Summer in the Adelaide Hills
Good times and summer vibes! Visit us in summer for strawberry and cherry picking, Crush Wine Festival, lush shady wineries and beer gardens, high altitude cool glades and fern gullies.
Strawberries, Cherries & Figs
Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf for 'pick your own' strawberries (November to April) – be sure to try their strawberry ice cream!
Cherry orchards with shed door sales, and some ‘pick your own’ (November to January) as detailed in the Cherries SA Cherry Map and Fresh Cherries app
Green Valley Strawberries in Hay Valley for fresh strawberries directly from the farm gate (no pick-your-own) and Green Valley Café with a menu featuring their delicious strawberries (October to May)
Fig season starts late summer, with the short season running from February to March with pick your own and sales at Glen Ewin Estate in Houghton
Summer Event Highlights
Crush Wine Festival, last weekend in January (22-24 January 2021)
Celebrate the best of summer with crisp cool whites, long lunches, sunset dinners, lawn games, picnics, art and culture, masterclasses, live entertainment and more. You’ll be soaking up the summer vibes at whichever of the 40 events you choose. About 30 wineries and partner venues host experiences for everyone, from Shakespeare in the Vines to family friendly garden parties. Find a lush spot to settle in the shade and enjoy a sunset or dance amongst the gums.
Santos Tour Down Under, January
As the only UCI World Tour Stage Race in the Southern Hemisphere, the Santos Tour Down Under has grown over the past twenty years to be one of Australia’s premier sporting events, taking the fastest men and women in the world through some of the most iconic regions of South Australia, including exciting and challenging stages in the Adelaide Hills. Note there will be a modified domestic event in 2021 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions - the Santos Festival of Cycling will run 19-24 January 2021 with a stage in the Adelaide Hills on 22 January.
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
Head to the cool glades and shady fern gullies of Mount Lofty Botanic Garden in Crafers. In January Hydrangeas cast blue, pink and lilac hues across the Woodland Garden. Daylilies can be seen throughout, and visit the delicate display of Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Penstemon and Agastache near the lower carpark. Please note that Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is closed on days when the fire danger rating is severe, extreme or catastrophic.
Shady Wineries and Beer Gardens
Settle in overlooking the lush green vineyards with a crisp cool-climate white or in a shady spot by the creek … here’s a gallery of some cool summer favourites: