Wine isn’t the only drink that makes a splash in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast.
A community of trailblazing distillers also bring an impressive collection of craft spirits to the table.
Top-drawer brandy is a beautiful thing. Angove Family Winemakers is a fifth-generation family winemaking business and has been producing its benchmark St Agnes Brandy for 95 years.
Must try: The new St Agnes Brandy flight experience at the Angove McLaren Vale Cellar Door in the heart of the family’s historic, organic and biodynamic Warboys Vineyard. Taste three treasures from Australia's oldest continually operating craft distillery - the Bartenders Cut (eight-year-old), XO (15 year-old) and XO Imperial Blend (20-year-old).
Make a day of it and enjoy a full gin tasting at The Cube overlooking panoramic view across the picturesque McLaren Vale region. You can choose between two gin flights and enjoy their extensive range that includes sloe and pink gins as well as a plethora of flavoured gins to satisy your taste buds.
Must try: Enjoy a 30 minute wine tasting. 30 minute gin tasting and a self guided tour of the d'Arenberg Cube.
An architecturally-designed back to back award winning distillery door with uninterrupted views of McLaren Vale is the spiritual home of Never Never Distilling Co.
Never Never owners George Georgiadis, Sean Baxter, and Tim Boast know a thing or two about gin, so make sure you taste the team’s line-up of juniper-forward gins including the Southern Strength Gin which won the World’s Best Classic Gin at the 2019 World Gin Awards.
Must try: Their Dark Series of experimental gins including Ginache made with Never Never’s award-winning Triple Juniper Gin and Grenache using grapes picked from Chalk Hill’s Slate Creek vineyard. It sold out fast but the team kept a few bottles aside.
Discover Neat Spirits, a small and relaxed distillery serving refreshingly different gins, vodkas and cocktails. Find a spot on our huge lawn area in one of our famous lime green armchairs, and unwind with an Appletini Crumble cocktail or Raspberry Tart Gin. Neat is located halfway along the Flat to Vale cycle and walking trail – the perfect refreshment pitstop!
Must Try: Neat’s Sunshine Citrus Gin is a summery burst of ruby red grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin and yuzu.
One of McLaren Vale’s most beloved restaurants also has an exceptional Gin Bar.
Pull up a stool at the bar and check out the Salopian’s encyclopaedic list of about 150 different gins from around Australia and the globe. You will definitely need a drink after reading the dizzyingly diverse gin menu but a local tip -take guidance from sommelier and drinks guru, Alex Marchetti.
Must try: The Summer Gin (a bespoke collaboration with Kangaroo Island Spirits) delivering a fresh style with hints of saltbush and mint, making a cracking G&T to sip at the beach on a hot summer’s day.
McLaren Vale Distillery is home to a delicious single malt whisky, but also make gin and fortified wines.
Must try: Awarded Brand Innovator of the year in 2018 by Icons of Whisky, the tasting room offers a Barley to Bottle experience hosted in the distillery where you are seated next to the large copper stills and talked through the process of whisky making.
Welcome to your ultimate guide to the McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast! Whether you're seeking hidden cellar doors, the perfect beach spot, or a vibrant town to explore, our detailed maps provide all the geographic insights you need. Download them to help plan your visit and discover every corner of our beautiful region.
Discover the entire McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast region with this comprehensive map, featuring major roads, towns, and key points of interest. Essential for planning your overall journey.
Zoom in on the charming townships of Willunga and Aldinga. These maps highlight local attractions, markets, historical sites, and amenities for an immersive village experience.
Navigate the coastal townships of Port Noarlunga and Christies Beach, featuring beach access points, jetties, cafes, and more. Ideal for beach lovers and water activities.
McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast is a playground on a gigantic scale with all activities designed to ensure families aren’t short of things to do, see and enjoy. With summer here, there is so much fun to be had!
Playgrounds, beaches, animals, a maze, reefs, hiking and biking, wineries and eateries mean there are endless possibilities awaiting discovery.
To make things easier, we have developed an itinerary, tried and tested by many families. Don’t be afraid to mix and match with some of the other great suggestions below too.
At 11.30 am Friday- Sunday the winery crew from Woodstock Wildlife Sanctuary feed the property’s grey kangaroos each day. It’s a fantastic way for kids and adults to get up close and personal with eight kangaroos, plus several rescued red kangaroos, wallabies and an emu. Families can also enjoy the winery’s cellar door and Coterie Restaurant.
Jubilee Park at Port Noarlunga is always a winner and voted one of South Australia’s best playgrounds (just ask the kids!). The adventure playground was built by the community and is an impressive collection of castles, forts, slippery dips, swings, and a ball game space. There’s plenty of seating, shelter, BBQ facilities, plus walking and cycling tracks. Don’t forget to grab a selfie with Geronimo, the life-size giraffe!
Find out more from our Top Playgrounds Page
The picturesque Shiraz Trail is a 7 km stretch of shared path that stretches from McLaren Vale to Willunga and is part of the Coast to Vines Rail Trail. You can cycle, walk, skate, walk or run as far or as little as you like, as you meander you way through the vineyard landscape.
The McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre is a great place to start and has recently made available bikes for hire.
What kid doesn’t love the beach. McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast is awash with some great beaches and all sorts of water-based activities, including:
As one of South Australia’s most popular wine regions, Many of these cellar doors offer ample space to spread out and enjoy the lush green grass including many of the wonderful cellar doors. McLaren Vale has many family-friendly wineries to explore. If they’re not playing with or on something, a kids favourite pastime is eating. Here are some great suggestions to refuel the kids so that they’ll have more energy for more exploring and discovery where kids are welcome.
