On the road: where to eat, drink and stay during a road trip from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island

When hitting the road and venturing from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, it would be a shame not to spend a few nights within local wine regions along the way. For it is all too easy to add a couple extra days in McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Langhorne Creek and Adelaide’s city center – indulging in fabulous food, wine and accommodation.

To help you narrow down all the options, we’ve whittled down your rest stops to just a few – making sure you’re not spending too much time on the road, instead really settling into some truly unique South Australian travel experiences.

Find our guide for the top places to eat, drink and stay during your next trip from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island (and then back to Adelaide once more).

InterContinental Adelaide is located right by the River Torrens.

Adelaide

Eat: Leigh Street Wine Room

Adelaide is brimming with great wine bars that also dish up next-level eats – but Leigh Street Wine Room has got to be one of our favourites. Found in a former dry cleaner’s space, the interior has now been transformed with a terrazzo bar, arched ceiling and long wall full of hundreds of bottles of wine. When it comes to food, the menu is oft-changing, but you can expect bites like the mini lobster toast with espelette peppers, grilled halloumi with watermelon and burnt lemon, and a lamb shoulder with a smoked eggplant salsa.

Drink: Bowden Cellars

Bowden Cellars is a laidback drinking den and bottleshop that champions Australian wines, spirits, craft beers and ciders – all made locally by South Australian producers. This spot is great any day of the week, but we are especially fond of the team’s free Friday night wine tastings – hosted by a different local producer each week. It’s the ideal spot to drop by before spending a few days on the road around the state’s incredible wine regions.

Stay: InterContinental Adelaide

No matter what InterContinental you’re visiting – anywhere in the world – you’re guaranteed a superb stay. And the InterContinental Adelaide is absolutely no exception. Perfectly positioned right by the River Torrens on the northern end of the CBD, you get to be right by the action while still feeling removed from the hustle and bustle.  

Rooms and suites are all about luxury finishes, and the dining experience at Shiki is one of Adelaide’s finest. It is an award-winning Japanese teppanyaki restaurant and an Adelaide institution, offering expertly curated set menus paired with premium local wines.

For an unforgettable experience, the team also runs an exclusive Vineyard Voyage package. The bespoke full-day winery tour includes a personalised itinerary, luxury Mercedes-Benz transport, and a gourmet platter lunch at a top winery – making every sip as memorable as their stay.

See for yourself why Bleasdale won Winery of the Year in 2024.

Langhorne Creek

Eat: Bridge Hotel

Few things in life can beat spending a few hours at a regional Australian pub. And Langhorne Creek’s Bridge Hotel is a brilliant representation – boasting classic pub meals, local wines, a large outdoor area (for warm summer days) and an indoor fireplace (for when the colder months roll in). Don’t expect a fine-dining experience, but simply enjoy a relaxed pub session while chatting to a few friendly locals. 

Drink: Bleasdale Vineyards

Despite being one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, Langhorne Creek is foolishly overlooked by many wine lovers visiting South Australia. This quiet country expanse produces an impressive range of wines that are ready to enjoy now and also ideal contenders for the cellar – and Bleasdale is one of the finest examples of what this region does. In fact, we even named it Winery of the Year in 2024, for both the value of its wine and the top-class quality. 

And now that it is celebrating 175 years since Frank Potts established Bleasdale – making it the oldest winery in the region and one of the oldest in Australia – it is the perfect time to visit. For this year, the team is releasing a slew of special anniversary wines, which are all going to be available at its cellar door, which is set within the working winery and surrounded by majestic red gums.

Bleasdale Vineyards' winemakers are also regularly referred to as the ‘Masters of Malbec’, so be sure to sample a cheeky malbec flight when visiting.

Stay: Old Bull Creek

If you’re seeking to elevate your accommodation game in Langhorne Creek – going above the usual motels and Airbnbs – then you best book one of Old Bull Creek’s two villas. The accommodation overlooks the historic town of Strathalbyn. which is best viewed with a glass of wine in hand while sitting out on the verandah. Inside, you’ll also find a king sized bed, gas log fireplace, aircon, freestanding bath, fully equipped kitchen, and breakfast supplies for a couple days. There's even a barbecue out on each of the decks. 

Every one of the Neagles Retreat lodges boast breathtaking views across the Clare Valley.

Clare Valley

Eat: Watervale Hotel

If you’re wanting a true South Australian paddock-to-plate dining experience, Watervale Hotel and Penobscot Farm’s has got to be up there with the greatest. You’ll meet at the Hotel before heading to the organic, bio-dynamic Penobscot Farm that supplies the majority of the produce for the hotel kitchen. After you’ve explored the farm, you’ll head back to the Hotel and sit down to enjoy a six course degustation dinner, each course paired with a wine from its extensive wine list.  

Drink: Pikes Beer Company

Wanting a break from all the wine? Pikes Tap Room might just be the perfect reprieve. Here, you can spend the afternoon drinking your way through its long list of signature and limited release brews – we recommend getting one of the tasting paddles, so you can try more than a couple. It is ideal for a sunny day, thanks to its sun-soaked beer garden, which also happens to be dog-friendly. 

Stay: Neagles Retreat Villas

Situated on a 360-acre working farm and vineyard in the heart of Clare Valley, Neagles Retreat is most-loved for its uninterrupted views across the region.

Each of the eight villas are spread out from one another and are perched atop one of the hills surrounded by vineyards and roaming sheep – making the covered balconies perfect spots to sit and relax with a wine in hand.

