Ashleigh & Luke

Place guide · South Australia

Adelaide, Hahndorf and the Adelaide Hills in a campervan

Adelaide is where our Australian van life really began: our first job after buying Ron, our 2WD Renault Master campervan, was a few months in the Barossa Valley. We've been back to Adelaide a few times since, usually in winter, and we always find it easy to get around. This guide covers Hahndorf and the Adelaide Hills, our day in the city and at Henley Beach, where we parked and camped, and the things other travellers rave about that we haven't done yet, like Mount Lofty, Cleland and Glenelg. Official advice is in its own boxes, with the date we checked it.

Key points

  • Hahndorf is about half an hour from the city and makes an easy day out. It calls itself Australia's oldest surviving German settlement.
  • Parking a van in Hahndorf was easy for us in winter. We got a street spot with 3-hour parking. Some of the free car parks aren't suitable for RVs, and summer is much busier.
  • Camp in the Hills and drive in. We used WikiCamps and found an unpowered site at Belair National Park Holiday Park, about 20 minutes from Hahndorf towards Adelaide.
  • Adelaide city is easy in a van. We parked by the Botanic Garden and walked to the Central Market via Rundle Mall.
  • The Central Market is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Go hungry.
  • You can't sleep in your van on Adelaide's city streets. Use a caravan park or a campground.
  • The Barossa is about an hour away. We worked there for a few months. Tanunda, Gawler and Lyndoch were our favourite towns, and Chalk's campground in Mount Crawford Forest is one of our favourite camps. Rocky Paddock, our other favourite, is closed for the rest of the 2026 season.
  • It's the last big city before the Stuart Highway. Stock up before you head north.

A 4-day Adelaide campervan itinerary

We've done Adelaide in bits over several visits, so this pulls together what we did (days 1 and 3) with the most popular things we haven't done yet (days 2 and 4). It works from one campsite in the Hills or one on the coast.

  1. Day 1: Hahndorf. Beerenberg, the main street, the cuckoo clock shop, lunch at the Hahndorf Inn and the artisan market. Camp at Belair or nearby.
  2. Day 2: Mount Lofty and Cleland (popular with other travellers). The summit lookout, a walk and the wildlife park.
  3. Day 3: the city. The Botanic Garden, Rundle Mall, the Central Market and the Adelaide Arcade, then cake at Henley Beach.
  4. Day 4: Glenelg or the Barossa (popular with other travellers). The beach and the tram, or a day of cellar doors with a designated driver.

With an extra day, you could drive south to Urimbirra Wildlife Park near Victor Harbor, where we took Ashleigh's dad to see kangaroos (more below). If you have longer, Adelaide is a natural start or end point for the Great Ocean Road or the drive north to Darwin.

Hahndorf in a day

Hahndorf might be the most unexpected town we've come across in Australia. We visited in winter, when the trees were bare, it was raining on and off and the town was much quieter than we imagine it is in summer (see it in our video).

  1. Beerenberg Farm. Our first stop. It's known for its jams, chutneys and sauces. We bought some jams and had our first coffee of the day and a scone (see it in our video).
  2. The cuckoo clock shop. Hand-carved clocks made in Germany, all set to different times, plus Christmas decorations that reminded us of the German Christmas markets back in England (see it in our video).
  3. The Hahndorf Inn. When the rain started we went in for log fires, a German beer and a ginger beer, and a pretzel the barmaid recommended: salty and bready. They have a metre-sausage challenge with a wall of fame, and a wall of polaroids of visiting dogs (see it in our video).
  4. The artisan market. A collective of stalls with locally made South Australian products (see it in our video).
  • Some places close in winter, so check before you go if there's somewhere you really want to visit.
  • Parking. We got parked on the street easily, with 3-hour parking. We also saw overflow car parks, which we think get used in summer (see it in our video).
  • The roads. The Hills roads are winding, a bit like Tasmania, so take your time in a big van.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). Hahndorf was founded in 1839 by Prussian Lutheran migrants and is a State Heritage Area. It's about 25 to 30 minutes' drive from Adelaide, and the visitor information centre is at 68 Mount Barker Road (Visit Adelaide Hills: Hahndorf, South Australian Tourism Commission: Hahndorf, Department for Environment and Water: Hahndorf State Heritage Area). The local community's car park page notes that some of the free car parks aren't suitable for RVs (Hahndorf community: car parks).
Hahndorf in our van. Beerenberg, the cuckoo clock shop, the Hahndorf Inn and kangaroos at Belair. Watch on YouTube

More of the Adelaide Hills: Mount Lofty and Cleland

At our campsite at Belair, we went for a walk and ended up sitting on a bench surrounded by kangaroos, with colourful birds all around. You forget how close you are to the city (see it in our video). Then the rain came back, so it was pizza in the van.

