Before heading off to the Barossa Valley we decided on another short visit to Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens in Port Augusta. It was only a short distance out of the way and Mick was keen to try again for a photograph of the chirruping wedgebill, but it was not to be. This little creature wasn't anywhere to be found - this time we couldn't even hear it calling so it was off to the cafe for a coffee before we hit the road again.
We travelled down the coast towards Port Pirie, then turned inland and lunch at Crystal Brook. We then drove on to Clare and then into the Barossa Valley. Our accommodation is at "Goat Square Cottages". Our cottage is called "Menge" after Johannes Menge who was the official government geologist in the 1830's. The attached cottages were built in the 1840's in what was then the main town square. They come complete with stone walls and low doorways - but all the modern comforts (spa bath, reverse cycle air-conditioning etc). The cottage gardens even has an array of herbs growing just outside the back door.
Our first full day was what might be described as a gourmet's delight. We started with a visit the Barossa Farmers' Market to buy supplies for dinner - smoked fish, cheese, quince paste and fudge.
After delivering our goodies to the fridge at home we headed out again to Maggie Beer's Pheasant Farm for lunch. The menu consists mainly of small "picnic baskets" which contain pate, bread, freekah salad and other yummy things. The menu even suggests the appropriate local wine to pair with your meal - which we didn't. We browsed the farm shop and tasted many of Maggie's lovely products and took the nature walk and farm walk before heading for home.
Later in the afternoon we made a visit to Peter Lehmann wines. I had done some serious research and decided that they had the best selection of the kind of wines I like to drink, at the best prices - and the tasting proved that their wines are also seriously nice!
We had been keeping a close watch on the weather forecast throughout our holiday and were aware that Sunday would not be a good day weather-wise and we were not wrong. It had been windy overnight and the early morning weather reports indicated a very hot and windy day ahead. Not to be deterred we headed off after breakfast to Lyndoch to Altona Scrub, where there are a number of walking trails. When we arrived we noticed the "Closed Today" sign over the entrance. The noticeboard stated that the walks would be closed on days of extreme fire danger - and we guessed that we had chosen one such day for our walk. We later learned there was a severe weather warning for damaging winds, across most of the state and gusts were recorded up to 95kph. Oh well, we drove the short distance into the town centre for coffee, and to consider our options. We figured that if this walk was closed, others would be too. After coffee and cake we stopped in at an art gallery and met the owner, photographer Peter Franz Brunnbauer. He and Mick chatted at length about cameras and photography and he even gave Mick a couple of tips. From there we walked across the road to the craft shop and again were met by a very friendly local who suggested some places to visit on a day when outdoor pursuits were not recommended.
We drove back to Tanunda and then on to Angaston - a very nice "Sunday drive" through gently rolling hills adorned with grape vines and dotted with wineries. Than we drove back to Seppeltsfield and the winery to visit the "Jam Factory" an artisans' workshop and gallery. There were some really beautiful pieces of work - from jewellery to glassware, indigenous art and hand made Japanese style knives. This gallery is well worth a look. We also made a stop at Peter Lehmann again to try to spot a bird we saw yesterday, when Mick didn't have his camera, but alas it was nowhere to be found.
Our last day in the Barossa before we headed into Adelaide. We decided to try again for the walk we missed on Sunday and this time, with the milder and less windy weather, the Altona Scrub trail was open. The trail is in three sections and you can do any combination that suits you, and the time you have available. We completed two and a bit, a total of about 5 kms. The trail is very well made, and the brochure we had picked up in Tanunda had accurate maps of the circuits as well as an informative commentary. The track has some gentle slopes and a few steps, but nothing difficult at all. There are a number of seats placed strategically for resting and taking in the views. There are also a couple of "side tracks" - one with a view to the (small) gorge on the North Para River, and one to a wetland that showed no signs of dampness at all. We were glad that we came back as this was a very pleasant way to spend the morning.
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| The very busy Barossa Farmers' Market - popular for many good reasons |
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| Fudge Dealer |
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| The pond at Maggie's farm |
We had been keeping a close watch on the weather forecast throughout our holiday and were aware that Sunday would not be a good day weather-wise and we were not wrong. It had been windy overnight and the early morning weather reports indicated a very hot and windy day ahead. Not to be deterred we headed off after breakfast to Lyndoch to Altona Scrub, where there are a number of walking trails. When we arrived we noticed the "Closed Today" sign over the entrance. The noticeboard stated that the walks would be closed on days of extreme fire danger - and we guessed that we had chosen one such day for our walk. We later learned there was a severe weather warning for damaging winds, across most of the state and gusts were recorded up to 95kph. Oh well, we drove the short distance into the town centre for coffee, and to consider our options. We figured that if this walk was closed, others would be too. After coffee and cake we stopped in at an art gallery and met the owner, photographer Peter Franz Brunnbauer. He and Mick chatted at length about cameras and photography and he even gave Mick a couple of tips. From there we walked across the road to the craft shop and again were met by a very friendly local who suggested some places to visit on a day when outdoor pursuits were not recommended.
We drove back to Tanunda and then on to Angaston - a very nice "Sunday drive" through gently rolling hills adorned with grape vines and dotted with wineries. Than we drove back to Seppeltsfield and the winery to visit the "Jam Factory" an artisans' workshop and gallery. There were some really beautiful pieces of work - from jewellery to glassware, indigenous art and hand made Japanese style knives. This gallery is well worth a look. We also made a stop at Peter Lehmann again to try to spot a bird we saw yesterday, when Mick didn't have his camera, but alas it was nowhere to be found.
Our last day in the Barossa before we headed into Adelaide. We decided to try again for the walk we missed on Sunday and this time, with the milder and less windy weather, the Altona Scrub trail was open. The trail is in three sections and you can do any combination that suits you, and the time you have available. We completed two and a bit, a total of about 5 kms. The trail is very well made, and the brochure we had picked up in Tanunda had accurate maps of the circuits as well as an informative commentary. The track has some gentle slopes and a few steps, but nothing difficult at all. There are a number of seats placed strategically for resting and taking in the views. There are also a couple of "side tracks" - one with a view to the (small) gorge on the North Para River, and one to a wetland that showed no signs of dampness at all. We were glad that we came back as this was a very pleasant way to spend the morning.
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