Where to stay: The Villas – Barossa is a secluded, vineyard accommodation, centrally located to the Barossa’s cycling trails, perfect for exploring the Barossa’s food culture by bike. We celebrate our region’s produce and producers, and your villa is stocked with abundant local and South Australian breakfast provisions.

Bike hire: Barossa Bike Hire will deliver to The Villas - Barossa.

Barossa Gourmet Cycling Tour: Guided tour by Bike About

Imagine cycling past sun-drenched vineyards, through historic towns, alongside quince orchards and olive groves. Or taking a detour to explore a local providore, discover an unexpected cellar door, sample artisan cheese or step over the threshold of a traditional bakery or butcher. And what if, scattered along the sealed cycle trails and backroads, you discovered world-class regional dining, wine bars & bistros, grounded in a deep sense of community and place, and even a MICHELIN recognised restaurant or two…

Welcome to the Barossa.

Our quiet roads and 40km of sealed cycle trails will connect you with the Barossa’s celebrated culinary culture – great food from backyard gardens and orchards, home cooks, artisan producers and talented chefs. Pickles, preserves, cured meats, ferments, traditional baked goods, with the Barossa’s Mediterranean climate and protected agricultural land offering up a bounty of seasonal produce.

Here’s a 4-day Barossa itinerary designed to help you slow down and re-discover life’s simple pleasures…by bike.

Day One - Friday - Arrival

Afternoon

Once you’ve checked in to The Villas – Barossa, take a walk into the village of Marananga. No bicycles required here, as some of the best of the Barossa’s cellar doors and wine-tastings are accessible on foot. Wander along the creekline to Two Hands Wines and explore their Kraehe Nature Trail: a serene, self-guided walking experience. The easy-going trail winds along the Kraehe House Block vineyard, offering sweeping views of Seppeltsfield Road palms and the historic Marananga church, with opportunities to see their Scottish Highland cattle up close.

Enjoy a glass of award-wining Rosé at Barossa Valley Estate set amongst an amazing Paul Bangay-designed gardens, walk up the rise to Tscharke Wines, or go a little further to Laughing Jack where a sweeping view of the Barossa Ranges will reward you.

As you return, a seriously delicious gin adventure awaits at Seppeltsfield Road Distillers, just minutes from your villa.

The Villas – Barossa local’s tip: Try the Seppeltsfield Rd Distillers House Gin, and definitely snap a picture with ‘Christine’, a stylish copper still imported from Germany.

You’ll have worked up an appetite by now, and Barrio snacks under the verandah at award-winning restaurant staġuni, (just across the road from your villa), are just the thing between 4pm - 6pm.

Dinner:

Mike’s Burgers

Mike’s Burgers is a passion project of Kyle John and his wife Kayley, and is your destination for tonight. Mike’s Burger’s may not be Michelin rated itself, but Kyle is the Executive Chef at Hentley Farm MICHELIN One-star restaurant. So, you can expect the burgers to be amazing, not to mention the truffle fries.

fermentAsian MICHELIN-Selected Restaurant

Also in the Tanunda, at the other end of the historic main street, you’ll find fermentAsian a MICHELIN-Selected restaurant where Chef/owner Tuoi Do has been serving delicious modern Southeast Asian cooking in the Barossa Valley for over a decade. This is a fabulous alternative for tonight’s diner.

Day Two - Saturday - Angaston Rail Trail - meet the producer’s behind Barossa MICHELIN dining

Morning

Angaston Rail Trail

You have a delightful day ahead of you, with easy ride heading east from The Villas – Barossa towards the pretty township of Angaston.

It’s a 7km / 20 minute ride along Seppeltsfield Road and then the Barossa Trail sealed cycleway to Bean Addiction Coffee Roasters for your first coffee stop. Expanses of vineyard will stretch to your right and left, on this flat trail through the valley floor.

After coffee, you’ll cross Barossa Valley Way to connect with the Angaston Rail Trail with another 7 km of sealed cycleway ahead of you. This is particularly interesting trail, with a gentle incline rising up to the eastern ridge of the Barossa Valley, and the ride will take about 25 minutes.

You’ll pass cellar doors, wineries, ride across elevated ridges offering distant views across the valley, and shady sections where the cutting passes between stands of native pines.

Angaston

Angaston could rightly lay claim the crown of the foodie capital of the Barossa, and here you’ll explore the produce and meet the producers behind the Barossa world-class culinary culture, and our MICHELIN awarded restaurants.