Popular with other travellers: Mount Lofty Summit. The highest point in the Mount Lofty Ranges, with views over Adelaide to the coast, a café and a visitor information outlet. Entry is free, but parking fees apply. Popular walks go up from Waterfall Gully, or along a trail to Cleland Wildlife Park. The summit car park is open from 6am, until 11pm in the warmer months and 9pm in the cooler months. In a 2WD: yes, it's on sealed roads about 15 km east of the city. See National Parks SA: Mount Lofty Summit (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Cleland Wildlife Park. A short drive below Mount Lofty, where most animals live in natural habitat rather than enclosures. You can hand-feed some animals, and there are keeper talks and koala experiences, with a new Koala Loft. Fees apply, and there's free car parking. In a 2WD: yes, sealed roads. See Cleland Wildlife Park (checked 4 November 2026).
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). National Parks SA says Belair National Park charges vehicle entry fees, and the holiday park is next to the park (National Parks SA: Belair National Park). Parks in the Hills can close on days of Catastrophic fire danger, so check before you go (National Parks SA: Mount Lofty Summit).

Adelaide city: the Botanic Garden and Central Market

We've been to Adelaide a few times, usually in winter, and it always feels relaxed, easy to get around and cosy (see it in our video).

  1. The Botanic Garden. One of our favourite parts of Adelaide. We parked outside Friends Gate, near Adelaide Zoo, and wandered from there. The whole city centre is surrounded by parkland (see it in our video).
  2. Rundle Mall. We walked through the pedestrian mall to get to the market (see it in our video).
  3. The Adelaide Central Market. Our first time, on a Thursday afternoon. A sign calls it Australia's number one food market, and it's laid out in avenues with stalls serving both sides. We had pizza, then took away an orange and almond cake and a vanilla slice. Some stalls were starting to close when we got there, so go earlier than we did (see it in our video).
  4. The Adelaide Arcade. A historic shopping arcade off Rundle Mall, on our way back (see it in our video).
  • Check the parking limit. Our spot by the Botanic Garden gave us 4 hours.
  • The market has a car park upstairs. We didn't use it: we parked by the Botanic Garden and walked.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). The Adelaide Central Market is closed on Sundays and Mondays and open late on Fridays. Check its trading hours before you go (Adelaide Central Market: visit).
Adelaide city and Henley Beach. The Botanic Garden, the Central Market, Rundle Mall and the Adelaide Arcade, then cake by the sea at Henley Beach. Watch on YouTube

The coast: Henley Beach and Glenelg

We couldn't come to Adelaide without going to Henley Beach, about 20 minutes' drive from the city. It was too windy for a walk along the pier, so we parked on the seafront and ate our market cakes in the van. It was our last look at the sea before we drove north to the Northern Territory (see it in our video).

Popular with other travellers: Henley Square, the jetty and the sunset. Henley Square sits right behind the Henley Beach jetty, on Seaview Road. It has lawns, seating, a water feature, toilets and shade, with cafés, restaurants and shops around it. The beach faces west, and the local business association says that if you eat beachside in the evening, your meal will probably come with a sunset. A coastal path runs to West Beach and Grange. In a 2WD: yes. The two council car parks just north and south of the square are free for 3 hours, and there's more parking along the Esplanade. Check the signs for time limits and residential permit zones. See City of Charles Sturt: Henley Square, South Australian Tourism Commission: Henley Square and Jetty and Henley Beach Business Association (checked 4 November 2026).
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). The City of Charles Sturt, which covers Henley Beach, says camping or sleeping overnight on its roads, public car parks or reserves isn't allowed, and that includes sleeping in your vehicle. You may get a fine. The nearest holiday park the council suggests is West Beach Parks (City of Charles Sturt: parking).
Popular with other travellers: Glenelg and the tram. Glenelg is Adelaide's best-known beach suburb, with Moseley Square, the jetty and the beach at the end of the tram line from the city. Adelaide Metro says the tram is free in the city and in Glenelg, between Brighton Road and Moseley Square, but you need a ticket in between. In a 2WD: yes, and taking the tram saves you finding beachside parking for a big van. See Adelaide Metro: free and special transport (checked 4 November 2026).

