Stirling Adelaide Hills

Head to the stylish garden village of Stirling just 20 minutes from Adelaide. to discover leafy laneways, a flourishing food scene, and fabulous shopping for fashion, plants, collectibles, jewellery, homewares, art and books at the unique shops and bustling monthly market. Highlights include Red Cacao chocolateria, The Stirling Hotel, Sticky Rice Cooking School and Woorabinda Bushland Reserve.

Stirling, Adelaide Hills including Hills Sculpture Trail
Hills Sculpture Trail and Stirling Market, Stirling

Founded in 1854, Stirling grew rapidly as a result of the expansion of apple growing and market gardening to satisfy the demand of the expanding city of Adelaide, just 15 kilometres away. Stirling became popular with Adelaide’s wealthy residents in the 1800s, who built summer houses to escape the heat of the plains. A walk through Stirling will reveal some of the most beautiful homes in South Australia.

Stirling highlights include:

  • A stroll along the main street, with its garden setting, abundance of tempting shops (homewares, books, fashion and gifts), cafes and restaurants

  • The Stirling Hotel offering a number of dining options as well as stylish accommodation – grab a coffee and something delicious at their patisserie located just behind the hotel

  • Locally made artisan chocolates at Red Cacoa

Red Cacao Chocolate Shop and Cafe, Stirling, Adelaide Hills
Red Cacao, Stirling
The Stirling Hotel, Stirling, Adelaide Hills
The Stirling Hotel, Stirling
  • Stirling Market on the fourth Sunday of every month (the third in December), with local produce, plants and homemade wares

  • Stirling Laneways on the same day as the market (September to May only with no market in January) with artists and entertainers, food and wine, pop-up stalls and local traders in the lanes and side streets of Stirling

  • The Organic Market and Café - a long-time favourite for locals and visitors looking for a deliciously healthy meal or stocking up on exotic ingredients

Stirling Market, Stirling, Adelaide Hills
Stirling Market, Stirling
Stirling Laneways, Stirling, Adelaide Hills
Stirling Laneways, Stirling
The Organic Market and Cafe, Stirling
The Organic Market & Cafe, Stirling
  • Sticky Rice Cooking School - book the classes alone or combine the experience with a stay at one of the luxurious pavilions on the property

  • Steamroller Park in the main street - a perennial favourite with families due to the excellent fully fenced playground, the centrepiece of which is a colourfully painted old steamroller

Steamroller Park, Stirling, Adelaide Hills
Steamroller Parik, Stirling
Sticky Rice Cooking School, Stirling
Sticky Rice Cooking School, Stirling

Woorabinda Lake and Bushland Reserves

Woorabinda Bushland Reserves are just a couple of minutes by car from Stirling and are made up of Stirling Park, Woorabinda, Madurta Reserve and Hender Reserve. They cover around 34 hectares and feature approximately four kilometres of walking trails. Popular activities are walking, wildlife observation, wetlands studies and picnicking. Members of the Stirling Marblehead Yacht Club race their beautiful remote-controlled boats on Woorabinda Lake each Wednesday, making this an ideal time to visit.

Woorabinda Lake and Bushland Reserve, Stirling, Adelaide Hills
Woorabinda Lake and Bushland Reserves, Stirling

Stirling Self-Guided Walking Tours

Discover Stirling on foot wih the free Stirling - Paths to Discovery app - your mobile guide to places of interest within walking distance of the Stirling main street. With the self-guided tours and route maps, nature lovers can venture to Woorabinda Bushland Reserve, while history buffs can take a stroll through the village soaking up heritage and hidden treasures along the way. Simply download the app from the Apple app store or the Google Playstore and start walking!

Walking in Stirling, Adelaide Hills
Stirling
Stirling Main Street in Autumn
The Stirling Golf Club, Stirling
The Stirling Golf Club, Stirling
Tour Down Under Cycling Race, Stirling, Adelaide Hills
Tour Down Under, Stirling

Stirling can be reached from Adelaide by public bus - see routes 863, 864 and 865 on the Adelaide Metro website.