Barossa Farmer’s Market

You’ll need to take a slight detour off the Angaston Rail Trail via Stockwell Road, to bring you to the Barossa Farmers Market . It’s a meeting place and a melting pot of all that’s best about the Barossa’s food culture. The stallholder list is extensive and varies from season to season, but you can expect fresh fruit & vegetables, dairy, eggs, fresh & cured meat, baked and sweet treats, oils, jams and other staples. Open from 7.30am - 9.30am, the earlier you go, the more likely to meet locals, including chefs making their selection from the seasonal produce.

The Villas - Barossa local’s tip: Skip breakfast today, and graze the aisle of the markets. Walk slowly, meet the producers, sample their produce, ask questions. It’s an opportunity to taste real food from the farms and homes of the Barossa.

Casa Carboni Enoteca & Cooking School

Make your way to back to the Angaston Rail Trail for a final gentle climb into Angaston. A coffee and Matteo’s Italian sweets will be on order at Casa Carboni, and allow time to browse the Enoteca’s floor to ceiling shelving, stocked with thoughtfully curated pantry items and homewares from artisan producers.

Barossa Valley Cheese Company

Head next door to enjoy a pre-lunch cheese tasting in the Cheese cellar at the Barossa Valley Cheese Co . You’ll find the full range of their artisan cheeses, local gourmet condiments, curated cheese tasting plates and a even live stream of their cheese makers!!

The Villas - Barossa local’s tip: Barossa La Dame aged goats cheese.

Wine-tasting and Lunch

Otherness

Otherness is a seamless combination of cellar door, wine bar, restaurant, delicatessen and bottle shop, in a stylish space in the heart of Angaston. It’s one of our favourite places to dine - for delicious produce-driven dishes, and for the warm, genuine hospitality extended by Grant and the team. His others-focussed, celebration of community is a joy to experience.

Today, this is your lunch stop, but allow time to taste through the range of Otherness Wines, a collaboration with winemakers across the Barossa. Otherness is also a great option quick afternoon snacks, and functions as an upscale deli and bottle shop - perfect to drop in for housemade pickles, cured meats and a takeaway bottle from an extensive wine selection.

Afternoon

Jam House Cellar Door

The ride home is slightly easier, a gentle downhill gradient from Angaston towards the valley floor. It’s worth veering off the cycleway along Research Road for a tasting at Jamhouse Cellar Door. Unless you’re visiting on a Thursday or Friday, phone ahead to make sure one of the winemakers is able to host you.

Jam House is a shared Barossa tasting space where three local producers pour side by side, inviting you to explore different styles, vineyards and winemaking approaches in one relaxed visit. You’ll find wines from natural wine producer Geyer Wine Co, Forage Supply Co and White Gate Wine Co. The tastings are unhurried and welcoming, with the winemakers often close by, making it easy to ask questions, dig a little deeper and find wines that genuinely resonate. Ask a few questions, and it won’t be long before these passionate winemakers share their views on natural wine, biodynamics and more.

Spinifex

Ride back towards the Rail Trail, but this time make a detour in the opposite direction. Find Nuraip Road, and visit Spinifex Wines. The Spinifex range is a reflection of the parcels of fruit that Pete Schell seeks out from both ancient vines and new-wave varieties. These old vines – which have tolerated the rigours of drought and heat – produce fruit of exceptional depth, with the indefinable savoury flavours that set Spinifex apart from the stereotypical Barossa style.

No need to double back to the Angaston Rail Trail - just head west on Nuraip Road to join Barossa Valley Way, and join the Barossa Rail trail there. The only a short (but beautiful) cycle back to The Villas - Barossa.

Bike about (angaston rail trail) CREDIT: Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission

Day Three - Sunday - Seppeltsfield Road - Barossa’s Bib Gourmand by bicycle

Late-Morning

The Michelin Man (Michelin’s mascot for some 120 years) is affectionately known as the Bibendum (or Bib, for short), lending its name to the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand category that recognises restaurants serving high-quality food at a great value. Fino Seppeltsfield is the only Barossa restaurant to receive MICHELIN Bib Gourmand status and it seems to us that fine, affordable food, and the freedom to explore by bicycle, are perfect pairings!

It’s an idyllic ride from The Villas - Barossa to Seppeltsfield Wine Estate, where Fino Restaurant is part of the extensive historic complex. It’s an exceptionally scenic ride along the iconic palm-lined avenue, surrounded by vineyards, with a distant view of the Barossa ranges.