A day trip south: Urimbirra, McLaren Vale and Victor Harbor

This one isn't in the Hills. It's on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide, near Victor Harbor. When Ashleigh's dad Paul was travelling with us, we took him to Urimbirra Wildlife Park, where we were guaranteed to see kangaroos, because after two and a half weeks in Australia he still hadn't seen a live one. It was his first proper kangaroo encounter of the trip. We fed them, and the big ones were a bit scary (see it in our video).

Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). Urimbirra Wildlife Park is at 10 Welch Road, Victor Harbor, about 5 km from Victor Harbor on the main road from Adelaide. The park says it's just over an hour's drive from the Adelaide CBD. Fees apply, so check its website before you go (Urimbirra Wildlife Park: location).
Popular with other travellers: McLaren Vale. The state tourism commission describes McLaren Vale, about 45 minutes' drive south of Adelaide, as one of Australia's oldest wine regions, with more than 90 cellar doors. You can cycle the 9 km Shiraz Trail past the wineries. In a 2WD: yes, and it's on the way to Victor Harbor. Plan a designated driver or a tour if you're tasting. See South Australian Tourism Commission: McLaren Vale (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Victor Harbor and Granite Island. Victor Harbor is a seaside town about an hour from Adelaide. Whales, dolphins and seals visit the bay, and the horse-drawn tram crosses the causeway to Granite Island. In a 2WD: yes. See South Australian Tourism Commission: Victor Harbor (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Kangaroo Island. Other travellers often add Kangaroo Island. You drive about an hour and a half from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, then take the ferry to Penneshaw, and the tourism commission suggests at least 2 to 3 nights. Seal Bay, Flinders Chase, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch are its best-known sights. Fees apply for the ferry, so book early in peak periods. In a 2WD: the tourism commission's self-drive trail says the major roads between Penneshaw, American River, Kingscote, Parndana and Flinders Chase are sealed, and the rest are unsealed and need a lower speed. See South Australian Tourism Commission: Kangaroo Island and South Australian Tourism Commission: Nature, sea and vines self-drive trail (PDF) (checked 4 November 2026).
Mount Gambier with Paul. Sinkholes and the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier, then kangaroos for Paul at Urimbirra Wildlife Park. Watch on YouTube

Barossa Valley wineries and towns

When we first arrived in Australia, we got a job in the Barossa renovating a motel, and we worked there for a few months through a cold winter (see it in our video). We didn't film anything there at the time, and when we came back through the Adelaide Hills we skipped the wineries because, as we said then, we'd kind of been there already (see it in our video). So this section is our favourite towns, plus the cellar doors other travellers rave about.

Our favourite Barossa towns

  • Gawler and Tanunda are two lovely towns. In Tanunda, we stayed at Discovery Parks Barossa Valley while we visited the local chocolate factory, the small-town shops and the pub.
  • Lyndoch Hill (now The Lyndoch Motel) is the motel we worked at while it was being renovated. The restaurant there, now called Edo Cucina, does an excellent pizza, so it's worth a trip.
  • Lyndoch is a small town with an excellent bakery, Sunrise, on the edge of town near the supermarket, which we used to go to often, and a charming local pub.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). In a 2WD: all of these towns are on sealed main roads. Lyndoch, Tanunda and Gawler sit on or just off Barossa Valley Way.

