Townships | McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale is at the heart of the wine district, surrounded by vineyards. The main street is lined on both sides with cafes, restaurants, providores, shops, cellar doors and services like cycle hire, a shopping centre, post office, garden centres, banks, offices and surgeries. The food and wine vibe is strong, and most B&Bs and cellar doors are just a short, scenic drive away. The views looking down into the vale are spectacular. There are great spots for photos in every direction.

McLaren Flat is a renowned wine production area, with many small family owned wineries with cellar doors. You can visit Bent Creek Wines, Hoffman's Wines, Hugo Wines, Parri Estate, Shottesbrooke, Sylvan Springs Estate, Woodstock Winery and more. The region is perhaps best known for its chardonnay. The area also produces a variety of berries and stone fruits.

Established in 1838 (only 2 years after Adelaide) and known as the ?place of green trees? by the Kaurna people, Willunga became famous for its slate quarries and almond orchards. The Willunga Walk is a great way to see the town with many heritage buildings having been preserved and restored, including Willunga Courthouse and Slate Museum. Willunga is a gourmet?s paradise with the weekly farmers? market, cafes and restaurants. Views from Willunga Hill show the patchwork landscape of the region.

On the northern edge of the Fleurieu Peninsula close to the Adelaide Hills, Kangarilla is an outpost of the McLaren Vale wine growing area with several highly reputed wineries and vineyards. Kangarilla is surrounded by many small farms. The historic township features several buildings of South Australian and local heritage significance dating back to the mid 1800s. Sheep graze nearby while you can cook a barbecue and enjoy the countryside amid century old gum trees.

Clarendon has a picture-perfect main street with old stone buildings, cottages, bungalows and gardens scented with climbers and flowers. The main street has a general store, post office, bakery, hotels and restaurants set against a backdrop of trees, hills and vineyards. The memorial honouring ?our Clarendon boys?, is a tribute to the returned and fallen of Clarendon from both world wars. Much of Clarendon is heritage listed, including the Clarendon Institute, church hall and historic fireshed.

Where suburbs integrate into some of the region's oldest vines. Reynella is the home of a number of great wineries, and is steeped with facinating history, including the Reynella Changing Station.

Christies Beach is popular for swimming, picnics, walking, boating, fishing as well as Christmas, New Year and Australia Day celebrations. Swimming and diving at Witton Bluff are local attractions. Beach Road shopping precinct has a variety of shops and services including cafes, delis, takeaway food, shopping centres, chemists, seafood, secondhand goods, music, surf and speciality stores and health and wellbeing services. It?s a vibrant area and a great place to relax and cool down in summer.

Port Noarlunga is a relaxed, seaside suburb. Its dining precinct caters to all tastes and has casual and formal dining options with a bakery, cafes, takeaway outlets, restaurants and providores. It is home to the Arts Centre which has a performance space, galleries and visual arts studio with selected spaces available for hire. The jetty is a popular fishing spot, the beach is great for swimming and diving, and the playground is a great place to set the kids free.

Old Noarlunga has a village feel with stone cottages, bungalows and old-style shopfronts. It has a number of reserves with picnic facilities, particularly Market Square which also has playground equipment and public toilets. Just a short drive to Port Noarlunga and McLaren Vale, it is a charming reminder of the region?s history. The main street is a short, pleasant stroll where you can stretch your legs and explore the township. The Noarlunga District Hall is a heritage-listed building.

Pt Willunga beachside suburb is a favorite with locals, for its sheltered beach, historic buildings and picturesque esplanade. Accessible from the beach is the signature decaying jetty and boat sheds built into the cliff wall. Just off the beach is the Star of Greece shipwreck, a great place for divers and snorklers.