On our Discover South Australia small group tour, you’ll get to see all the major highlights including Kangaroo Island, the Flinders Ranges and our wine regions, but there is much more than that. We always throw in a few ‘special experiences’ so you can really immerse yourself into the incredible destinations we visit.
Overview
- Explore Bunnik House
- Enjoy breakfast at the Markets
- Sample Penfolds Grange
- Visit Seppeltsfield’s Centennial Cellar
- Summary
Explore Bunnik House!
Your tour of South Australia begins with a behind the scenes look at Bunnik Tours’ HQ – Bunnik House. Located on the corner of Flinders Street and Gawler Place, it is just a short stroll from some of Adelaide’s many attractions, including Victoria Square, the Central Markets and Rundle Mall. Built back in the 1920s as a Men’s Social Club, it was originally a place for dances and other social events. Rumour has it the building is even home to a ghost called Esmerelda – as you walk through the building make sure to keep an eye out for moving shadows and the faint smell of cigarettes, as that is a tell-tale sign Esmerelda is near. Bunnik House has undergone a number of significant transformations over the years, and has now been painted bright ‘Bunnik’ red, making it one of Adelaide’s most iconic buildings.
Our tour will take us through the three main floors, and down to the hidden basement. You’ll get to meet some of the team, and learn more about how our small group tours are created. Finishing up in the historic ballroom, you’ll enjoy drinks and nibbles with your fellow travellers and some Bunnik Tours staff members – the perfect way to begin your tour of the state we call home.
Enjoy breakfast at the Markets
A trip to the Adelaide Central Market is a must on any visit to Adelaide. Dating back to the 1800s, it has grown into a vibrant hub of fresh produce, premium meats, delicious delicacies and much more. Originally set in Adelaide’s East End, it moved to its current home between Gouger and Grote Street all the way back in 1869. Since then, the site has had many developments, with the main market floor now holding over 70 stalls.
After a very short stroll from our hotel, we’ll meet our guide out the front of the markets. We’ll enjoy a tasty breakfast at one the stalls, before taking off on a private tour to explore some of the best the market has to offer. We’ll learn all about the history of this Adelaide institution, and get to sample a whole variety of sumptuous local produce along the way. After this special experience, we head off for a tour of the city, and trust me, you’ll be wanting to walk all those samples off!
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Adelaide Central Markets by Kate Sharpe
Sample Penfolds Grange
Our great state has 18 wine regions and over 700 wineries, but of those 700, there is no doubt that Penfolds is the most well recognised. Originally a 200 hectare property that was purchased by Dr Christopher Penfold and his wife Mary back in 1844, Penfolds Magill Estate is now much smaller, but more iconic than ever. We’ll drive through Adelaide’s leafy eastern suburbs to get there, and it feels like almost out of nowhere you’re in a stunning vineyard. Nestled in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, the cellar door boasts breathtaking views over both the vines, the suburbs, Adelaide city and beyond.
Our visit to Magill Estate will see us exploring the many different cellars and stepping back in time in the Grange Cottage – the original home of Chris and Mary Penfold which has been lovingly preserved and gives a great insight into life in the 1800s.
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Penfolds Cellar Door by Kate Sharpe
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Grange Cottage by Kate Sharpe
After our tour, we’ll delight in a tasting of a range of Penfold’s wines, including it’s most prestigious and well-known Penfolds Grange. While an average bottle of Grange retails for between $1,000-$2,000, the record was set back in 2021 when a single bottle of 1951 Grange sold for $157,000! While this bold, full-bodied shiraz might not be for everyone, it is certainly worth a try so that you can brag to all your friends!
Visit Seppeltsfield’s Centennial Cellar
Our last stop of the Discover South Australia tour is in the world-renowned Barossa Valley. Before making our way back to Adelaide we visit Seppeltsfield, one of the most historic wineries in the region.
The drive into Seppeltsfield is almost as beautiful as the winery itself, as Seppeltsfield Road is lined with more than 2,000 Canary Island Date Palms. The palms along this five-kilometre stretch of road were planted by the winery workers between 1920 and 1930, as a way to keep them busy and employed during the Great Depression. Today, it is one of the most iconic drives in South Australia, and if you’ve ever seen a promotional photo of the Barossa, this would probably be what you’ve seen.
After a tour of the historic grounds and cellars, we’ll head up to the top floor of the main building, and venture into what is known as the Centennial Cellar. This cellar was the vision of Oscar Benno Pedro Seppelt, who came up with the idea to store their tawny here and leave it to mature for 100 years before being released. This tradition started back in 1878 and has been carried on to this day. It is now the worlds longest and only unbroken lineage of single vintage tawny dating back this far.
Sitting under a tin roof, this ‘cellar’ is much more susceptible to the elements than a traditional cellar, particularly in the Barossa which can get very hot in summer, and very cold in winter. It is thought that this fluctuation of temperature is what has contributed to creating such a unique and highly sought after tawny. Not only will we get to see the history in this iconic room, we’ll even get to taste it! This special experience gives us the opportunity to taste the tawny of our birth year straight from the barrel. A tipple of this sweet, nectar-like tawny will certainly leave you wanting more!
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Centennial Cellar by Kate Sharpe
Summary
If you’re ready to enjoy these special experiences for yourself, book your spot on our Discover South Australia small group tour now. Simply contact our Travel Specialists on 1800 286 645 for more information.
