Adelaide Hills & Hahndorf
Just 20–30 minutes above the city, the Adelaide Hills are a cool, green world of vineyards, orchards and pretty towns — crowned by the German heritage village of Hahndorf and the views from Mount Lofty. It's Adelaide's favourite day trip, and one of the easiest, loveliest city-side escapes in the country. Here's how to enjoy it.
Australia's oldest German town
Hahndorf, founded in 1839, is Australia's oldest surviving German settlement — and it leans happily into its heritage. Its tree-lined main street brims with German bakeries and pubs, wurst and strudel, alongside galleries, artisan shops and produce stops like the Beerenberg farm. It's charming, walkable and hugely popular — an easy half-day, and even better combined with the surrounding cellar doors and Mount Lofty. See our Hahndorf village guide.
Mount Lofty & Cleland
The Hills' natural highlights are close together. Mount Lofty Summit serves up a sweeping view over Adelaide to the Gulf (spectacular at sunset), and just below, Cleland Wildlife Park lets you get close to koalas, kangaroos and wombats in bushland enclosures. Nearby, the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is glorious in autumn and spring. Together they make a perfect nature-and-views morning before an afternoon among the cellar doors.
Cellar doors in the hills
The Adelaide Hills is a fine cool-climate wine region in its own right — think crisp Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and sparkling — with dozens of cellar doors tucked through the valleys around Hahndorf, Lobethal and the Piccadilly Valley. Being so close to the city, it's an effortless wine day out; take a wine tour so no one has to drive. For the bigger names, the Barossa and McLaren Vale are just beyond — see our day trips guide.
Adelaide Hills & Hahndorf: your questions
The cool green Adelaide Hills, just 20–30 minutes from the city, are dotted with cellar doors, orchards, farm gates and pretty towns. Climb Mount Lofty Summit for sweeping views over Adelaide to the sea, meet koalas and other natives at Cleland Wildlife Park, wander the historic German village of Hahndorf, and stroll the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden. It's one of the country's best city-side escapes. See our Hills day trip guide.
Hahndorf is about a 30-minute drive (30 km) south-east of Adelaide, in the Adelaide Hills just off the freeway — an easy half- or full-day trip. Australia's oldest surviving German settlement (founded 1839), its leafy main street is lined with bakeries, pubs, galleries and craft shops. It pairs perfectly with Hills cellar doors, Mount Lofty and Cleland. See our Hahndorf village guide.
Hahndorf is Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, and it celebrates that heritage with gusto — German bakeries and pubs, sausage and strudel, wurst and beer, alongside galleries, artisan shops and cellar doors nearby. Its pretty, tree-lined main street makes it one of the Adelaide Hills' most popular day trips. Add the nearby Beerenberg strawberry farm and Hills wineries for a full, delicious day out from the city.
Yes — Cleland Wildlife Park, near Mount Lofty Summit, is one of the best places in SA to get close to Australian wildlife, including koalas (you can often have a photo alongside one), kangaroos, wombats and potoroos in bushland enclosures. It's a wonderful, family-friendly stop, easily combined with the Mount Lofty lookout and Botanic Garden. Check current animal-encounter details and times before you visit.
Very much so — the Adelaide Hills is a respected cool-climate wine region, known especially for elegant Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and sparkling, with dozens of cellar doors scattered through the hills and valleys around Hahndorf, Lobethal and the Piccadilly Valley. Because it's so close to the city, it makes an easy wine day out. Take a wine tour so everyone can taste. See our day trips guide.