Things to Do in Barossa Valley

This favorite mid-size South Australian vineyard was built in just five months back in 1980. Since then, its luscious red and white wines have been celebrated both locally and internationally, and its true family farm feel has been welcoming visitors for generations.

After learning touring the grounds and learning about the practice of wine making, travelers can saddle up to the Weighbridge—now known affectionately as Peter’s Bar—for a taste of Peter Lehmann’s bold Shiraz. Growers have been gathering at the Weighbridge after a long day’s work since the vineyard first opened. Today visitors can join them in the same age-old tradition, too.

Since 1844, Penfolds Barossa Valley Winery has been offering travelers access to a wide variety of wines, luscious tastings and idyllic vineyard views. And while strong pours of favorite vintages are a treat for visitors, it’s the Make Your Own Blend Tour that lends this age-old vineyard the air of something new. After touring the grounds and exploring the Cellar Door, travelers enter the winemakers’ laboratory and use popular grapes, like Grenache and Shiraz, to blend their own wines to bottle and take home.

In 1847, after nearly a decade of living in the hills of the Barossa Valley, Bavarian-native Johann Gramp and his wife decided to literally put down roots in the Australian countryside and planted nearly 30 hectares of grapevines. While the couple almost immediately began producing wine, it wasn’t until 1976 that the name Jacob’s Creek” was introduced to the public. Gramp’s first Shiraz-Cab blend was a hit among wine lovers.

Today, some 150 years later, this vineyard’s commitment to family traditions and its drive for innovation holding strong. Today, travelers can visit this famous vineyard and tour the age-old grounds of Jacob’s Creek, as well as sample wines and learn about production and farming at the innovative, modern and environmentally sound new Visitor Centre.

One of the most popular scenic overlooks in the Barossa Valley, visitors to Menglers Hill Lookout can take in bird's-eye views of the region’s expansive vineyards and rolling hills. The nearby sculpture park, which sits at the foot of Menglers Hill, offers travelers a whimsical, playful look at the works of nine artists who visited the area in 1988. Visitors say this picturesque peak is the perfect place for snapping scenic photos or escaping into the quiet and quaint rural countryside on a trip to Barossa.

In addition to being one of Australia’s most luxurious hotels, the Barossa Chateau sits on what is perhaps the country’s most well-known (and well-kept) rose garden, too. With some 25 acres of estate land, including 22 acres of gardens and five kilometers of scenic pathways, the Barossa Chateau offers travelers the perfect country escape. Visitors can spend the morning wandering the beautifully landscaped grounds, then tuck into traditional high tea at the hotel’s classic restaurant. After stroll through the rose gardens, visitors can stop at the art and antiques gallery before sipping on a glass of fine wine from the Cellar Door. Finally, visitors can sink into lush beds with high thread counts after a long day filled with some of Australia’s most classic natural beauty.