce straight from the farmer, South Australian Tourism Commission/Sven Kovac

 

Jacob’s Creek

In addition to being Australia’s most recognisable wine brand, there’s more to do at Jacob’s Creek than just tasting and grazing. Have a picnic on the lawn, give their horse-riding tour a go, or even stop by the tennis court for a quick match.

 

Image: Put down the wine glass and pick up a racquet, Tourism Australia/South Australian Tourism Commission

 

Barossa Adventure Station

Travelling with younger road trippers? Make some room in your itinerary for a picnic lunch at the Barossa Adventure Station. There is a huge playground where the kids (and big kids 😉) can burn off some energy as well as a bike trail to explore.

 

Image: Hire a bike and explore Barossa’s nature, TrailScapes

 

Nuriootpa and Tanunda

Leave some room in the itinerary for the Barossa’s towns rather than spending every hour out among the vines. Nuriootpa and Tanunda are great places to break up a day of driving. Wander around the local shops, stop somewhere for lunch, or explore the many bushwalking trails before heading back into the countryside.

 

Image: Don’t miss Light Pass, named after the man who named the Barossa, Barossa Australia

 

Casa Carboni

Bring out your inner MasterChef with a cooking class at Casa Carboni! Rather than just eating your way around the Barossa, get involved and learn Italian cooking techniques and seasonal recipes made with local produce - an experience that sticks with you long after your holiday ends. Your motorhome kitchen may be expecting bigger things from you afterwards!

 

Image: Get hands-on with some pasta, South Australian Tourism Commission

 

Hot Air Ballooning

The early bird gets an amazing sunrise view over the Barossa! Hop into a hot air balloon at dawn and take to the skies, watching the countryside unfold beneath you. Don’t forget to bring your camera along!

 

Image: Admire the vast lands of Barossa from above, Barossa Grape & Wine Association

 

Barossa Vintage Festival

If you’re visiting Barossa in autumn, plan a visit to the Barossa Vintage Festival! Australia’s longest-running wine festival celebrates what the Barossa does best, with markets, masterclasses and family-friendly events. The Barossa Vintage Festival will be held on 21-25 April 2027. Visit their website for more info.

 

Image: Grape stomping fun for the kiddos, Tourism Barossa Inc

 

Kapunda Silo Art

Add some colour to your drive with a visit to the Kapunda Silo Art, celebrating the town’s legacy as Australia’s first successful copper mining town. Silo art and motorhome road trips have become a pretty good match around regional Australia, especially when the drive itself is half the reason you came.

 

Image: A must-see on South Australia’s Silo Art Trail, Barossa Australia

 

What To Eat And Drink In The Barossa Valley

Come hungry, because the Barossa is just as much about food as it is about wine. The region is packed with fresh local produce, artisan cheese, handmade chocolates, farm shops and plenty of places for a long lunch. Of course, the Barossa is also famous for its jammy, full-bodied Shiraz, with more than 150 wineries, many with cellar doors to explore. Between the food, wine and local produce, make sure to leave plenty of room in the motorhome fridge. Just try not to eat everything before getting back to your campsite!

 

Château Tanunda

Located on the site of Barossa Valley’s first winery, Chateau Tanunda is full of history with over a century of winemaking experience. Book a wine experience and tour to learn more about the Barossa’s old vines, Shiraz and different wine-growing areas. It’s a good option for anyone wanting a little history with their tasting rather than another quick stop at the bar.

 

Image: Taste the history at Barossa's first winery, Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission

 

Château Yaldara

Step into this European castle masquerading as a cellar door and try some of the fortified wines the Barossa is known for. Take a self-guided tour through the buildings, and settle in for a lunch at their riverside restaurant with wood-fired pizzas.

 

Image: Chateau Yaldara was named after the local Aboriginal word for ‘sparkling’, Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission

 

Hayes Family Wines

If simply tasting wine is not quite interactive enough, this farm-style cellar door offers a chance to get more involved with a tawny blending experience. Create your own wine blend and put those newly discovered Barossa tasting skills to good use!

