Retreat from the Heat: Where to Keep Cool in the Adelaide Hills

Swim & Splash

Mount Barker’s Summit Aquatic & Leisure Centre is the shiny new kid on the block – a multi-million-dollar indoor hub with a 25-metre heated pool, warm-water pool, learn-to-swim pool and an indoor water play area with sprays, fountains and waterfalls. It’s a purpose-built facility designed to support swimmers of all ages and abilities, offering year-round comfort and plenty of space for families to enjoy

Just across town, The Pond Swim Centre will also help you and your kiddos to turn down the temperature  dial. With the only commercial mineral pool in Adelaide, it’s purpose-built for learn-to-swim, with small classes, super friendly instructors and water that’s gentle on sensitive skin and eyes. Perfect for babies, toddlers and nervous swimmers who’d rather not be launched under a tipping bucket… yet.

At Adelaide Hills War Memorial Swimming Centre in Woodside, you’ll find the region’s only outdoor swimming centre, it’s a proper old-school community pool with three heated, shaded pools plus the star of the show: a brand new Splash Park featuring a dumper bucket, water cannons, cascading mushrooms, arch sprays and rock-runnel water play. With lifeguards on duty, lawns for picnics, a kiosk for hot chips and ice blocks, and extended hours on scorchers, it’s a brilliant school holiday basecamp (just check Facebook or call ahead if the weather’s iffy).

Staying at Discovery Parks – Hahndorf? Their pool is your family’s best friend. Set among 13 hectares of gum trees and rolling hills, you can jump between the water, bouncing pillow, mini golf and your cabin or campsite. It’s an easy stroll to Hahndorf’s main street for gelato, German treats and souvenirs, then back for a sunset dip in the balmy early evening air.

Shady Spots & Nooks

When it’s properly hot, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden in Crafers is basically nature’s air-con. Head straight for the fern gullies, lakeside lawns and shady loop trails where giant trees, creeks and dense plantings keep things cooler. Pack a picnic and wander through hydrangeas, daylilies and summer blooms – just remember it closes on severe, extreme or catastrophic fire danger days.

A little further down the hill, Stangate House & Garden in Aldgate feels like you’ve stepped into a storybook. Think sweeping lawns, a giant English oak perfect for picnics, shady creek lines and romantic paths. Famous for its camellias in cooler months, it’s still beautifully lush and tranquil in summer – ideal for a slow wander, book under a tree, or an old-fashioned rug-on-the-lawn afternoon.

At Cobb’s Hill Estate in Oakbank, you can drift between manicured gardens, big old trees and vineyard views. It’s made for languid summer afternoons – shady lawns, outdoor dining, and a glass of something chilled in hand while basking in that heavenly hills ambience.

In Hahndorf, The Cedars (former home of legendary Australian artist, Sir Hans Heysen) is all dappled light and painterly vistas. Stroll the Artist’s Garden, find a cool spot under the trees, or grab a garden-only ticket, bring a picnic and follow the Artist’s Walk to some of Heysen’s favourite painting locations. It’s easy to see why he never wanted to leave.

Auchendarroch House in Mount Barker pairs grand Victorian architecture with shady, award-winning gardens. Wander the lawns, linger under the oaks, then duck into the tavern or outdoor cinema sessions on balmy nights. It’s equal parts heritage outing and a sweet summer hang-out.

Down the road in Macclesfield, the ANZAC Memorial Gardens is a three-acre native garden created by local veterans. Shady paths wind past memorials, artworks and storyboards, surrounded by birdlife and bush plantings. It’s peaceful, reflective and a lovely, quiet place to escape the heat and crowds for an hour or two.

Ice Cold Brews & Cocktails

In Stirling, Naughty Neighbour slides from daytime coffee spot to night-time laneway bar, with cold cocktails, long necks chilling in ice buckets and snacky share plates that are primed for summer sessions. It’s fun, a little cheeky and very “one more drink then we’ll go home” energy.

Just up the road, The Stirling Hotel nails the classic Hills summer soirée: leafy verandah, busy deck, rosé and spritzes, creative seasonal cocktails and local wines pouring alongside seriously good pub food.

Over in Crafers, The Crafers Hotel brings the same vibe with leafy garden spaces, a serious wine list and that unmistakable cool Hills air that makes you forget how hot the plains are, the moment you step outside with a drink in hand.

Hahndorf is spoiled for choice when it comes to icy refreshments. The Wild Pony is your desert-oasis bar – cacti, cowboy energy, margaritas, tequila cocktails and Mexican snacks in a Palm Springs-meets-country backyard.

For gin lovers, Ambleside Distillers offers tasting flights, G&Ts and cocktails on a sunny deck overlooking paddocks, paired with local platters and long-lunch vibes. Comida turns the back garden into a Spanish summer party with sangria, paella, tapas and Sunday sessions under the trees.

If your idea of cooling down involves a litre of ice-cold lager, Hahndorf Inn and the German Arms Hotel both deliver Bavarian-style feasts, steins, beer paddles and buzzing beer-hall energy. Think: big food, chilled brews, loads of atmosphere – classic Hahndorf.

At the Uraidla Hotel, summer happens out in the garden, with local Uraidla Brewery beers on tap, smokehouse meats, fresh seasonal plates and a playground and yard games to keep kids busy while you “supervise” with a pint.

The Bridgewater Inn wraps around Cox Creek with one of the most stunning beer gardens in the Adelaide Hills. Expect shady creekside tables, a new all-weather pavilion, cool-mist sprayers on hot days, nature play for kids and live music on weekends – it’s basically a summer day in a single venue.

At Verdun’s Grünthal Brew, you get the full summer package: a big riverside backyard, kids playing on the grass, adults working through beer, gin or wine flights, frozen rosé and wood-fired pizzas and Udder Delights cheese boards. It’s chilled, colourful and very easy to stay “just one more hour”.

In Balhannah, Route 9 Distillery fuses industrial-cool with award-winning gin, whisky and rum, wood-fired pizzas, retro arcade games and tasting experiences (think: gin paddles and whisky-and-chocolate pairings), turning your lazy afternoon into something a bit special.

In our north, the Inglewood Inn serves exclusively South Australian beers, ciders and spirits from its 1857 Distillery Bar. Grab a gin paddle or a local pint on the deck and soak up sweeping valley views and cool breezes; dogs and kids are welcome, so the whole crew can settle in.

And in Paracombe, Paracombe Premium Perry keeps things rustic and real: sourdough wood-oven pizzas, handcrafted pear ciders and juices, and an alfresco deck overlooking the family orchard. On a warm day, there’s nothing quite like sinking an ice cold perry by the orchard.

Whether you’re swimming in the shallows, picnicking in the shade or clinking icy glasses, the Adelaide Hills are the ultimate retreat from the summer heat. Pack your towel, slap on your hat and bring an appetite… We’ll see you in utopia!