Butchers and bakers and winemakers, you’ll find them all in the valley. Lose yourself down the Barossa’s yellow brick road to discover more than just the region’s rich shiraz and palm-lined avenues. With this special trail, you’ll uncover a bounty of home-baked breads, smoked meats, cakes, cheese, noodles, honey, olive oil and more. They’re even better paired with a glass (or bottle) of a famous Langmeil Shiraz varietal, or a clean, crisp Eden Valley Riesling.
That’s right, the region is made up of two valleys: the Barossa and Eden, which are famous throughout the world for producing wines from such notable labels as Penfolds, Henschke, Wolf Blass and Peter Lehmann, to name but a few. If you’re wondering what to do in Barossa Valley, this is where it all starts to come together.
With deeply rooted Mediterranean heritage and a climate that mirrors the Med’s own, the Barossa has developed a distinctive regional cuisine, buoyed by the famous vines and fresh local produce grown in this rich, fertile landscape.
The Barossa Valley has an official Butcher, Baker and Winemaker Trail, one of the best activities if you’re keen to explore at your own pace. You can pick and choose your stops for a self-drive tour. Depending on whether you've a day or a weekend, you’ll be able to squeeze in various farms, stores and cellar doors through the valley to assemble your own gourmet hamper or picnic. Here are a few spots for your DIY trail, whether you pick up the official VIP guide or not.
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Lyndoch Lavender Farm and Café
Think the Barossa is filled with a huge number of different grape varieties? You haven’t seen how many types of lavender there are. At Lyndoch Lavender Farm, they grow more than 80 different types, which they use in a range of handmade home, body and garden goods. Drop by the café to try delicious lavender scones, sip a steaming cup of lavender tea, or try a scoop of the sweet lavender ice cream (with a sprinkling of lavender-coated chocolate on top). The farm shop has everything from lavender chutney to furniture cream to wheat bags.
Château Tanunda Estate
There are cellar doors around every corner, but some are simply unmissable. If you’re looking for things to do in Barossa Valley, some are well worth adding to your list. Built in 1890 and stunningly restored to its fully working best, Château Tanunda is said to be the birthplace of the Barossa, with the first vines in the region planted in 1843. Go “behind the velvet ropes” with a VIP tour and tasting or drop into the cellar door for an express tasting of Château Tanunda’s hand-picked, basket-pressed, unfiltered wines.
Maggie Beer's Farm Shop
An icon on the Australian gastronomy scene, Maggie Beer needs little introduction to any eager foodie or passionate home cook. Her eponymous farm serves up excellent coffee, complemented by the most scrumptious of cakes, savoury pastries and hearty home-style meals. If you’ve somehow skipped lunch, grab a seat by the dam to enjoy a glass of Pheasant Farm Wine and a cheese platter with locally made goods and farm fresh produce and conserves. Almost daily, there’s an 11:00am cooking demonstration to book seats for, or you can organise a wine tasting at the farm. Maggie is regularly in residence, so you might even manage a chat with the much-loved Australian food icon herself.
Barossa Valley Cheese Co.
The rich aroma of artisanal handmade cheese leads many through the doors of the Barossa Valley Cheese Co, where you can taste, try and buy almost 20 distinctive cow and goat’s milk cheese varieties at the cheese cellar, easily one of the more delicious Barossa Valley activities. Drop in to enjoy a tasting plate, watch a live stream of the adjoining factory where the cheese-making magic happens, and to take home a picnic pack of cheeses, gourmet condiments and crackers. If you’ve got a celebration coming up, consider ordering a cheesecake with layers of camembert, brie and washed rind cheeses stacked high.
There is so much more to experience in the beautiful Barossa region, an easy one-hour drive from Adelaide. The undulating scenery is spectacular and the goodies that can be found along the Butcher, Baker and Winemaker trail showcase some of the best gourmet and artisan produce you’ll find in Australia.
If you’re wondering what to do in Barossa Valley, it’s all about taking your time and enjoying each stop along the way. At the end of the day, Oaks Hotels offers comfortable stays in Adelaide, ideal for unwinding and settling in after a day exploring the Barossa Valley and nearby regions.
