Two Days in Coonawarra
A relaxed framework you can shape around your own tastes — icons, family estates, a long lunch and a nearby natural wonder, at the pace the strip deserves.
Two Unhurried Days in Coonawarra
A relaxed framework you can shape around your own tastes — and your designated driver. Two days lets you take in the region’s icons, its warm family estates, a long lunch and a nearby natural wonder, all at the gentle pace the strip deserves. Here’s how we’d spend it.
Icons, a Long Lunch & Family Estates
Start with the Icons
Begin at Wynns to take in Riddoch’s historic cellars, then Katnook to see the terra rossa pit and taste premium Cabernet. Keep the pace gentle.
A Long Lunch Among the Vines
Settle in at a cellar door restaurant like Hollick, or pick up a platter, pairing local Cabernet with regional produce.
Family Estates & Boutiques
Drop into Balnaves, Majella and Zema for contrasting takes, then finish somewhere atmospheric like Bellwether’s old shearing shed.
Settle in at Penola
Check in around Penola, then dinner at Pipers of Penola or a relaxed country pub in town.
Heritage, Then Caves or Coast
History in Penola
Explore the Mary MacKillop heritage sites and the cottages of Petticoat Lane, then squeeze in a final cellar door or two you missed.
One Last Tasting
Pick up any favourites to take home — ask about shipping so you needn’t carry cases — and grab an early lunch.
Caves or Coast
On the way out, detour to the World Heritage Naracoorte Caves to the north, or Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake to the south.
Shape It to You
Swap the order to suit the weather, your driving direction and which cellar doors are open on the day.
Two-Day Tips
- Book your long lunch and any dinner ahead, especially on weekends
- Nominate a driver or book a wine tour so everyone can taste
- Check cellar door opening days — a few smaller producers prefer bookings
- Pace yourself: three or four cellar doors a day is plenty
- Leave room in the boot — and a cooler bag — for what you buy
Two Days in Coonawarra — FAQ
Is two days enough for Coonawarra?
Two days is ideal for a first visit — enough to taste widely across the strip, enjoy a long lunch, explore Penola’s heritage and fit in a nearby natural attraction like the caves or Blue Lake, all without rushing.
How many cellar doors can I fit in two days?
Comfortably six to eight across the two days, at three or four a day. That’s enough to contrast icons like Wynns and Katnook with family estates without over-tasting. See our cellar doors guide.
Where should I stay for a two-day trip?
Base yourself in Penola, minutes from the cellar doors and walkable for dinner. See where to stay.
Should I hire a driver for two days?
If you want the whole group to taste freely, yes — a wine tour or private driver removes the designated-driver problem across a full itinerary.
Can I add the caves or Blue Lake to a two-day trip?
Easily — the Naracoorte Caves (~25 min north) or Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake (~40 min south) make a natural half-day on your way in or out.
Coonawarra, Planned Around You
Cellar doors, long lunches, Penola’s heritage and the Limestone Coast beyond — with the driving and bookings handled by the family that’s toured Australia since 1974.
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