Adelaide wine tour: McLaren Vale, Hahndorf & coast in one day

Eight hours, two wineries, three suburbs and a choice at the end

A full-day Adelaide tour with a local guide covers the city center and Mount Lofty, spends over an hour in the Hahndorf township, and includes wine tastings at Kay Brothers and Haselgrove before reaching the seaside suburb of Glenelg. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; the tour maxes out at 18 people. At Glenelg you decide: take a 15-minute stroll and rejoin the bus back to Adelaide, or stay behind for dinner and catch the tram back at your own pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Adelaide sightseeing and wine tasting

• Visit North Terrace Museum and Art Gallery
• Enjoy panoramic view from Mount Lofty
• See Victoria Square in Adelaide
• Explore Hahndorf township for 90 minutes
• Drive scenic Onkaparinga Hills to McLaren Vale
• Wine tasting at Kay Brothers Winery
• Wine tasting at Shingleback Wines
• Stop at Glenelg seaside suburb
• Option to stay in Glenelg or return to Adelaide

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Adelaide hotel and moves through the city center, taking in Victoria Square and North Terrace before climbing to Mount Lofty for a panoramic view across the region. From there the route heads into the Onkaparinga Hills toward Hahndorf, a quaint German township settled in the 1800s. You get over an hour to wander the main street, browse the boutique shops, grab a coffee or a meal at one of the local eateries (at your own cost), and get a real sense of the place instead of a quick photo stop.

The scenic drive continues to McLaren Vale, where you taste at Kay Brothers in their historic cellar door surrounded by vineyard views, then move to Haselgrove for a second tasting. Both are structured tastings, so you're learning what you're drinking rather than just sampling. If you want food, Haselgrove offers a cheeseboard you can buy to go with the wine. The rolling hillsides on the way through can turn up kangaroos, koalas or emus if you keep your eyes open.

The final stop is Glenelg, Adelaide's seaside suburb. A 15-minute walk gets you to the beach and the shops and restaurants along the strip. This is where the tour splits: you can rejoin the bus for the drive back to Adelaide and your hotel, or step off and spend the evening here — watch the sunset, pick a restaurant for dinner, and catch the tram back to the city whenever you're ready. The guide is English-speaking and the group stays small, capped at 18 people.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Adelaide CBD.
• local English-speaking guide.
• wine tastings at Kay Brothers and Haselgrove.
• entry to all attractions and townships.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by See Adelaide

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a guide who speaks English throughout the day and can actually engage with you—the group stays small enough that it's conversation, not loudspeaker announcements.

Traveler reviews

4.91★★★★★★★★★★

535 verified traveler reviews

5 ★497

4 ★32

3 ★4

2 ★2

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the difference between Kay Brothers and Haselgrove on this tour?

Kay Brothers is a historic cellar door in McLaren Vale with vineyard views and a structured tasting of their own wines; Haselgrove offers a relaxed tasting of Shingleback wines and sells cheeseboards to pair with your glass. Both are included tastings, so you experience two different wineries and styles in one day.

How much time do you actually spend in Hahndorf?

Hahndorf gets over an hour, which is enough to walk the main street, sit down for a meal or coffee, browse the boutique shops, and get a real feel for the German township instead of rushing through it.

What happens at Glenelg — do I have to get back on the bus?

Glenelg is optional. You can take a 15-minute walk to see the beach and shops, then rejoin the tour for the drive back to Adelaide, or you can stay behind and catch the tram back to the city later in the evening after dinner and watching the sunset.

Is food included on this tour?

Wine tastings at both wineries are included, and Haselgrove sells cheeseboards if you want something to eat with your wine. Meals in Hahndorf and Glenelg are at your own cost.

What's the pickup situation in Adelaide?

The tour picks up from several points around the Adelaide CBD; you'll choose your pickup location when you book. The driver doesn't stop at every location, so confirm which one you'll be at.

Will I see wildlife on the drive through the hills?

The scenic route through the Onkaparinga Hills on the way to McLaren Vale passes rolling hillsides and can turn up kangaroos, koalas or emus, though sightings aren't guaranteed — keep your eyes open and you might spot them.