There’s a good reason why people all over the world know the Barossa in South Australia.

A cruisy 70-odd kilometre jaunt north-east of Adelaide will lead you to this resource-rich, historically unique and visually stunningly piece of Australian terra firma. Nestled between the mighty Murray River and Gulf Saint Vincent, the Barossa’s fertile land has been producing world-class wine for more than 175 years. It’s an area seemingly purpose-built for food connoisseurs.

The Traditional Custodians of the Barossa region, the Peramangk people, lived a prosperous life there for more than 2400 years.  

The first Europeans

Arriving in the Adelaide region in 1836, Colonel William Light was charged with surveying this new colony and founding Adelaide.

He would give the mountainous range north-east of Adelaide the name ‘Barossa’ in 1837. It was actually named incorrectly at the time: a spelling error noted during the recording of the name. It was supposed to be ‘Barrosa’, in honour of the 1811 Battle of Barrosa between the French and English, in which Light fought.

Though it wouldn’t be the English – or French for that matter – that would come to dominate the region. Instead, it was the Germans. Mineralogist Johann Menge identified the Barossa as a great winemaking region, likening it to the famous Rhône Valley in France.

Throughout the 1800s, boatloads of Germans would depart Europe, heading for the Barossa and surrounding regions, playing a defining role in the culture that visitors enjoy today. Tourists can’t miss the Lutheran church steeples and smell of Bavarian food, while towns like Krondorf not only enjoy a German name but also a town layout typical of their founders’ Prussian origins.

The Barossa is now ready for service on the nbn™ broadband access network, helping to bring connectivity and access to broadband to the local people, business owners and visiting tourists of the region.*  

Wining and dining

Today, the Barossa is world famous for its wine, with the many successful vineyards helping turn the region into one of Australia’s more celebrated tourist locations.

Not only are Penfolds (1844), Jacob’s Creek (1847), Yalumba (1849) and Seppeltsfield (1851) some of Australia’s oldest and most revered wineries, they’re also in the top 12 oldest continuous-running companies in the land. Their tradition and history are on many a visiting wine lover’s to-do list, especially the Seppelt Family Mausoleum.

It goes without saying that food and wine in the Barossa is magnificent. Especially when you catch the smells of Bavaria to whet your appetite. For a piece of history, visit the Vine Inn, which has stood proud in the region for almost 170 years. Other notable destinations are the Pindarie Cellar Door in Rosedale, the Murray Street Vineyards in Greenock and the 160-year-old Silentium Cellar at the Moorooroo Park Vineyards.

And that’s only just scratching the mouth-watering surface. From breweries to farmers’ markets and even a keg factory, there are few places in the world that will tickle your tastebuds quite like the Barossa.

Rich with culture and beauty

Not surprisingly, there’s plenty of history to explore in the Barossa, too.

Visiting the many estates on offer in the region lets you experience the very best of luxury 19th century accommodation. Fans of Game of Thrones might also want to get medieval at the Doddridge Blacksmith Shop and Angaston Museum.

Those with a love of great engineering feats should make their way to the Whispering Wall, better known as the dam holding up the Barossa Reservoir. It was finished in 1903 and, at the time, was considered a construction masterpiece, gaining worldwide recognition. The acoustics created by the wall’s shape are loved by little and big kids alike, with whispers said to echo clearly from one side to the other: more than 100 metres away.

The area’s lush landscape is also hard to ignore.

The Eden Valley Lookout, Mengler’s Hill Lookout and Mount Crawford Forest Reserve offer stunning vistas. Many visitors explore the area by bicycle, segway, helicopter or even hot air balloon. A walk down the Barossa Goldfield Trail gives you a taste of the area’s mining history, while the Lyndoch Lavender Farm – with more than 90 varieties of the sweet-smelling flower – is a purple paradise for people of all ages.

Last but definitely not least, the region is renowned for its Aboriginal art. The Peramangk people appear to have loved their art: 69 sites have been discovered featuring artworks.

Barossa by the numbers