Hahndorf Combo, Gourmet Lunch

Pairs two of South Australia's favourite regions in one day: Hahndorf's village lanes and the Barossa's cellar doors, with a gourmet lunch, wine, beer and sweet treats, plus Adelaide and Glenelg hotel pickups.

Overview

Benders Bus Tours runs this full-day loop out of Adelaide that pairs the village of Hahndorf with the wine country of the Barossa. It runs about 8 hours and takes in a strawberry farm, a chocolate factory, two cellar doors, a gourmet lunch, and the heritage grounds of Seppeltsfield. Hotel pickup from city and Glenelg hotels is included, and other pickup points can be arranged at extra cost.

The shape of the day is a mix rather than a pure wine tour. Alongside the tastings at Kies Family Wines and Ubertas Wines, travellers get stops at Beerenberg Farm, where strawberry picking fees are paid on site, and Melba's Chocolate and Confectionery. Time in Hahndorf itself is limited to an hour and a half, so it helps to arrive with a plan for the main street.

The group is capped at 24 travellers, and reviewers often describe the day as relaxed and sociable. The reviews repeatedly praise drivers who share local history and point out where to eat and browse. It suits visitors who want a broad sampler of the Adelaide Hills and Barossa in one easy day, and suits wine-focused travellers less well, since some wished for more tastings and fewer shop stops.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup and departureCity and Glenelg hotel pickups are included; other locations can be arranged at additional cost. Travellers joining without pickup wait outside the Stamford Plaza Adelaide on North Terrace at 8:45 am for the morning departure.
2. Hahndorf villageAn hour and 30 minutes in Hahndorf, with free admission. Reviewers recommend the bakery scones and the pretzel shops.
3. Beerenberg FarmA 30-minute stop with admission included. Strawberry picking or purchases here are paid on site and are not part of the tour price.
4. Melba's Chocolate and ConfectioneryA 10-minute stop in the Barossa Valley, listed in the itinerary as a pass-by with admission included.
5. Kies Family Wines lunchReviewers describe the lunch as tasty, and the listing includes a wine tasting here.
6. Seppeltsfield Heritage EstateForty minutes at the iconic estate with free admission, followed by short stops at Vasse Virgin for 20 minutes and the Jamfactory for 10 minutes, both free entry.
7. Ubertas Wines tastingA 45-minute cellar door visit with admission included, the second wine tasting of the day.
8. Return to AdelaideThe tour ends back at the Stamford Plaza Adelaide meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what past travellers and the listing suggest you prepare for.

• Pace and fitness. The listing asks for a moderate level of physical fitness and does not recommend the tour for travellers with back problems or serious medical conditions. It is a long day of short stops rather than long walks, but you are on and off the bus repeatedly.
• Group size. The maximum is 24 travellers. The feel, according to reviews, is relaxed and sociable, and several reviewers mention making new friends among the group.
• Food and drink. Gourmet lunch and two wine tastings are included, along with a bottle of water. Purchases and other beverages are at your own cost, and strawberry picking at Beerenberg Farm is paid on site.
• Weather matters. One reviewer notes the weather plays a big part, with great views on a clear day and shops closing on public holidays. Check the forecast and local holiday dates before you go, since closures can shorten what you see in Hahndorf.
• Plan Hahndorf. One reviewer found an hour at a stop was not enough time to explore properly. Decide ahead of time what you want in Hahndorf, whether that is a bakery stop or a browse of the main street, so the time does not slip away.
• Wine focus. Some travellers wanted more wine and fewer retail stops, and one noted receiving two tastings rather than the three expected. If wine is your priority, go in knowing the day balances tastings with chocolate, cheese and jam stops.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and infants must sit on laps. Venues may be substituted with similar locations when bookings are high, so a specific winery or stop is not guaranteed. One reviewer felt the final winery was an anticlimax and wanted a third tasting. Weather and public holidays can close shops in Hahndorf and reduce what the day delivers. Cancellations less than 24 hours before start time receive no refund.

Before You Book A Tour