ADELAIDE HILLS TOUR - 2 DAYS FROM ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
The Adelaide Hills
This drive yourself tour leaves Adelaide overnighting at Hahndorf and returning to Adelaide the next night. Distance approximately 350km. Petrol cost about $50.00.
DAYFEATURES AND DESTINATIONS KMsTIME
1
  • Mt Lofty Summit, Cleland Wildlife Park, Mount Barker, Dunn's Flour Mill, Dundee's, Old Tailem Town, Giant Bunyip, Monarto Zoo, Nairne, Beerenberg, Hans Heysen Home, Clock Museum
    		•  200 8 hrs.
    HAHNDORF
    Leave Adelaide on the south-eastern freeway and take the left turn to Mount Lofty Summit just before Stirling and Crafers. Stop at the Cleland Wildlife Park where you can hold a koala and see most varieties of Australian animals. Continue on to the summit for views over the city.
    Return to the freeway and take the turn-offs to Stirling, Crafers, Aldgate and Bridgewater and have a look around these pretty hills towns.
    Return to the freeway and continue on past the Hahndorf turn-off to the Mount Barker junction and turn in to this town and visit Dunn's Mill and other attractions on your map. Return to the highway and continue east to Murray Bridge and turn off just before the river to visit Dundee's where you can see butterflies and crocodiles. This is also an ideal place for lunch.
    Back to the freeway and continue 20km. towards Tailem Bend where you will see Old Tailem Town on the right.
    This is a must. Take a couple of hours to explore this complex which has over 100 buildings and several streets. A cup of tea in the country style dining room and back to Murray Bridge where you turn right before the riverand drive across the original bridge.
    As you climb the steep hill off the bridge, turn sharp left at the hotel and continue down to the park. Put a dollar in the Bunyip Cave slot and see the Bunyip. A look to your left will show you the wharf where the Murray Princess paddlesteamer berths and it may even be there.
    Turn back to the main road and head north towards the freeway, turning right before the crossover and take the road to the Monarto Zoo and Callington.
    The Monarto Zoo is a free range complex housing giraffes, buffalo and exotic animals. Call in and take a tour before rejoing the freeway back to the first Hahndorf turn-off and visit Nairne before taking the road into Hahndorf.
    As you come down the hill into the town you will see the Beerenberg jam and chutney factory on your left. Call in and sample and buy a memento.
    Find your accommodation (marked on the map) and book in. When you are settled, visit The Cedars, Sir Hans Heysen's home at the western end of town, then take a stroll along the beautiful main street of Hahndorf and fill in time until dinner at the German Arms Hotel at around 7.00.
    2
  • Verdun, Balhannah, Woodside, Charleston, Birdwood, Mt Pleasant, Gumeracha, Inglewood, Tea Tree Gully, Adelaide
    • ADELAIDE
    Leave Hahndorf heading towards Adelaide and turn right at the roundabout and pass through the towns listed opposite until you reach Mt Pleasant. Among the things to visit are the Oakbank Racecourse, the Birdwood Milland the Herbig Tree in which a family once lived. Stop for some lunch in Mt Pleasant before retracing your route to Birdwood and taking the turn-off to Gumeracha where you will see the giant wooden horse on the toy factory. Call in and pick up some hand made toys if you like, then continue on along the scenic and winding road via Inglewood to Tea Tree Gully in the north eastern suburbs and back to the city.
    TIPS
    This simple tour will show you most of what the Adelaide Hills area has to offer.
    The most fascinating parts of this tour are the Mt Lofty Summit View over Adelaide, the Birdwood Mill Motor Museum, Old Tailem Town, Hahndorf, wineries, galleries.
    There are several golf courses in the Adelaide Hills and the Heysen walking trail passes through Hahndorf on its' several hundred km. path and you could take a walk on a section of it.