Barossa Valley

In the Barossa Valley, visiting cellar doors is all part of the experience. You can spend the day winding between wineries, sampling everything from bold Shiraz to crisp whites, and picking up a bottle or two if something wins you over. Some cellar doors still offer free tastings, while others charge a small fee that may be waived with a purchase, so it is worth checking before you drop in.

Many of Australia’s most significant and notable wineries are either headquartered or own extensive holdings in the Barossa Valley. These include Penfolds, Peter Lehmann, Orlando Wines, Seppeltsfield, Wolf Blass and Yalumba. Many Shiraz vines in the Barossa Valley are several decades old, with some dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. Turkey Flat in Tanunda is home to the oldest commercially producing grape vines, planted in 1847. Some of the most favourable grape varieties grown in the Barossa include Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay and Semillon.

With its undulating hillsides, manicured landscapes and exquisite architecture, the Barossa Valley is worthy of a journey to the region in its own right. Should you not like wine, you are also spoiled for fine dining options — much like any fine wine region. The following free things to see and do in the Barossa should keep the trip spend to a minimum, which may just enable you to splash out on any number of indulgences.

If you’re looking for a beautiful spot to take in the magnificent landscapes of the Barossa, a short drive out of Tanunda will see you arrive at Mengler Hill Lookout — home of the Barossa Sculpture Park. Firstly, there’s the lookout itself that you can drive up to. From this elevated vantage point, the views extend over much of the region, making for an excellent sunset location.

Directly below the lookout platform, the Barossa Sculpture Park is the result of the Barossa International Sculpture Symposium held in 1988 and again twenty years later in 2008. The sculptures were commissioned to reflect the environment as well as express the ambience and spirit of the Barossa.

The sculptures have been placed in the midst of some impressive countryside, with views as far as the eye can see. The lookout can be stellar at dusk, so if it isn’t too chilly, bringing up a recently purchased bottle of wine and some local nibblies can take the experience to another level as the sun works its magic over the sculpture park.

As the perfect excuse to get out and about and see the surrounding countryside, the Whispering Wall is a worthy destination and a whole lot of fun for all ages. Located at the Barossa Dam, visitors are encouraged to walk on either side of the dam wall and whisper to each other. Incredibly, the soundwaves spoken at either end can be heard as clearly as if standing next to each other. Even a word whispered can be heard (hence the name), which is quite remarkable, with the distance travelled being more than one hundred metres.

The Barossa Dam itself was quite the engineering marvel in its day. Built between 1899 and 1902, it was among the first of many concrete arch dams constructed in the world.

It also has the makings of a great picnic area with a nice grassy park overlooking the dam catchment. While there is no seating, there are a couple of standing tables for nibbles, wine or whatever takes your fancy. This is a fun distraction as you meander through the many sensational vineyards of the area.