Barossa cellar doors and lookouts

Popular with other travellers: the best-known Barossa cellar doors.
  • Seppeltsfield, established in 1851, is just under an hour from Adelaide and opens from 10am daily. Its Centennial Cellar holds the 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny (Seppeltsfield: visitor information).
  • Yalumba, in Angaston, has a story that begins in 1847 and its own on-site cooperage. It's open most days, and it recommends booking (Yalumba: visit us).
  • Château Tanunda, at 9 Basedow Road, Tanunda, is a bluestone winery established in 1890, on the site of the valley's first winery and vineyards (Château Tanunda).
  • The Jacob's Creek Visitor Centre, at 2129 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat, is open 7 days (Jacob's Creek: contact).
  • Maggie Beer's Farm Shop, at 50 Pheasant Farm Road, Nuriootpa, is open 7 days. You don't need to book for the Farm Shop, but you do for the Eatery (Maggie Beer's Farm Shop: visit).
  • Penfolds' Barossa Valley cellar door has closed. Penfolds now points visitors to Magill Estate in Adelaide's eastern suburbs (Penfolds: Barossa Valley cellar door).
In a 2WD: the main roads between the towns are sealed. We couldn't find van-parking details on the cellar doors' own pages, so if your van is long, call ahead. The Barossa Visitor Centre in Tanunda lists RV parking (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Mengler's Hill Lookout and the Barossa Sculpture Park. At 127 Menglers Hill Road, Bethany, 17 sculptures sit beside a lookout over the valley, with views to the sea. In a 2WD: the official page lists a car park. It's a hill road, so take it steadily in a big van. See Barossa: Barossa Sculpture Park (Mengler Hill) (checked 4 November 2026).
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). If you're tasting, don't drive. The Barossa's official visitor site says hosted tours and transfers (many with pick-up from your accommodation) are the easiest way to visit cellar doors. Cycling trails link Gawler, Lyndoch, Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Angaston, and there's bike hire in Gawler, Tanunda and Nuriootpa. Local taxis run until 5pm daily, and you should book transport ahead on weekends, holidays and festival days (Barossa: getting around). The Barossa Visitor Centre can help you plan cellar doors (Barossa Visitor Centre).

The Adelaide Hills is a wine region in its own right, too (Visit Adelaide Hills: Hahndorf).

Parking a campervan in Adelaide and Hahndorf

WhereIn a 2WD?What we found, or what the official page says
Hahndorf main streetYesWe got a street spot with 3-hour parking easily in winter. Some free car parks aren't suitable for RVs.
Botanic Garden, Friends GateYesWhere we parked for the city. We had 4 hours.
Henley Beach seafrontYesWe parked on the front on a windy winter day.
Mount Lofty SummitYesParking fees apply, according to National Parks SA. We haven't been.
Cleland Wildlife ParkYesFree car parking, according to the park.
GlenelgYesWe haven't been. Taking the tram from the city avoids beach parking.
  • Always read the signs. Time limits and height restrictions change street by street.
  • Reverse into a normal space if there's room behind, which is how Ron usually fits.

Where to camp

We found our campsite on WikiCamps: an unpowered site at Belair National Park Holiday Park, about 20 minutes from Hahndorf towards Adelaide (see it in our video). We walked straight from the van to a bench surrounded by kangaroos.

Popular with other travellers: a park in Hahndorf itself. Discovery Parks Adelaide Hills is in Hahndorf, so you can walk to the main street. In a 2WD: yes. See Discovery Parks: Adelaide Hills (Hahndorf) (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: a beachside park. West Beach Parks has about 1.2 km of beachfront, about 9 km from the city centre, with powered sites for vehicles up to 7.3 m. In a 2WD: yes, and it's near Glenelg. See West Beach Parks: the holiday park (checked 4 November 2026).
Our favourite: Rocky Paddock and Chalk's, Mount Crawford Forest. One of our favourite camps, and where we used to escape to the wild while working in the Barossa, is Rocky Paddock in Mount Crawford Forest. Chalk's campground nearby is equally impressive.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). Rocky Paddock is closed for the rest of the 2026 camping season. ForestrySA is doing urgent safety works on pines that are more than 95 years old, after recent tree failures, followed by a full redevelopment of the site. The nearby Sailors Gully picnic area and Tower Road are closed too. ForestrySA says the closure isn't permanent, but it hasn't given a reopening date (ForestrySA: Rocky Paddock Campground, ForestrySA: Rocky Paddock closure FAQ).

Chalk's Campground is open. You book online before you arrive (bookings close 48 hours ahead) and fees apply. Camping is allowed only from 1 April to 30 November, and stays are limited to 7 consecutive days. It has 35 unpowered sites with fire pits, a bush hut, hybrid toilets with disability access, picnic tables, a shelter and rainwater that isn't suitable for drinking. Mobile reception can be poor, so screenshot your permit (ForestrySA: Chalk's Campground, ForestrySA: camping terms and conditions).

Fire: the forest closes to the public on declared Total Fire Ban days. Fire is prohibited on ForestrySA land from 1 November to 30 April, and wood fires are allowed from 1 May to 31 October. (ForestrySA: Chalk's Campground, ForestrySA: Mount Crawford Forest).