 

Image: A cosy cellar door for an intimate wine experience, South Australian Tourism Commission

 

Bonus Tip: Hayes Family Wines is also just a 5-minute drive from the Avenue of Palms, a 5-kilometre sealed road with over 2,000 Canary Island Date palm trees planted by Seppeltsfield workers during the Great Depression. Definitely worth the detour to drive on the trail with the motorhome for some great pictures!

 

Kies Family Wines

For a relaxed cellar door stop with plenty happening in one place, add Kies Family Wines to your Barossa route. This family-owned winery has a cellar door and the Monkey Nut Café on site, making it easy to turn a tasting into a longer lunch stop. There is a wide selection of wines to work your way through, so groups with very different preferences will find something to suit their palates.

 

Image: Take a helicopter tour over Kies Family Wines with Barossa Helicopters, Tourism Australia

 

Gully Gardens Barossa

Got the kids in tow or not much of a wine person? The Barossa Valley offers experiences for everyone. Gully Gardens grows apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples and pears, with plenty turned into dried fruit and chocolate-dipped treats. Visit the farm shop to stock up the motorhome, pick up fresh fruit when it’s in season or stop for a coffee and something sweet.

 

Image: Dried fruit makes for an amazing snack in the motorhome, Gully Gardens Barossa

 

Barossa Valley Cheese Company

Step into the Cheesecellar and discover a wide range of vintage and artisan cheeses by winemaker Victoria McClurg, sourced with dairy from local South Australian farming families. With curated cheese tastings and a live stream viewing of their cheesemakers, come hungry and leave happy!

 

Image: The winemaker’s cheese, Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission

 

Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop

You’ve seen Maggie Beer’s stocks, ice cream, cheeses and other snacks in the supermarket. Now, you can go straight to the source! Explore Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop for coffee, cakes, grazing boards and bubbles with beautiful views over the lake, and stop by The Eatery for a gourmet meal made with the ever-changing yield of the farm and field.

 

Image: Wine and dine with a view, Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission

 

Barossa Valley Chocolate Company

Enjoy the sweeter side of Barossa and try your hand at making chocolate or settle in for one of their pairing experiences. Younger travellers (or anyone not into wine) can enjoy a chocolate and ice cream pairing while the adults can choose a wine and chocolate pairing. Nobody needs to sit this one out!

 

Image: Chocolate pairings perfect for sweet tooths, Tourism Australia

 

Lyndoch Lavender Farm

Wander through the lavender fields or go on a guided tour of this working farm and stop by the café for lavender-flavoured scones, ice cream and even toasties! They offer a wide variety of lavender products from home care and essential oils to mustards and jellies. Maybe pick up a bottle of lavender liqueur on the way out?

 

Image: Relax and unwind with the scent of lavender in the air, Drea Chong

 

Wondering what to do with all the fresh produce, cheese and wine that you’ve collected on this road trip? Cook up a storm in the motorhome with these tips!

 

Where To Stay In The Barossa Valley

The Barossa has a variety of accommodation available, from holiday parks to cellar door cottages. During festivals and busy weekends, book ahead where possible and check that the site you reserve is suitable for the length and height of your Cruisin’ motorhome.

• BIG4 Barossa Tourist Park, 7 Penrice Road, Nuriootpa SA 5355.
• Gawler Gateway Tourist Park, 3134 Main North Road, Evanston South SA 5116.
• Discovery Parks – Barossa Valley, 1F Murray Street, Tanunda SA 5352.
• Murray Recreation and Caravan Park, 1845 Eden Valley Road, Eden Valley SA 5235.
• Kapunda Tourist Park, Baker Street, Kapunda SA 5373.
• Williamstown Queen Victoria Jubilee Park, 15 Springton Road, Williamstown SA 5351.
• Talunga Caravan Park, 95 Melrose Street, Mount Pleasant SA 5235.

 

Image: Fancy a stay in a silo? Visit The Barns of Freeling, South Australian Tourism Commission

 

Start Planning Your Barossa Valley Road Trip!

Hire a self-contained motorhome from Cruisin’ Motorhomes and turn your Adelaide holiday into the ultimate road trip featuring the beauty of the Barossa Valley.

Call our friendly reservations team on 1300 664 485 or check out our website to see the motorhomes we have available at our branches!

✨ Need inspiration? Check out our detailed itineraries and our blog articles for our latest motorhome tips!

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