Top Tips To Explore
To get the most out of your visit to McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast, there are a range of services and information just waiting to be accessed so you enjoy the best experience possible.
Apart from what’s listed below, there is a comprehensive blog brimming with inspiration, experiences and activities.
Visitor Centre
The McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre is your one of the best places to start when planning your trip to the region.
Map and Visitor Guide
With passionate local specialists, together with the best map and visitor guide for the region, it guarantees you will discover the region like a local.
Free accommodation and tour booking service
Freecall: 1800 628 410
There is also a Visitor Information Outlet in Port Noarlunga in the Arts Centre on Gawler Street
Wi-Fi hotspots
As part of South Australia’s state touring routes, there are new hot-spots are available across the region.
- Epicurean Way - McLaren Vale and Willunga
- Southern Ocean Drive - Aldinga, Moana and Port Noarlunga
Don’t forget to share your experience on social media and tag us using #valeandcoast
Electric car recharge
There are recharging stations located throughout the region including Maxwell Wines, McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre, and McLaren Vale Motel and Apartments.
Things that locals do
When visiting the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast, one of the most asked questions at the local visitor centre is “What do the locals do?”
Here are a few insights:
- Take a drive along Aldinga Beach at sunset
- Coast to Vines Rail Trail Adventure
- Have an art attack and spend a few days perusing the art across the region
- Pack a picnic and head to the beach
- Take the dog for a walk along the beach
- Enjoy a coffee at many of the awesome coffee spots
- Surf the local break
- Take their children to Jubilee Park Adventure Playground, Port Noarlunga
- Cheer on riders in the Santos Festival of Cycling as they contest the picturesque McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast course
- Enjoy live music at wineries and eateries on weekends
- Buy local produce at the Willunga Farmers Market
- Meander the main streets of Willunga, Port Noarlunga, McLaren Vale, Aldinga and Christies Beach
- Make the big decision of which McLaren Vale wine to open next
- Enjoy a meal at their favourite place – if you want to know where, chat to the locals
Helpful Wine Tasting Tips
To make the most of your wine tasting experience, here’s a few tips from local Chris Thomas, Chief Winemaker at Dowie Doole.
- Avoid wearing perfume or aftershave as it inhibits your sense of smell and avoid eating strongly-flavoured foods beforehand.
- Enjoy a hearty meal before embarking on your wine tasting journey.
- Plan your journey. Pick out wineries that interest you and don’t be afraid to head off the beaten track to try lesser-known wineries. If you are travelling in a group, call ahead to advise the cellar door staff as to what time you will be arriving.
- Evaluate colour. Many people launch into smelling and tasting the wine, but a lot of clues can be gained from inspecting its colour. Hold the glass of wine against something white and use the light available to see the depth of colour. Generally the deeper the colour, the more full bodied the wine. Examine the hue for an indication of the wine’s age. For example, Shiraz with a purple hue often indicates a younger wine versus a brick-red hue, which indicates age.
- Swirl and sniff: swirl the wine in the glass to aerate it and bring out the aromas. Sniff gently to take in the fruit aromas and characteristics.
- Take a sip and hold the wine in your mouth to feel the sensation of it on your palate. Breathe through the wine to bring out more of the wine’s characteristics. Don’t be afraid to make noise when taking air in with the wine in your mouth (all the pros do it!)
- Wine tasting is a marathon, not a race. While it is tempting to drink all the samples, use the spittoons to make your palate last longer.
- Get chummy with cellar door staff; they have a wealth of knowledge to share about the wines and are a great resource for recommendations about other wineries to visit. They may even open some wines for you that aren’t on the tasting list.
- Be open to new wines. Try new varietals and blends. You may just find a new favourite.
- Wine tasting is a personal thing. Everyone has their own preferences, so drink what you like and enjoy it un-apologetically. Don’t take it too seriously. And have fun!
Explore our blogs for more things to explore in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast
Getting Here
The McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast is one of the most accessible regions outside of Adelaide in South Australia.
For those seeking a short break, daily flights arrive in Adelaide from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast Perth, Canberra and more with direct and connecting international flights.
It is easy to discover the region and enjoy all it has to offer. Whilst having a car makes it much easier to get around, there are other alternatives including designated winery tours, taxis, and bike hire options.
By car
An easy 40-minute drive from Adelaide along the Southern Expressway.
Hire car
Hire cars are available in locations throughout Adelaide, including Adelaide Airport.