In a 2WD: Ron, our 2WD Renault Master, got there just fine. It's a short unsealed road off the bitumen, and we had no issues with access. Chalk's is a short drive from the Mount Crawford Forest Information Centre on Warren Road, near Williamstown. A 2022 review of Rocky Paddock also describes a smooth 2WD dirt track a few hundred metres from the sealed road (caravancampingsales.com.au: Is this Australia's best campground? (17 May 2022)). Vehicles must stay on designated tracks, so take the gravel slowly and avoid the forest roads after heavy rain. Choose a site that's listed as suiting vehicle-based camping or a caravan, and pick a hard-ground one if rain is forecast, as some sites are soft in the wet (ForestrySA: Chalk's Campground).

In Tanunda, we stayed at Discovery Parks Barossa Valley.

Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). Discovery Parks Barossa Valley is at 1F Murray Street, Tanunda, a few minutes from the town centre. It has shady powered sites, a camp kitchen, a dump point, laundry, a pool and a kiosk. Campfires aren't allowed there from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. In a 2WD: yes, it's on the edge of town on sealed roads (Discovery Parks: Barossa Valley (Tanunda)).
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). The City of Adelaide's Roads By-law doesn't allow you to camp or stay overnight in a vehicle on a road, campervans included, without the council's permission. Plan to stay in a caravan park or campground (City of Adelaide: by-laws).

For how we find places to stay, see our van life apps guide and free camping etiquette guide.

Heading north or east

  • North: Adelaide was our big stock-up before the Stuart Highway. Our Adelaide to Darwin guide covers the whole drive, and our Coober Pedy guide covers the first big stop.
  • East: with Paul, we drove from Mount Gambier to Adelaide for a last-minute concert. Our Great Ocean Road guide covers Mount Gambier and the coast to Melbourne.

FAQs

How far is Hahndorf from Adelaide?

About 25 to 30 minutes' drive. We camped at Belair National Park Holiday Park, about 20 minutes from Hahndorf towards Adelaide.

Can you park a campervan in Hahndorf?

We found street parking easily in winter, with a 3-hour limit. Some of the free car parks aren't suitable for RVs, and summer is much busier, so arrive early.

What is there to do in Hahndorf?

We went to Beerenberg Farm for jams and a scone, the cuckoo clock shop, the Hahndorf Inn for a German beer and a pretzel, and a market of local South Australian products.

Where can you camp near Adelaide in a campervan?

We stayed on an unpowered site at Belair National Park Holiday Park. Other travellers use parks in Hahndorf and by the beach at West Beach. You can't sleep in your van on city streets.

Where can you see kangaroos near Adelaide?

We saw them around our campsite at Belair National Park, and we took Ashleigh's dad to feed them at Urimbirra Wildlife Park, near Victor Harbor, just over an hour south of Adelaide. Other travellers often go to Cleland Wildlife Park, below Mount Lofty.

When is the Adelaide Central Market open?

It's closed on Sundays and Mondays and open late on Fridays. We went on a Thursday afternoon, when some stalls were already closing, so go earlier in the day.

How many days do you need in Adelaide in a campervan?

Three or four days covers Hahndorf, Mount Lofty and Cleland, the city and Central Market, and the beach or the Barossa.

Is the Barossa worth visiting from Adelaide?

We worked there for a few months, and Gawler, Tanunda and Lyndoch are lovely towns. It's about an hour's drive from Adelaide on sealed roads. Other travellers rave about Seppeltsfield, Yalumba, Château Tanunda, Jacob's Creek, Maggie Beer's Farm Shop and Mengler's Hill Lookout. Penfolds' Barossa cellar door has closed. Plan a designated driver or a tour for the cellar doors.

Can you camp at Rocky Paddock in Mount Crawford Forest?

Not in 2026. It's one of our favourite camps, but ForestrySA has closed it for the rest of the 2026 season for tree safety works and redevelopment. Chalk's Campground nearby is open from 1 April to 30 November. You book online before you arrive, and fees apply.

Can you park a campervan at Henley Beach?

We parked on the seafront. The two council car parks beside Henley Square are free for 3 hours, but you can't sleep in your vehicle on Charles Sturt council roads, car parks or reserves.

Is the Glenelg tram free?

Adelaide Metro says the tram is free in the city and within Glenelg, between Brighton Road and Moseley Square, but you need a ticket for the section in between.

Sources

Our own experience comes from our winter visits to Adelaide, the few months we worked in the Barossa, and the videos linked above. Official and other travellers' information was checked on 4 November 2026. Opening hours and parking rules change, so check before you go.

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