Lunch:

Fino MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Restaurant

Housed within the light-filled, heritage-listed former bottling hall of Seppeltsfield Wine Estate, Fino offers a leisurely Barossa lunch experience. The hospitality is warm, and the menu champions exceptional regional produce, with the majority sourced from small-scale farmers and producers located in the surrounding countryside.

The Villas - Barossa local’s tip: Fino’s house-baked legendary sourdough bread…

Afternoon

Seppeltsfield Wine Estate

Spend the afternoon exploring Seppeltsfield Wine Estate, one of Australia’s most historic wineries, established in 1851. It’s home to a vibrant community of artisans, with wine, food, art, craft and retail experiences on offer. Take your pick from a range of Wine Tasting and Tour Experiences, explore the JamFactory Craft & Design Studios and Vasse Virgin Natural Olive Oil Skincare and finish with a gin at onsite Prohibition Distillery.

The Villas - Barossa local’s tip: Slip into Vasse Virgin Natural Olive Oil Skincare. It’s a heady experience. The Villas - Barossa stocks their Lemon Myrtle & Avocado amenities for our guests.

Don’t rush your ride back along the iconic Seppeltsfield Road avenue of palms to The Villas - Barossa, stop at the Seppelt Mausoleum for a photo shoot and to soak in the views.

The Villas - Barossa locals tip: It’s worth the a fairly steep climb of about 50 steps - the view from the top is staggering.

Dinner

New Wave Wines

If you’re feeling peckish in the evening, New Wave Wines is a couple of minutes walk from your villa, with a light menu focused on artisanal South Australian produce, hot bar snacks, and cheese platters designed to pair with indie and small-batch wines.

And then, the shortest of walks back to your villa, where the deep soak tub could be just the right thing after several days of cycling.

image: seppeltsfield road avenue of palms credit: harry gruttner

Day Four - Monday – Barossa Rail Trail, Tanunda to Rowland Flat

Morning

It’s an easy 7km ride into Tanunda this morning, alongside vineyards and fields. Your halfway stop for coffee is Darlings Café where a Morning Bun baked by Sarah of Breaking Bread is mandatory!

(If something savoury is more to your taste, we can highly recommend a freshly baked Salt-stick from the historic Apex Bakery wood-fired oven – it’s easy to enjoy as you ride!)

You have a beautiful ride ahead, another 7 km. Take it slowly, past historic churches and cottages on the Tanunda main street, heading south towards the rolling vineyards on the outskirts of the town. You’ll join the sealed cycle way at the Jacob’s Creek archway, which will lead you past Riesling Freak cellar door, and along the North Para creekline, through Australian native bush and vineyards. There are some unexpected bends and several steeper climbs to challenge you – so don’t be too distracted by the natural beauty on every side.

Lunch

St Hugo MICHELIN-Selected Restaurant

The St Hugo MICHELIN-Selected Restaurant is located just off the Barossa Trail, and is a beautiful destination for your lunch today. Dine in their 1850’s ’Stone Room’ or the stunning ’Glasshouse’, with views across the St Hugo vineyard.

And after lunch, since you’re in the vicinity – it’s definitely worth cycling a couple of minutes to visit the adjoining Jacob’s Creek cellar door, and explore it’s expansive Australian bush environs. There’s a beautiful expanse of lawn in front of the cellar door, with a great selection of lawn games, and deck chairs!

Harvest Kitchen has it’s home in this beautiful precinct, serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern inspired sharing dishes, using the best of local produce from the Barossa and South Australia, and is an fabulous alternative for lunch.

When you’re ready, take the Barossa Trail towards Tanunda, perhaps stop at Vino Lokal for a later afternoon wine and bar snacks, and then head back to The Villas – Barossa.

Dinner

It’s unlikely you’ll be looking for more than a light snack tonight. Perhaps enjoy a glass of wine on your deck at The Villas – Barossa, and some of the local cheese and pickles you’ll find stocked in the fridge.

Sit out on the deck, watch the birds flitting about in anticipation of sundown, then settle into the silence as the stars appear.

Day Five - Monday - Departure

Morning

You’ll have time for a sleep in, a slow start, and a cup of tea on the rocking chairs on the deck of your villa, before heading out for the last time.

Maybe check your diary for the Tour Down Under dates…and see if you can schedule another cycling holiday in South Australia to coincide with this annual event.