Train
Metro rail services operate between Adelaide and Seaford. Phone 1300 311 108
or visit Adelaide Metro
Bus
Regular bus services run between Adelaide and townships in the area. Phone 1300 311 108 or visit Adelaide Metro
Taxi and Uber
Both taxi and uber services operate throughout the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast. (It is suggested you pre-book these in advance)
Tours
Tour options include specialty wine and food tours and a hop-on hop-off winery bus. Find out more at the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre.
Bike Hire
With many dedicated bike trails in the region, bike hire is available from the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre, Serafino Wines and Hither & Yon Cellar Door. E-bikes are also available for hire from SA E-Bikes or Deluxe eBike Tours
Image - SA-ebikes
Charter Flights
Adelaide Biplanes offer charter flights for business and pleasure.
Download our visitor guide to help you plan your visit
Training
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Coffee
Ah, coffee…perhaps the most perfect way to kick start any day.
So when you're looking for the best coffee in Adelaide, it pays to visit the McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast, just south of the CBD.
Not only does our stunning region region have some of the funkiest coffee shops and cafés, but a number of them highlight the superb roasters that have now become integral to the McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast visitor experience.
And the best news? They’re not all in the one place! You can now plan a coffee trail, starting in Kangarilla and finishing up in Aldinga.
The other surprising thing you’ll find is that each roaster creates their own flavour profile, very much in the same vein as a winemaker would create a wine.
There’s definitely an art to it, and some of the best South Australian coffee artisans are right here along our beautiful southern coast.
Grab a local brew and take home some coffee at any of these fantastic coffee roasters.
- Fleurieu Roast – Aldinga (video photographer credit to Harry Vick)
- Kicco Coffee – Hackham
- Dal Mare Coffee Roastery – McLaren Vale
- Dawn Patrol – Kangarilla
- Goodness Coffee Co. – Aldinga
- McLaren Vale Coffee
- Kommon Grounds – Willunga Farmers Market
It's never too late for breakfast.
Of course, what’s coffee without something to go along with it?
To tantalise the tastebuds, there are some great cafés throughout the region serving a hearty or healthy breakfast to perfectly complement that all-important cup of coffee in the morning.
Think everything from a traditional English breakfast to more contemporary offerings including vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options.
Much of the produce is sourced locally, and many cafés list the producers on their menus as well.
Not sure what to order? Ask your host, as they know the most popular dishes and also often share their personal favourites!
Discover the best breakfast, brunch and bakeries from the beach to McLaren Vale.
Plan
The area that encompasses McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast offers an incredible opportunity to discover an extraordinary part of South Australia.
As one of Adelaide’s most accessible regions, McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast is only 40 minutes from the city and enchants visitors with its rolling vineyard vistas, stunning beaches, and charming villages.
Be tempted by the incredibly diverse array of tastes and flavours inspired by the seasonal local produce, featured on the menus of cafés, restaurants, pubs, wineries, providores, specialty stores, and discovered at the source via weekend produce markets.
Pair this with some of Australia’s most unique wines grown from vines, with some dating back more than 100 years as part of the internationally renowned McLaren Vale Wine Region. With more than 80 cellar doors, visitors can enjoy wine tastings through to fully immersive winery experiences.
Not to be outdone, microbreweries, distilleries, and coffee roasters are popping up around the region tempting visitors with an alternative tipple.
The Fleurieu Coast has long been a favourite of beach goers from all over South Australia. Sparkling blue pristine waters together with golden sands sets the scene for surfing, swimming, fishing, beach cricket, BBQs, long beach walks, exploring the reefs below the water, or the rock pools above. No matter the season, there’s a beach perfect for what you have in mind.
And for those who love the village life, McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast villages don’t disappoint with each steeped in history and brimming with stories, just waiting to be told by the friendly and welcoming locals. Coastal villages like Aldinga, Christies Beach, and Port Noarlunga, or their inland cousins of Old Reynella, McLaren Vale, Old Noarlunga, Clarendon, and Willunga all await to intrigue visitors with the lure of heritage charm and country hospitality.
Meanwhile, art and culture enthusiasts are spoilt for choice, with an abundance of galleries and shops to peruse. Nature lovers can walk or ride the region’s many trails, canoe the creeks, or just explore the beautiful Onkaparinga River National Park. Adventure seekers can take to the skies in a biplane or helicopter or come back down to earth with parachuting and abseiling activities.
Whatever you’re in to, we can’t wait to welcome you to the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast.
