Some places you need to see in every season, and McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast in South Australia is one of them.
Rolling vineyards, stunning coastline and a food and wine scene that rivals anywhere in the country, all just 40 minutes from Adelaide. It’s also home to the nation’s #1 food and wine town of Willunga, recently awarded by Australian Traveller.
From winter through to spring, the region takes on a quieter, more intimate character and rewards those who immerse themselves a little deeper. The vines are reinvigorating, the cellar doors are unhurried, and the long lunch feels exactly the right way to spend an afternoon.
The coast has its own magic, too. Stroll the spectacular beaches at Aldinga or Port Willunga, where the cliffs meet the sand delivering a gorgeous glow at sunrise and sunset, adding to its sense of calm and tranquillity. Walk the Witton Bluff Base Trail connecting the townships of Port Noarlunga and Christies Beach as waves roll gently below, or take the scenic route along Route 31 Coastal Drive.
Settle in by the fire or on a sun-drenched deck with a glass of McLaren Vale Shiraz or Grenache. Linger over a meal where the produce on the plate was grown locally and the wine on the table was made by the winemaker who will likely be pouring your glass. Wander through Willunga or McLaren Vale township, where galleries, cafes, antique shops and excellent coffee are never far away.
A Saturday morning visit to the Willunga Farmers Market is worth building a visit around. Fresh bread, local cheeses and seasonal produce from some of the region’s finest farmers and artisan producers. It’s the kind of market that reminds you why buying local matters.
A highlight of the state’s food calendar is the Fleurieu Food Festival, running throughout August. This is a celebration of everything that makes this corner of South Australia so special, the producers, the winemakers, the chefs and the land they all work with. Whether you book an experience or build a full weekend itinerary around the festival program, it’s where long lunches unfold at vineyard tables; chefs lead hands-on workshops, and carefully curated feasts bring together seasonal produce at its best. It’s the kind of event where you find yourself in conversation with the person who grew your food or made your wine and where the table becomes the best possible place to understand the region.
That spirit continues to grow into spring with Grenache & Gourmet returning from 18 September to 5 October 2026. If you love premium wine and exceptional food, it’s a must circle on the calendar. McLaren Vale is one of the world’s great homes for Grenache, with the festival offering exclusive wine tastings, paddock-to-plate experiences, immersive long lunches and meet-the-maker masterclasses. Grenache & Gourmet is the festival for curious palates and the kind of experience that stays with you long after the last glass.
When needing that inspiration to stay a little longer, the region delivers. Choose from vineyard retreats; boutique stays in the heart of townships, or cosy coastal cottages where the only plan is to sit back, relax and open something good.
However you like to spend the season, by the fire, by the sea, over a long lunch or experiencing somewhere entirely new, you’ll find your place here.
Start planning: mclarenvaleandfleurieucoast.com.au
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