From the outskirts of the South Australia capital of Adelaide, the contiguous area of hills, mountains, fields, valleys and rivers known as the Adelaide Hills fans out through some of the state’s most picturesque features.
The Adelaide Hills extend in a southeasterly direction towards Mt Lofty, and thence to Hahndorf and Mt Baker. Northeast it nudges towards Birdwood (where you find the National Motor Museum) and the source of the Torrens River.
The Mt Lofty Ranges run roughly southwest to northeast through the Adelaide Hills.
Always a pleasant stop
Less than 20 kilometres southeast of the Adelaide city centre along the Mt Barker Rd lies the Mt Lofty Botanic Garden, a magical place to visit when the grounds burst into flower in the spring. (You may also wish to drop in at the Cleland Wildlife Park nearby.)
But whatever the season, the Botanic Garden is always a pleasant stop, if not the day’s destination, on an Adelaide Hills drive to the Mt Lofty summit further north. Get a bird’s-eye view here of Adelaide city from a height of some 720 metres.
That river which courses through the city is the Torrens -- and you can almost follow it to its source all the way east to Birdwood and Mt Pleasant, in the region they call the Top of the Torrens.
Historic village
From the peak of Mt Lofty you can retrace your route back to Mt Barker Rd which turns into the South Eastern Freeway just south of the Botanic Garden in the Adelaide Hills.
Exit the freeway about 10 kilometres southeast and head towards the historic and picturesque village of Hahndorf.
Settled in 1839 by Prussian Lutherans fleeing religious persecution in Europe, Hahndorf retains many of its heritage buildings and seems to have been frozen in time.
Most popular attraction
Considered South Australia’s most popular tourist attraction, Hahndorf has a number of German cakeshops, tearooms. gourmet stores and gift shops. It is a perfect place to stop for a leisurely lunch on your exploration of the Adelaide Hills.
Don't forget to visit the Hahndorf Academy, the Antique Clock Museum and artist Sir Hans Heysen's house, The Cedars, which has been preserved with its collection of artwork and furniture.
Close by is Mt Barker itself, at whose summit you can have panoramic views of Mt Lofty, Lake Alexandrina and the River Murray in the south. There are vintage steam trains on the Steamranger Railway running from Mt Barker to the town of Goolwa and Victor Harbor south of Adelaide.
Ongkaparinga Valley
From Hahndorf you can proceed to the Barossa wine country through the scenic Ongkaparinga Valley. The Ongkaparinga River itself meanders through orchards and gardens and historic townships.
At Oakbank, the Great Eastern Steeplechase is touted as the world’s greatest picnic race meeting in the world.
And for those with a sweet tooth, a visit to Melba's Chocolate Factory at the Heritage Park in Woodside should not go amiss.
Within an hour's drive
From the valley you can then wander in a southwesterly direction towards the coast.
The good thing about the Adelaide Hills is that many of your Hills destinations would be within an hour’s drive from the Adelaide city centre, many within a half hour.
Is there gold in them thar hills? Well, there used to be gold mining near Birdwood. But even if there’s no gold to mine today there would still be great nuggets of excitement on the discovery trail.
