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The Adelaide Hills offer a beautiful side trip from Adelaide with Mt. Lofty reachable in just 30 minutes by car from the city centre. With cooler air, winding roads, viewpoints, historic villages and culinary experiences, the region is definitely worthy of exploring.

Mount Lofty Summit

Our day began with a scenic drive from Adelaide up to Mount Lofty Summit, one of the most iconic viewpoints in South Australia. The drive itself was a pleasure, with twisting roads lined by tall trees and glimpses of the city below as we climbed higher. We had planned to use the pay and display car park but on spotting some free parking close by, we left the car there instead.

We then enjoyed a short walk around the summit from where we were rewarded with sweeping panoramic views across Adelaide and the coastline.

We then turned our attention to the monument itself which is known as the Flinders Column. This was constructed to commemorate Captain Matthew Flinders, the first European explorer to produce the first complete map of Australia and for popularising the name. The column marks the area associated with his exploration and recognises his important contribution to Australian history. We read some of the plaques on the sides of the monument which explained Flinders’ achievements and why Mount Lofty was significant as a lookout point. This gave us a better understanding of how explorers used high points like this to observe and map the land. As it had been quite cool and breezy on the summit we then popped into the Summit Cafe for our morning cappuccinos.

Mt. Lofty Botanic Gardens

From the summit it was only a five minute drive to the  Mt. Lofty Botanic Gardens which are free to visit. The gardens have been built onto a hillside with steep, winding paths. Setting off from the car park, we followed the rhododendron trail downhill which looked beautiful as many of the plants were in full bloom.

Afterwards we strolled past ponds, over bridges and across lawns enjoying the fresh air and working up an appetite for our upcoming lunchtime treat.

High Tea at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, Mount Lofty House

One of the highlights of our day in the Adelaide Hills was partaking of high tea at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, located within the elegant Mount Lofty House. The setting alone is impressive being a historic estate surrounded by its own vineyard and lush gardens.

Our high tea was a thoroughly indulgent experience set against the backdrop of one of South Australia’s most luxurious hilltop hotels. Boasting sweeping views across the Adelaide Hills, this set the tone for our dining experience.

We began with a leisurely stroll through the beautifully kept grounds before being shown to a table overlooking the gardens. Glasses of sparkling wine and an amusé-bouche marked the start, soon followed by the star of the show, a traditional three-tiered cake stand. This featured duck and mushroom pithiviers, dainty finger sandwiches and mini quiches, followed by light scones served with clotted cream and jam. Last but not least, crowning the top tier was an array of delicious handcrafted cakes and gateaux.

Our afternoon tea was unhurried with the teapots being replenished several times allowing us to fully relax and savour the experience. Service was attentive yet warm and friendly, striking the perfect balance. This was just as it should be for afternoon tea — or high tea as Australians prefer to call it! Our visit to Mount Lofty House proved to be a memorable and refined occasion. Mt.Lofty House

Hahndorf – Exploring the Quaint Village

Next, we headed to Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. This charming historic village is known for its strong German heritage and welcoming atmosphere. We’d read about Hahndorf and were interested to take a wander along its lively main street which is lined with traditional styled buildings that house a variety of shops, cafés and Bavarian beer halls.

On offer were classic German foods such as bratwurst sausages, pretzels and apple strudel. With its mix of culture, food and small town charm it was a lovely place for an afternoon stroll and although quite touristy, it’s tasteful and a fun place to visit.

Beerenberg Farm – Strawberry Picking and Café Treats

Our day exploring the Adelaide Hills continued with a visit to Beerenberg Farm which is located on the outskirts of Hahndorf. This Australian family owned and operated farm is nestled in the beautiful Adelaide Hills and has been run by the Paech family for six generations since 1839. We learned how fresh produce is grown and used to create their well known home style jams, chutneys, sauces and dressings. The strawberries grown on the farm are picked fresh for jam making, while several fields are open for visitors to pick their own.

After collecting a cardboard box we headed out into the fields to pick our own strawberries. Guidance notes explained what to look for when picking strawberries and on finding a patch with plenty of plump berries we filled our box which then needed returning to the shop for weighing at one of the cash desks.

Next, we wandered through the shop sampling jars of jam and tangy chutneys before popping into their attractive cafe for coffee and scones. These were beautifully served on a paint-palette style plate, each well holding a different jam — strawberry, raspberry, apricot, and blackberry. I couldn’t decide which I preferred, they were all so flavoursome.

After our delicious high tea at Mt. Lofty House and our scones and jam at Beerenberg, all we needed later was a bowl of our freshly picked strawberries topped with a spoonful of yoghurt. Beerenberg Farm

Where We Stayed: The Crafers Hotel

Our day concluded at The Crafers Hotel, where we had arranged to stay. The hotel was very inviting with a cosy, heritage charm and roaring log fires. Our room was tastefully furnished blending modern comfort with rustic elegance and came equipped with fluffy dressing gowns, chocolates a hospitality tray and a voucher for a complimentary glass of wine or beer down in the bar. Continental breakfast was included the room rate which was a welcome start to our day. Crafers Hotel

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, my guide to a short break in the Adelaide Hills. With its close proximity to Adelaide the region can either be explored as a day trip or as part of a road trip around the wider area.

If you have enjoyed this post you may also like:

How to Spend a Day Touring the Swan Valley from Perth

Perth to Fremantle by Train: The Ultimate Day Trip Guide

We were guests of Visit Adelaide Hills and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.