Best Adelaide Hills scenic drives

Lobethal to Lenswood 

There’s nothing more refreshing than the winding roads and rolling hills of these drives through Adelaide Hills, and surprisingly the countryside is still incredibly colourful despite the fact that we’ve somehow seamlessly rolled into winter. 

We’ve decided to head to Pike & Joyce in Lenswood for lunch today – one of the most picturesque venues in the heart of the Adelaide Hills. It’s no wonder they’ve earnt this reputation with a cellar door and restaurant perched 593m above sea level boasting uninterrupted views over the Onkaparinga Valley.

 

Pike & Joyce @__serio__ via Instagram

We love the drive through the Piccadilly Valley past Summertown, Uraidla and Basket Range, passing pockets of red, green and gold on route. It’s a literal colour explosion that lines the hills and valleys at every turn and is a truly remarkable time of year to experience the seasonal change. 

We pass the recently refurbished Manor Basket Range as we turn onto Lobethal Road, which is fast shedding its old Camelot Castle moniker in favour of something much more refined. Built in 1935, it’s a one-third-sized scale model of Warwick Castle in the UK, built to lure a lover to Adelaide. Let’s just say that didn’t end well, and after changing hands a few times it’s currently operating as a wedding venue, function space and hotel with plans for a cellar door and restaurant due to open later in the year. 

 Instagram @themanorbasketrange

Lobethal Road makes for a leisurely drive as we dip into vineyard valleys and up and over hills lined with rows of orchards. Turning left onto Harris Road, we’ve hit the produce jackpot in apple growing country. This is home to local producers like Harrisville Orchards who open to the public a few times a year for their ‘pick your own fruit’ events.  

 Instagram @tarrawood_orchard 

After a long, relaxed and seasonally prepared lunch at Pike & Joyce (their menu changes weekly in line with the produce available), we decide to explore the Lobethal township 10 minutes away. 

 House smoked Duck @pikeandjoyce 

The Lobethal Bierhaus located in Lobethal's Old Onkaparinga Woollen Mills is a must-see micro-brewery, cellar door and restaurant on Main Street. Side note, a lot of the main streets in these small Adelaide Hills towns are very creatively named, Main Street. 

 Instagram @lobethalbierhaus

Further up the road, the Lobethal Archives and Historical Museum provides a fascinating insight into both the German and English history of the region with artefacts and exhibits dating back to 1841. It doesn’t operate standard opening hours, so it’s luck of the draw or you can make an appointment to visit.

Last stop on this sunny winter’s drive is a tasting at the Lobethal Road Wines cellar door 8km away at the foot of Mount Torrens. It’s a perfect spot with the vineyard views we’ve become accustomed to and a selection of minimal intervention cool climate wines. 

Instagram @lobethalroadwines 

We’ve sadly run out of time to visit Golding Wines, Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard and Anderson Hill all in close proximity in Lobethal and Lenswood, so we agree that another day out in the Adelaide Hills is needed! Or perhaps an overnight stay…  

 Instagram @goldingwines

To do this drive:  Follow Greenhill Road from the CBD towards Uraidla, taking a slight left onto Basket Range Road as you approach Lost in a Forest on your left. Follow Basket Range Road for 3km until you hit the junction at Lobethal Road, turning right to continue onto Lobethal Road. Continue along Lobethal Road for 7km, until you see signs for Pike & Joyce, turning left onto Harris Road. To get to Lobethal’s Main Street 9km away, exit Pike and Joyce onto Mawson Road, turn right onto Edwards Hills Road, right onto Coldstore Road and left onto Lobethal Road. To get to Lobethal Road Winery approximately 8km away, follow Main Street through the town before turning right on Mount Torrens Road which becomes Onkaparinga Valley Road. To get back to the CBD follow Onkaparinga Valley Road through Woodside, Balhannah and Verdun to pick up the South Eastern Freeway. 

 Originally published in the Sunday Mail, 17 June 2018. Words by Natalie Turns.