South Australia's Wine, Brews, Distillery & Tasting Trail, 6 Days

Make your way to the Fleurieu Peninsula today, stopping at many wineries in the McLaren Vale region. Stop into d'Arenberg winery and sample a selection of their best drops at what looks like a giant Rubik's Cube seemingly floating above their vineyard. Dine in a vineyard dating back to 1893 at Maxwell Wines set in a stunning Limestone building, or feast on local produce at the Currant Shed, set between a lime grove and beautiful vineyards. Beer lovers can enjoy a tasting experience showcasing a range of premium beer-styles at Vale Brewing, located at Beresford Estate. A short drive south, you will reach the charming seaside village of Victor Harbor, featuring early colonial architecture. Take a dip at one of the sandy beaches, see the aquatic wildlife, or dine on delicious local seafood fresh from the trawlers at many of the dining outlets around town.

If you are visiting the region on a Saturday, you can get a taste of the best regional produce on offer at the Farmers Markets in Willunga in the McLaren Vale region, or in Victor Harbor.

Stay 1 night in Victor Harbor.

Over an hour's drive is the Adelaide Hills with over 60 award-winning cellar doors at your disposal. Sample some of Australia's best cool-climate wines, food and produce as you explore this beautiful part of the world. Explore the charming town of Hahndorf, Australia's oldest surviving German settlement and discover heritage German buildings, pubs and cafes lining the streets of the village. Stop into the Hahndorf Inn for a traditional German feast, or Ambleside Distillers and taste their handcrafted signature gins, overlooking the picturesque botanical gardens. Feast on fresh local produce or sample signature wines at The Lane Vineyard restaurant and cellar door, pick your own strawberries at Beerenberg Farm or stock up on their famous jams, condiments and sauces. North of Hahndorf, you will find Lot. 100, a collection of South Australia's best food and craft beverage producers showcasing a medley of their gourmet delights, from cider, craft beer, wine, gin and juice, along with paddock to plate dining. For dairy lovers, sample delicious artisan cheese at Woodside Cheese Wrights, or treat yourself to locally made chocolates at the Melba's Chocolate Factory in Woodside. Continue north of the Adelaide Hills and you will find Applewood Distillery and Unico Zelo Wines, an old 1920s cold store where you can sample a range of wines and gins.

Stay 1 night in the Adelaide Hills.

Spend the next two nights in one of the world's best wine regions, the Barossa Valley, with over 80 cellar doors, home to some of the most awarded wines in the world. There are many fine wineries to choose from, so plan ahead to select the wineries you want to visit, or leave the car at your hotel, and join a tour that will take you to some of the best wineries around.

A must-do is a visit to the Barossa's most iconic winery, Seppeltsfield, founded in 1851, where you can drink in the history of Seppeltsfield and even taste your own birth-year Tawny directly from the barrel. Stop into Penfolds, not just for their outstanding wines, they also house the Barossa Distilling Company. Taste a range of craft spirits, including gin, whisky, rum, vodka, brandy and liquors, plus they have created some of the finest cocktails to be found in the Barossa. Visit the Barossa Farmers Markets, held weekly on a Saturday, to sample fresh local produce, award-winning cheese or a variety of delicious wines. Be sure to stop into Maggie Beer Farm Eatery for a tasty quintessential South Australian treat, or Jacob's Creek Visitor Centre, where you can make your own blend, or join a gourmet cooking and wine masterclass.

Stay 2 nights in the Barossa Valley.

Take a slight detour to visit Lake Bumbunga to see the lake change colours from pink, to white, to blue, depending on the salinity of the water throughout the year. As you reach Clare Valley, discover over 40 wineries and vineyards scattered throughout the region, with it's signature Riesling, being among the best in the world.

Visit the rustic and delightful Terroir Auburn with its Parisian feel, built circa in the 1860s, before passing the charming town of Watervale. Stop a little further for lunch at Skillogalee, an historic settler's cottage, surrounded by beautiful gardens, or the quench your thirst at the Clare Valley Brewing Co, where they draw water from a natural aquifer beneath the brewery, creating a range of ales and a stout for you to enjoy.

Stay 1 night in the Clare Valley.

Before heading home, take a slight detour to the heritage town of Burra and Mintaro, each boasting its own unique characteristic charm. Stop at Burra Fresh for breakfast as they are known for their great coffee and use of local farm-fresh produce. Approximately 5 minutes from Mintaro, step back in time and explore Martindale Hall, a living museum and one of Australia's prettiest country mansions.