Words and Images by Jess Zarnow from Dressed in Copper
Any season is perfect to visit the Mclaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast, especially winter.
From romantic winter getaways, to plenty of outdoor winter activities to enjoy for the whole family, the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast has you covered.
This region is known for its incredible wine, with over 80 cellar doors to explore and what better way to warm up than with a glass of wine around a toasty fire.
You will find them crackling at Beresford Wines, Alpha Box and Dice, Chapel Hill, Mitolo Wines, Maxwell Wines and Wirra Wirra Wines, just to name a few!
Most of these cellar doors also have food options too, so you can stay warm and enjoy a delicious meal at the same time or a casual food platter with local produce and full of delicious goodness!
Looking for something a little different, then perhaps try a hearty stout from one of the local brewers (think chocolate and coffee stout too) or to warm you from the inside out, there are some great fortified wines, best enjoyed by the fireplace!
And there's also mead too!
Need a few suggestions? Some top spots are Kick Back Brewing for the stout, Kay Brothers Armery for the fortified and Maxwell Wines for the mead. Don’t forget to ask the staff for what else you should try and which place you should visit next.
Have a fur baby with you?
Keep them happy over winter with a visit to one of the many pet friendly cafés and cellar doors dotted throughout the region.
Most offer outdoor seating, some with heating, making it the perfect place for your pooch to enjoy some alfresco dining.
Some great spots to try are Boy and Bloom South Port Noarlunga; one of the newest additions to this beautiful coastal spot, and your dog can experience their new menu just for them, Stump Hill Cafe located at McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre with direct access to the Shiraz Trail, Harrys Deli at Wirra Wirra Winery or the amazing Mollydooker Wines where there is an enormous lawn area for your pooch to enjoy!
Want to minimise screen time with the kids? This is the place to do it.
If you love the great outdoors, then rug up and start exploring.
McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast is home to some of South Australia’s best playgrounds.
In Port Noarlunga, try Jubilee Adventure Playground, a stones throw from the beach and Onkaparinga River, its complete with an amazing wooden fort and suits a range of ages from toddlers to big kids.
Willunga Playground also gets a gold star with the kids, with its nearby dirt bike jumps and skate park for those that love a bit of an adrenaline rush.
Another great spot to check out is the Wilfred Taylor Reserve, one of the regions newest additions, complete with a huge nature playground, dog walking area and on the second and fourth Sunday of the month there are Train rides for a minimal charge.
The Onkaparinga River National Park offers a variety of trails for all ages and abilities and shows off some incredibly and diverse landscapes. Keep your eyes peeled whilst walking and if you’re lucky you may spot a kangaroo or two and loads of birdlife.
If you are the adventurous type, then why not try your hand at rock climbing or abseiling, the views are pretty spectacular.
McLaren Vale Cellar Door Tree Trail is an exciting addition to trails in the region. 54 trees at local wineries and breweries have been measured for their benefits to the environment and tree tags as well as fun trail to follow.
Download the map to discover more.
Willunga Basin Trail - is a newly established 130 km walking trail that winds its way around and across the Willunga Basin, taking walkers through a diverse landscape of bushland, forests, vineyards, almond groves, parks and beaches.
The Trail, of easy to moderately difficult standard, can be walked over 5 days or in 11 half-day walks. It links with other trails such as the Heysen and Coast to Vines trails and with walks in parks such as the Aldinga Scrub and the Onkaparinga River National Park.
It passes through the historic settlements of McLaren Vale, Willunga, Kangarilla and the coastal suburbs of Sellicks, Aldinga, Port Willunga, Maslin Beach, Seaford and Moana.
If you love the beach, then you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice in the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast, where you can explore Route 31 Coastal Drive.
In winter they are great for long walks, playing eye spy in the rockpools and sometimes you’ll have the whole stretch of sand all to yourself. Maslin Beach is a top pick and a local favourite, with beautiful white sand magnificent cliffs and an awesome playground nearby for the kids.
A little further south you’ll find Port Willunga with its iconic fisherman boat caves, old jetty ruins, crystal clear water and a kiosk by the beach for icecream, because let’s face it, it’s never too cold for ice cream!
Further south is Aldinga; when the tide is right, you’ll be greeted with rockpools where you’ll likely find crabs, starfish and other sea life.
Just a short drive from Aldinga Beach is Sellicks Beach.
This is where the magic really happens, with epic sunsets, breathtaking views of limestone cliffs and rolling hills.
Easily one of the best spots in South Australia to take a stroll and very Instagrammable!
With so much on offer in the cooler months, you will need somewhere to rest your head and throughout McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast, there are plenty of accommodation options.
Think luxury shipping container micro hotel, vineyard B&Bs, hilltop cottages, log cabins, caravan parks, rustic shearing sheds, indulgent villas, and much more!.
Whatever the weather, there’s always something to do in the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast in winter!