One to three bedroom villas are available here, each decked out with a fully kitted-out kitchen, dining area, lounge with gas log fireplace, aircon, and a Weber out on the balcony. The team has even put together an accessible villa for those with disabilities. 

Be sure to stop by Angove Winery's cellar door when travelling through McLaren Vale.

McLaren Vale

Eat: Muni

Located on the high street of Willunga – right by the pub, general store, butcher and baker – this Taiwanese fine diner is unlike any other McLaren Vale restaurant. It is contemporary, internationally influenced and playful in its nature but also works hard to champion local produce – including low-intervention South Australian wines on its exhaustive list. You can only drop by for degustations, so make sure you save time for the three-hour spectacle.

Drink: Angove Family Winemakers

Angove Family Winemakers in McLaren Vale is truly a must-visit destination when road-tripping around the region – thanks to its rich history, stunning vineyard views, first-class dining and commitment to sustainability. 

As a fifth-generation, family-owned winery, the passionate team reliably overdelivers on warm and welcoming hospitality. This friendliness is best experienced when you spend a few hours at the cellar door, which has uninterrupted views across the estate’s rolling vines, and dishes out brilliant food.

Moreover, its certified organic and biodynamic Warboys Vineyard wines showcase some of the region’s best flavours, with the location best suited for crafting vibrant bottles of shiraz and grenache.  When visiting this McLaren Vale winery, you’ll immediately experience the perfect blend of tradition, innovation, and natural beauty. It’s easy to see how it’s a must-visit stop along the road from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island.

Stay: CABN

The CABN team is well-known in South Australia for setting up luxury off-grid stays surrounded by stunning natural vistas. The two McLaren Vale cabins each come with a fully equipped kitchen, woodfired sauna, indoor fireplace, outdoor bathtub and seating, a fire pit and a plush king sized bed. Drop by these stays to connect with nature in total comfort and style. 

Take a dip in your private outdoor bathtub when staying at Sea Dragon Lodge.

Kangaroo Island

Eat: The Enchanted Fig Tree

The Enchanted Fig Tree may sound like a children’s fairytale, but in fact it is one of the best and most unique dining experiences on Kangaroo Island. Seated beneath a giant fig tree, guests will tuck into a hearty three-hour Mediterranean-inspired feast that changes regularly. You will be served snacks, bread and antipasti, small plates, mains, sides, salads and dessert – possibly following it up with a walk across the road to unwind on the beach.

Drink: Springs Road

Location, location, location. The Springs Road winery is set up in the perfect spot. You’ll find its cellar door right at the top of a hill at the end of a long driveway, looking down over Cygnet River. Spend a long afternoon up here on the deck – keeping cool even on the hottest days thanks to the reliable cool sea breeze.

This maritime weather is also perfect for winemaking. It makes for a long, cool ripening season, which results in low-yielding vines that produce highly coloured and intensely flavoured wines.

Be sure to try favourites like the the Springs Road Chardonnay – an elegant fully barrel-fermented style with gentle stone fruit characters and acidity. Alternatively, get onto the reds by sampling its small-production barrel selection ‘Terre Napoleon’ – a maritime, mid-weight interpretation of shiraz with notes of spice, cloves and cherries.  

You can spend a long afternoon sipping and snacking out on Springs Road's cellar door deck and lawns.

Stay: Sea Dragon Kangaroo Island

Sea Dragon Kangaroo Island is set on 250 acres of private coastal bushland – two thirds of which is a heritage protected nature conservancy – and has access to the secluded beach of Pink Bay. Few accommodations on the island can compete with such access to nature – be it the beaches and walking trails or the abundance of wildlife surrounding the rooms.

Talking about the rooms, every guest is also guaranteed uninterrupted sea views from their private balconies (the larger suites even have outdoor bathtubs) as well as all your expected luxury amenities. Two-course dinners (with local wine, beer and sodas) are also included in your room price, plus those looking to really treat themselves can odd on a decadent seafood platter and premium wines.

Guests booked on an Experience package even have a range of tours and activities included as part of their stay. The must-do is the Full Day Nature Tour where guests enjoy a professionally guided tour to Flinders Chase National Park and Seal Bay. Guests may also enjoy gin- and honey-tasting sessions, sundowner drinks with the kangaroos, lighthouse walks and tours, morning yoga and winery transfers.

Southern Ocean Lodge's luxury interiors are only outmatched by its breathtaking views.

Stay: Southern Ocean Lodge

A stay at Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island’s wild south coast offers guests a genuine experience of the destination – thanks to a commitment on behalf of the lodge team, its chefs and designers to engage exclusively with local and South Australian suppliers.

Every guest staying at the all-inclusive lodge will enjoy uninterrupted views over the vast seas, appreciate original works by local artists, dine on daily changing menus showcasing local produce, and enjoy a wide range of local wines from the help-yourself cellar. Wine pairings are also offered for both lunch and diner service in the restaurant.

But it isn’t just about staying at Southern Ocean Lodge itself. It’s a brilliant gateway to some of Kangaroo Island’s most-stunning natural sites – easily explored during the team’s signature guided experiences (included in the room rates). This includes trips to the Remarkable Rocks, the fur seal colony at Admirals Arch and the endangered sea lion colony at Seal Bay. An encounter with the island’s namesake kangaroos and koalas is also guaranteed here.