Location:
The Crafers Hotel is perfectly positioned in the heart of Crafers in the Adelaide Hills. Its proximity to Mount Lofty, Stirling and an easy 30 minute drive from Adelaide makes it an ideal base for exploring the region.
Arrival and Check-In:
Situated a short distance from the Crafers exit of the M1 Princes Highway, the hotel was easy to locate. The leafy surroundings and charming village atmosphere of Crafers gave us a warm, welcoming feeling as we approached. The hotel is a popular local restaurant and pub so the car park was quite full when we arrived but fortunately we were still able to find a parking place.
The hotel has a cosy, heritage charm with roaring log fires offering a warm welcome. Check-in takes place at one end of the bar where we were speedily attended to and within a few minutes being shown up to our room on the first floor.
The Room:
Each of the rooms has a name rather than a number and we were booked into Sawyer. The room was tastefully furnished blending modern comfort with rustic elegance, creating a relaxing atmosphere. A stand-out feature of the room was the gas fire built into the fireplace which added warmth and felt cosy.
The complimentary mini bar was stocked with soft drinks, water, crisps and chocolate biscuits alongside a voucher offering guests complimentary glasses of wine or beer down in the bar. The king-size bed with its button padded headboard boasted bedside tables with reading lamps, USB charging points and power sockets. Other facilities included a large wall mounted television, iron and board, fast Wi-Fi and a stylish bathroom with luxurious toiletries and fluffy dressing gowns. Another kind gesture was the daily newspaper we found had been left outside our door each morning.
Dining:
Rather than serving breakfast down in the bar, a fully equipped kitchen is available for guests use each morning. The help yourself breakfast comprised freshly baked croissants, yoghurt, fresh fruit, cereals, bread for toasting and a range of local Beerenberg preserves. With a high quality coffee machine serving up our morning cappuccinos, a large table to sit around and friendly guests to chat to we started the day in style.
Meals are served throughout the day and although we didn’t have an opportunity to enjoy a juicy steak or tasty roast dinner ourselves due to a busy schedule, we wouldn’t hesitate to on a return visit to the Adelaide Hills.
The Facilities:
The hotel features several bar and restaurant areas on the ground floor which were all tastefully furnished. The roaring log fires throughout the hotel added to its charm and we were impressed to discover that they had already been lit on both mornings when we came downstairs before 9.00 a.m.
The hotel benefits from a lift, quiet seating areas away from the bar, outside terrace, a large car park and even its own on-site drive through bottle shop (the latter probably more useful for locals than hotel guests).
Out and About:
Crafers is a fantastic base for exploring the Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Summit and Mount Lofty Botanic Garden which are all a short distance away. The nearby villages of Stirling and Aldgate offer boutique shopping, cafés and nature trails.
Whilst staying at Crafters we visited:
Mt. Lofty Summit
Perched high above Adelaide, Mt. Lofty Summit offers sweeping views. From the lookout point the view stretches out over the city to the coast. With walking trails and a café, it’s the perfect starting point for a visit to the Adelaide Hills.
Mt. Lofty Botanic Gardens
Tucked into a cool valley and just five minutes drive from Mt. Lofty Summit, the Mt. Lofty Botanic Garden is a delightful place for a peaceful walk. Built into a hillside, winding paths lead past seasonal flowers, towering trees and ponds that change character throughout the year. Rhododendrons were in full bloom during our visit.
Hahndorf
Hahndorf is a characterful German village located within the Adelaide Hills. The main street is lined with quaint shops, bakeries, beer halls and cafés serving everything from bratwurst sausage to apple strudel and glühwein. It’s a great place to soak up some Bavarian atmosphere whilst down under!
Beerenberg Fruit Farm
A visit to Beerenberg Fruit Farm is another highlight of the Adelaide Hills. The Beerenberg company is known for its jams and chutneys which can be tasted and purchased from the attractive shop. Depending on the time of year, visitors can also pick their own strawberries from one of the large fields on the farm. There’s also a cosy cafe offering a daily menu where we were tempted by the freshly baked queen scones served with clotted cream and spoonfuls of four of their delicious jams. Beerenberg Farm
Overall:
Our stay at The Crafers Hotel was very relaxing and we were made to feel very welcome. The hotel manages to combine old world charm with modern comforts making it an excellent choice for both leisure and business travellers with its close proximity to Adelaide.
Details:
The Crafers Hotel, 8 Main St, Crafers, South Australia 5152.
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