Bushwalkers, golfers, and wine lovers are all welcome in this Barossa Valley town.
On the southern cusp of the Barossa Valley—one of South Australia’s most famous wine regions—the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town of Sandy Creek is surrounded by rolling vineyards and verdant farmlands. Wine tasting in the Barossa Valley is the big draw, but you can also play a game of golf at Sandy Creek Golf Club and go bushwalking, bird-watching, and kangaroo-spotting at Sandy Creek Conservation Park. Campers have choices, too, whether you prefer to park your campervan on a local farm, check into one of the holiday parks or caravan parks, or pitch a tent amid the vines.
Patchwork vineyards, charming stone villages, and scenic walking and biking trails stretch north of Sandy Creek in the Barossa Valley wine region. The main towns of Tanunda, Angaston, and Nuriootpa are popular with campers and day-trippers, but the real highlight is a wine-tasting tour, hopping between family-run vineyards and cellar-door wineries, and sampling the region’s world-famous shiraz.
South of Sandy Creek, the sloping vineyards and storybook villages of the Adelaide Hills are just a short drive away. Renowned for its Pinot Noir and sparkling wines, this is another one of South Australia’s famed wine regions, but you can equally enjoy cycling along miles of biking trails, visit the German-inspired village of Hahndorf, or pick your own seasonal fruits at the local orchards.
Beach lovers will want to head further afield to explore the Yorke Peninsula to the north or the Fleurieu Peninsula, but the wild coastline of the Adelaide Plains is a must for birding enthusiasts. Stretching along the St Vincent Gulf, the fertile plains and wetlands around Thompson Beach and Webb Beach make up the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park, a key site along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
The wineries of the Barossa Valley pull in big crowds during the summer months (December through February), but most stay open for tastings year-round. Sandy Creek is particularly charming in spring, when wildflowers brighten up the surrounding farmlands, and in autumn, when fall foliage transforms the landscapes. Book your campsite in advance if visiting during the high season (summer).