The Northern Expressway provides direct access to the Barossa from Adelaide. It is a 110km/hr, limited access freeway. From Adelaide take the the Port Wakefield Highway (A1) to the north, then onto the M20 motorway, bypassing the town of Gawler and entering the Barossa at Greenock in the Northwest of the valley. Allowing 60-75 minutes between the airport and Barossa winery tasting rooms is realistic.
Getting to the Barossa from Adelaide or the airport is considerably easier than traveling to Australia's other major wine regions (Hunter Valley from Sydney - about 2-1/2 hours; Yarra Valley from Melbourne - about 1-1/2 hours; or Margaret River from Perth - about 3-1/2 hours).
The scenic driving route to the Barossa is via the Adelaide Hills just East of the city, and then North through the hills enjoying country roads and sleepy towns. Perhaps drive through Inglewood Houghton and Williamstown to arrive in the Valley at Lyndoch. If time permits, the whispering wall, a reservoir wall at Williamstown is worth a visit. Similar to the sound effect in the dome of St Pauls London, but on a far far larger scale, whispered sounds, inaudible a few feet away are miraculously focussed by the wall to be perfectly audible half a kilometre or so away.
Link SA [http://www.linksa.com.au] run coach transfers Gawler and the Barossa four times daily, with two services extending to Adelaide.
Visit wineries. The Barossa Valley is famous for wines and many wines are internationally known. The following list contains some of the larger and commonly recognized wineries.
* Bethany Wines, Tanunda, [http://www.bethany.com.au/]
* Burge Family Winemakers, Lyndoch, [http://www.burgefamily.com.au]
* Chateau Tanunda, Tanunda, [http://www.chateautanunda.com]
* Cockatoo Ridge Wines, Tanunda, [http://www.cockatooridge.com.au]
* Elderton Wines, Nuriootpa, [http://www.eldertonwines.com.au]
* God's Hill Wines, Lyndoch, [http://www.godshillwines.com]
* Grant Burge, Tanunda, [http://www.grantburgewines.com.au]
* Henschke, Keyneton, [http://www.henschke.com.au]
* Jacob's Creek, Rowland Flat, [http://www.jacobscreek.com]
* Kaesler Wines, Nuriootpa, [http://www.kaesler.com.au]
* Kellermeister, Lyndoch, [http://www.kellermeister.com.au]
* Kies Family Wines, Lyndoch, [http://www.kieswines.com.au]
* Penfolds, Nuriootpa, [http://www.penfolds.com]
* Peter Lehmann Wines, Tanunda, [http://www.peterlehmannwines.com]
* Richmond Grove, Tanunda, [http://www.richmondgrovewines.com]
* Rockford Wines, Tanunda, [http://www.rockfordwines.com.au]
* Rolf Binder@Veritas Winery, Tanunda, [http://www.rolfbinder.com]
* Ross Estate, Lyndoch, [http://www.rossestate.com.au]
* Saltram Wines, Angaston, [http://www.saltramwines.com.au]
* Seppelt Wines, Seppeltsfield, [http://www.seppelt.com.au/index.html]
* St Hallett Winery, Tanunda, [http://www.sthallett.com.au]
* Two Hands Wines, Marananga, [http://www.twohandswines.com]
* Wolf Blass, Nuriootpa, [http://wolfblass.com.au]
* Yaldara, Lyndoch, [http://www.yaldara.com.au]
* Yalumba, Angaston, [http://www.yalumba.com]
*
Barossa Vintage Festival. [http://www.barossavintagefestival.com.au] A week long festival showcasing the region's best food and wine. The festival is held at wineries, vineyards, churches and parks. The Festival is held in odd numbered years and always begins on Easter Monday.
Barossa Backpackers, [http://www.barossabackpackers.com.au] Dorm Rooms from $24, Private Rooms from $75, Bike Hire, Group Bookings Available contact +61 8 8563 0198 for booking enquires.
Barossa Junction Resort, Barossa Valley Way, Tanunda, +61 8 8563-3400 Fax: +61 (0)8 8563 3660. [http://www.postcards.sa.com.au/features/barossa_junction_resort.html] Rooms are old converted railway cars, ranging from basic cars through to fairly well furnished suites. $50+
Abbotsford Country House, Yaldara Drive, Lyndoch, +61 8 8524-4662 Fax: +61 8 8524-4186. [http://www.abbotsfordhouse.com]$325.
* Novotel Barossa Valley, Golf Links Rd, Rowland Flat, +61 8 8524-0000 Fax: +61 8 8524-0100. [url=http://www.novotelbarossa.com]]$199+.
* The Louise, Seppeltsfield Road, Marananga, +61 8 8562-2722 Fax: +61 8 8562-3133. [url=http://www.thelouise.com.au[/url]]$381+.
* Jacobs Creek Retreat at Moorooroo Park, Nitschke Road Tanunda, +61 8 8563-1123. [http://www.jacobscreekretreat.com.au[/url] $340+