Chocolate Company, Kies Lunch

Bums On Seats runs this eight-hour day trip from Adelaide, pairing Barossa cellar door tastings with an easy stroll through the village of Hahndorf.

Overview

This full-day outing with Bums On Seats packs five stops into eight hours, linking the Barossa Valley with the village of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. It starts with a hotel pickup in the city or Glenelg and rolls through Maggie Beer's Farm Shop, a short stop at the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, wine tasting at Chateau Tanunda, a long lunch stop at Kies Family Wines, and a final hour of free time in Hahndorf before the drive back.

Wine tasting at the selected wineries is included in the fare, as is lunch at Kies, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and a driver-guide who gives live commentary between stops. Reviews repeatedly name the driver as the best part of the day, with travellers praising the mix of history, local tips and jokes delivered along the route. One even reports being dropped near a market on the guide's suggestion after the tour.

The group runs to a maximum of 30 travellers. Reviewers describe friendly, sociable groups on board, which can make the day appealing for solo travellers. Anyone hoping for a long, unhurried explore of Hahndorf should note that some past travellers wished for more time there.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupFree pickup and drop-off from hotels in the city and Glenelg, with a driver-guide providing commentary once rolling.
2. Maggie Beer's Farm ShopA 30-minute stop with admission included, giving time to browse the shop and grounds.
3. Barossa Valley Chocolate CompanyA 15-minute stop with free admission, giving a quick chance to taste and browse.
4. Chateau TanundaA 45-minute stop with admission included, built around wine tasting.
5. Kies Family Wines lunchThe longest stop at 1 hour 30 minutes, with lunch included and admission covered. Reviews repeatedly praise the food.
6. HahndorfA final hour with free admission to wander the village. Some reviewers felt this was the tightest stop of the day.
7. Return and drop-offThe drive back to Adelaide, with drop-off at the original pickup hotels. Total duration is 8 hours.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day actually feels, from bus comfort to how the time splits between stops.

• Bus comfort. One reviewer described a comfortable minibus with large windows and a skylight. On a full day out, seating comfort can matter, so it may be worth asking the operator about the vehicle when booking.
• Pace at stops. Time at each stop is fixed, and reviewers generally felt the allocation was fair. Hahndorf drew the most comment, with some travellers wanting longer to look around and shop.
• Food and drink. Lunch at Kies Family Wines is included and comes in for consistent praise, as do the tastings at the selected wineries. Alcoholic drinks to take or send home are not included, so budget separately for bottle purchases.
• Group feel. The vehicle takes up to 30 travellers. Several reviewers described friendly groups and a sociable day on board, which solo travellers may appreciate.
• What to bring. The listing gives no packing list, but the day involves walking at each stop and time outdoors at Hahndorf, so comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing make sense. Anyone planning to buy wine should have a way to carry it home.
• Guide commentary. The driver-guide gives live commentary for much of the journey, covering Adelaide and the surrounding region. Reviewers often mention the knowledge and humour on board as a highlight.

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers to run; if the minimum is not met, travellers are offered a different date or experience or a full refund. It is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are fine and infants must sit on laps. A recurring wish among reviewers is more time in Hahndorf, and the tour is not recommended for pregnant travellers.

Before You Book A Tour