Safari Express to Monarto Zoo
Experience both the Adelaide Hills & Barossa Valley
Discover the beauty and charm of the Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley on this family friendly day tour. For the first time visitor to Adelaide and South Australia, this tour offers a chance to experience some of the different attractions and offerings both regions have to enjoy.
Highlights
Enjoy Adelaide City views from the Mount Lofty Summit, visit the iconic Beerenberg Strawberry Farm, free time in the quaint village of Hahndorf, regarded as Australia's oldest German village, explore the Karkoo Nursery at the historic Johnston Brewery, climb the world's biggest Rocking Horse at the Toy Factory, experience the acoustic wonders of the Whispering Wall, and indulge in chocolates and ice cream (or wine) at the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company.
Tour Details
Pricing
$220 per Adult
$130 per Child
Departs
9:00 am
Adelaide hotel pickups from 8:15 am
Returns
5:15 pm
What's included
Intimate, small group touring with no more than 12 guests, morning pickup and post tour drop off from selected Adelaide Hotels, informative commentary by a local driver/ guide, bottled water.
Regions visited
Adelaide Hills & Hahndorf
Barossa Valley
Adelaide Plains (travel through)
Itinerary
Start your day being greeted by your friendly guide at your hotel or prearranged pickup location within Adelaide. Your guide will ensure that your experience with us is as relaxing and enjoyable as possible and if you have any special requests on the day, please make sure to let them know.
As our guides are passionate locals, they are more than happy to give additional advice on other attractions or places to visit during your stay in Adelaide.
Mount Lofty Summit & Lookout
Travel into the Adelaide Hills and arrive at Mount Lofty, the highest peak of the Mount Lofty Ranges at over 710 metres. Visit the gift shop to buy a souvenir or two and inspect some of the local history displays on show. Enjoy the wonderful panoramic views across the Adelaide City skyline to the coast, which once you have experienced, will let you appreciate just how Matthew Flinders could first sight Mount Lofty over the great distance from Kangaroo Island in 1802.
Beerenberg Family Farm
Next you arrive at the Beerenberg Family Farm, owned by Paech Family whose ancestors first started farming the land in 1839. They arrived as part of the group of German settlers who started the township of Hahndorf, which makes sense when you discovery the meaning of the word Beerenberg is German for "Berry Hill", the name that has been adopted since 1971.
Enjoy exploring the Farm Shop which is full of locally grown jams, chutneys, gourmet relishes and sauces and we can't not include, strawberries!
Township of Hahndorf
As mentioned before, Hahndorf was settled by German farmers who were escaping religious persecution from their homeland in the late 1830's. They found rich, fertile soils and enjoyed great prosperity, not only at Hahndorf but right throughout different parts of South Australia including the Barossa Valley.
Today this quaint German village is home to a great number of Artisan shops and historic buildings housing butchers, bakers and candlestick makers, art galleries and studios, a cheese maker, leathersmith, jeweller, sweet shops, German-style pubs, restaurants and cafés. Enjoy free time to explore the wonders of Hahndorf.
Karkoo Nursery
Travel into the Onkaparinga Valley and visit the Karkoo Nursery in the Hills township of Oakbank. A new addition to Oakbank in 2020, Karkoo Nursery now resides in the historic Johnson Brewery, which dates back to the 1850s.
The nursery is home to a large array of homewares, gifts, and plants spread throughout the large premises of the old brewery buildings which are a wonder to discover.
The Big Rocking Horse and Toy Factory
A visit for all kids and kids at heart, the Big Rocking Horse and Toy Factory has been a must see since 1981 when the 18-metre-high attraction was completed with the intent of attracting the attention of passing motorist to visit the Toy Factory and Shop.
These days the Big Rocking Horse has been voted as Australia's No 1 Big Aussie Icon on Wotif.com.au and continues to see increased visitors, not only to see the Rocking Horse, but also the Toy Factory, Wildlife Park and Cafe.
The Whispering Wall
Travelling further north from the Adelaide Hills and towards the Barossa Valley, you now arrive at the Barossa Reservoir and the Whispering Wall.
The Whispering Wall is the retaining wall of the Reservoir which was built between 1899 and 1903 and which gained worldwide recognition for it's revolutionary engineering and design, unseen anywhere else. It is within the design and the curvature of the wall that creates its unique acoustic effect where a person's whispers can be clearly heard more than 120 metres away.
Barossa Valley Chocolate Company
Travel through the heart of the Barossa Valley passing through historic townships as we go. You will no doubt recognise some of the names of the wineries as we are surrounded by a continuous sea of vineyards.
Your final visit for the day is at the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, home to chocolate, ice cream and Vineyard Road Wines. Here you will discover over 250 chocolate products handmade in the Barossa using premium, sustainable Belgian and Australian chocolate. If it's an afternoon wine taste you desire, enjoy the opportunity to try a wide selection of wines at the cellar door with Vineyard Road Wines
Travel back to Adelaide
On departing the Barossa Valley, you will experience the picturesque vistas and avenue of date palms of the iconic Seppeltsfield winery before travelling through the Adelaide Plains arriving back in Adelaide by 5.15 pm.