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Barossa Valley Top 10 Things to Do - Wineries, Food, Art, Views and History
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
Barossa Valley Top 10 Things to Do - Wineries, Food, Art, Views and History
The Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s most famous and picturesque wine regions — a place where rolling vineyards, historic estates, artisan food producers, and charming heritage towns come together to create a truly unforgettable destination. Located just an hour from Adelaide, the Barossa offers the perfect blend of relaxation, indulgence, and discovery.
While world-class wine may be what first draws visitors here, there is so much more to experience beyond the cellar doors. From grand historic châteaux and gourmet tastings to scenic lookouts, vibrant markets, and fascinating local history, the region offers something for every kind of traveller.
During our visit, we explored many of the Barossa’s highlights, and these are our favourite things to do when visiting this beautiful South Australian region.
Visit a Historic Château
The Barossa Valley is home to some incredible historic wineries, where grand architecture and beautifully maintained grounds reflect the region’s rich winemaking heritage. Among the most impressive are Chateau Tanunda, Yalumba, and Chateau Yaldara. Even if you’re not planning to go wine tasting, these estates are well worth visiting simply to admire their history, architecture, and scenic surroundings.
Chateau Tanunda was established in 1890 and holds an important place in the region’s story as the site of the Barossa Valley’s first winery.
Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, founded in 1849, and its iconic clock tower and castle-like buildings — constructed around 1907 — make it one of the most recognisable landmarks in the region.
Chateau Yaldara, completed in 1967 using locally quarried stone, was designed in a European estate style and sits beautifully alongside the North Para River.
Enjoy a Cheese Tasting
The Barossa Valley Cheese Company in Angaston is a must-visit for food lovers exploring the Barossa. Open Wednesday to Monday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, this artisan cheesemaker produces a wide range of handcrafted cheeses. Visitors can sample tasting plates paired with local gourmet condiments, and even watch the cheesemakers at work through viewing windows.
It’s a relaxed, welcoming experience — and we thoroughly enjoyed sampling the delicious variety of cheeses on offer.
Taste Barossa Valley Wines
The Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s most famous wine regions, home to more than 150 wineries and around 80 cellar doors. From historic estates to small boutique producers, the variety of tasting experiences here is remarkable. Each winery has its own story, atmosphere, and approach to winemaking.
Well-known producers like Jacob's Creek are open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, offering cellar door tastings, vineyard tours, and immersive experiences that showcase the winemaking process. For a more intimate experience, boutique wineries such as Rockford Wines provide tastings in a relaxed setting. This family-owned winery is renowned for its traditional techniques and premium Shiraz and Grenache, and its cellar door offers visitors the chance to learn about the winery’s history and handcrafted approach. With so many cellar doors to choose from, every visit to the Barossa offers a unique wine experience.
Discover the Whispering Wall
One of the Barossa Valley’s most unusual and entertaining attractions is the Whispering Wall, located at the historic Barossa Reservoir Reserve. Built between 1899 and 1903, this impressive dam wall is famous for its remarkable acoustic properties. Because of its curved shape, a whisper spoken at one end of the wall can be heard clearly at the other side — a phenomenon known as the “parabola effect.”
The reserve is open daily from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, and this fun, free experience is a highlight for visitors of all ages.
Eat Chocolate
If you love chocolate, the Barossa offers a delightful surprise — you can visit not just one, but two chocolate factories.
The Barossa Valley Chocolate Company in Tanunda is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and features a huge range of handmade chocolates. Visitors can watch chocolatiers at work, see the famous chocolate wall, and enjoy meals and coffee at the on-site café overlooking the vineyards.
Meanwhile, Melba’s Chocolates and Confectionery in Angaston is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. It offers free tastings, a wide selection of sweet and savoury treats, and a lovely garden café complete with lawn games and plenty of seating.
Explore Lyndoch Lavender Farm
The Lyndoch Lavender Farm is a peaceful and scenic stop in the Barossa.
Open daily from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, this family-owned farm grows many different varieties of lavender, ensuring there is usually something in bloom throughout the year. The café is open on weekends from January to August and daily from September to December. Visitors can stroll through the gardens, browse the shop’s range of lavender products and local treats, and enjoy a relaxing Devonshire tea in a tranquil setting, which we absolutely loved.
Discover Historic Towns
The Barossa Valley is dotted with charming historic towns that reflect the region’s European heritage dating back to the 1800s.
Tanunda is often considered the heart of the Barossa. Its streets are lined with elegant bluestone buildings, historic hotels, and architecture dating back to the mid-1800s — a testament to the prosperity of the early wine industry.
Nearby Angaston features lovely stone cottages, wide streets, and impressive examples of early colonial architecture. One of its most notable historic sites is the town’s original blacksmith shop, which played an essential role in supporting farming and transport in the 19th century.
Visit Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop
No trip to the Barossa is complete without visiting Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, one of the region’s most iconic food destinations.
Located near Nuriootpa and open daily from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, the farm shop showcases Maggie Beer’s full range of gourmet products. Visitors can enjoy coffee, cakes, grazing platters, and light meals on the deck overlooking the lake, sample Pheasant Farm Wines, and even book cooking demonstrations and experiences. We loved wandering around the lake and exploring the peaceful farm grounds.
See Art & Views at Menglers Hill Lookout
Perched high above the valley, Menglers Hill Lookout offers one of the most spectacular panoramic views in the region. Below the lookout lies the tranquil Barossa Sculpture Park, where visitors can wander among striking contemporary stone sculptures. These artworks were created during the Barossa International Sculpture Symposium in 1988, when nine sculptors carved pieces from locally sourced marble and granite.
Browse the Barossa Farmers Market
The Barossa Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning from 7:30 am to 11:30 am in the historic Vintners Shed in Angaston. Here, farmers, bakers, and producers sell the food they grow and make themselves. Stalls feature fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, artisan breads, cheeses, meats, pastries, preserves, oils, coffee, and sweet treats — all sourced from the Barossa and surrounding South Australian regions.
It’s also a wonderful place to enjoy breakfast, grab a coffee, and soak up the lively atmosphere with live music.
A Destination to Savour
The Barossa Valley is a region that truly celebrates the good things in life — fine wine, delicious food, rich history, and beautiful landscapes. Whether you’re wandering through heritage towns, tasting artisan produce, exploring scenic lookouts, or relaxing among vineyards, there is something here to delight every visitor.
It’s a destination that invites you to slow down, indulge your senses, and savour every moment — and one we always love returning to.
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