A TALE OF McLAREN VALE

We set off in the bus for the drive to McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide.

We take the hills route, past Clarendon weir. After rain, this weir looks quite different!

We arrive at beautiful McLaren Vale, famous for its vineyards and wines.

We park the bus in the Hardy Winery grounds behind the hotel, and in front of Dridan Fine Arts. This old winery building is well worth a look for its own sake, and is packed full of interesting paintings and works of art.

There is a variety of other things to do here too, all in close proximity: the Winery itself, the Medlow Chocolate Factory across the road, and the Almond Train – an old railway carriage converted to a gift and novelty shop, just south of the hotel.

We let people go their own way, setting a fixed time to return to the historic McLaren Vale Hotel for a tasty lunch in pleasant surrounds.

Further time for sightseeing can be given after lunch, and then we return to Adelaide, again via the hills, stopping off for a short walk in Kuitpo Forest with its endless rows of pine trees and soft pine needles underfoot..

A lovely day out!