What a week we had in the Adelaide Hills. We have barely scratched the surface. The region is packed full of sites to see and activities for both us and the kids. We live close to the Dandenongs in Victoria, and the Adelaide Hills had a very similar feel. There were tight roads, lots of bends and quaint towns. We were told not to take the van…but we chose the roads carefully and had no problem.
Our first stop was at the Woodhouse Scout Camp. Out boys are Scouts, and we are both leaders, so we really wanted to check out this camp. You may have seen our trip to the Jamboree in Tailem Bend in earlier episodes. You don’t have to be a Scout to use it though, anyone is welcome for both day visits and overnight stays. We had an absolute ball, and think this is a must to add to your To Do list, whether you are local or visiting the area.
A classic for camping is the good old night walk, and we spotted a few animals, including possums and a koala.
Another of our favourite activities was Frisbee Golf.
While we were there, we had a delicious meal at the Aldgate Pump Hotel. This hotel is run by Justin’s cousin, and we were thrilled to visit them. Without any bias at all, they have, hands down, the best pub meals around. The menu is huge, and the quality and variety is amazing. Justin had a hot rock steak, literally cooked before you on a rock slab that is 480 degrees Celsius. It was phenomenal!
The Mount Lofty Summit was a great spot to overlook Adelaide.
A visit to the hills is not complete without stopping at Handorf. Handorf is the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia, and has a great feel. Even midweek it was popular, and we enjoyed some time wandering the streets and treating ourselves to some yummy cakes. The boys were even beaten by the cakes though, and popped some in the car Engel for later! In Handorf there is a great mini golf course that we all enjoyed.
Continuing along, we love to check out ‘big things’, so the Big Rocking Horse was a must see. Harry’s new found climbing skills and bravery were put to the test as we climbed to the top of the giant horse. Alex was disappointed at first that the horse didn’t actually rock, but was quite pleased that it didn’t when we reached the top! Also onsite is a great animal habitat, housing llamas, sheep, goats, emus, a peacock, a range of birds, and wallabies. It is very accessible, priced at $1 per person, and was a great experience.
On the way down the hill, we checked out Morielta Falls, which are dry during summer. It reminded us of Halls Gap & the Grampians. With no water, it was really more of a walk to the rockface. They say travel is all about the journey, and this was a great example. The walk was very enjoyable, with lots for the boys to explore along the way. We even found a giant cave! The area is home to lots of koalas, and we spotted lots. On the way our, Harry found a great playground, so of course we had to stop for a late afternoon play. It would be a super location to spend the day.
Finally, we were invited to visit our new friends, Amanda and Bailey, who we met at Rapid Bay the week before. Their Mum, Ann, runs a wildlife shelter for injured kangaroos and possums. As we entered the loungeroom, we were literally handed a tiny Joey kangaroo, and spotted more in the cost pouches. These ladies are amazing. They literally take in and care for the animals, and as the law prevents them from releasing the animals back into the wild, they home them ongoing. This is unique to South Australia. We fed some kangaroos, wheat bix for the older ones (this is a treat, in addition to grazing) and special milk for the Joeys. A huge thank you to them for welcoming us.
It was a huge week, thank you to everyone we visited for making our stay so wonderful. Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel for other location videos, including Adelaide city, and lots of tips and hints about life on the road.