The McLaren Vale at the Visitor Centre

The McLaren Vale offers visitors the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of Adelaide City and relax amongst sprawling scenery just outside of the city centre.

Here, wine and food are the name of the game. With plenty of wineries to discover and plenty of restaurants and eateries that serve up delicious seasonal cuisine.

To start off your explorations of the area, stop off at the McLaren Vale Visitor Centre. Here marks the start of the Vale and the expansive Fleurieu Peninsula that surrounds it. As well as all the information you need to discover the region, the Centre brings visitors a café, art gallery, and in-house cellar door, and a playground for kids set in a peaceful garden.

The staff are well-trained in the region, and will happily help you plan your trip around the Vale.

Located right at the start of McLaren Vale’s Main Road, the Visitor Centre is the perfect starting point – and hard to miss. Before you venture into the depths of surrounding scenery, you can pick up pamphlets, and maps to help you find the best spots. From here you can plan a trip that suits your wants and needs.

Wine Tasting at the Cellar Door

To kick things off as you mean to go out, try wine tasting at the Visitor Centre’s cellar door. Here you can sample flavours from local artisan wineries and learn more about the wine making process from knowledgeable guides.

The Tourist Drive

One of the best ways to experience the Fleurieu Peninsula and McLaren Vale is to take the tourist drive. You’ll head past all the beautiful vineyard scenery and alongside mesmerising ocean views. You can get a map for this route at the Visitor Centre.

Something for Everyone

But it’s not just wine that the McLaren Vale and its Visitor Centre serves up. In fact, there’s a little something for everyone here.

For art lovers, there are is continuous display of exhibitions in the in-house gallery. While history buffs can learn all about the region’s past and its age-old stories via photographs and exciting displays.

For shopping enthusiasts, there’s the chance to pick up handmade crafts, arts, and souvenirs in the on-site shop. Book worms can browse the selection of locally-themed books about wildlife, cookery, wine making, and everything in between.

With its abundance of things to do and its wealth of information, the Visitor Centre really is the perfect place to start your exploration of the McLaren Vale.

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.