The Best Lodges of South Australia Begin in the luxurious EOS by Sky City in Adelaide and relax in their central city retreat, then head to luxury in the Barossa at The Louise (fresh from a multi-million glam-over), followed by stunning Sequoia Lodge in Adelaide Hills with the #1 rated 5-star hotel in Australia and the best fine dining experience in South Australia. Optionally you can add on The Frames luxury retreats in Riverland on the Margaret river.
Hire car Hertz – Audi Q2 or similar
– including unlimited kms
2 nights EOS by Sky City Oasis Room
A new realm of luxury. Always personalised, Eos by SkyCity encompasses the finest in modern hospitality. From signature restaurants and entertainment to opulent suites and spa experiences.
South Australian Tourism Awards 2022 – Best 5-Star Luxury Hotel
2 nights The Louise
In a Stonewell Suite.
The Louise evokes the generously spacious, relaxed luxury of Southern Europe, where villa-style suites open on to sun-dappled private courtyards and look out to vineyards criss-crossing the country landscape.
Gourmet breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and canapés
Dinner for two in Appellation restaurant daily
$100 Cellarmasters credit
Complimentary selected in-suite Mini-bar
Breakfast with kangaroos one morning
2 nights Sequoia Lodge, North Adelaide
Sequoia is a luxurious lodge offering unparalleled experiences and only accommodates guests over the age of 18 years.
A short drive from the city, the Adelaide Hills offer beautiful scenery, charming towns, and a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling and wine tasting.
SA LIFE 2022 winner Absolute Best luxury experience in South Australia
South Australian Tourist Authority 2022 winner – Best new tourism business
Winner HM 2021 – Australian lodge
Daily a la carte breakfast overlooking the stunning Piccadilly Valley
A chilled bottle of Mount Lofty Summit sparkling wine to enjoy in-suite
Welcome drink upon arrival at Sequoia Lodge
Curated selection of minibar items to enjoy during your stay
Sequoia complimentary on-site experiences and activities
Seven-course degustation with matching wines on one night of your stay
Hills and Vale Private Charter wineries and foodie tour
$200 dining credit to enjoy dinner at leisure
OPTIONAL ADD ON:
2 nights The Frames Luxury Retreat
If you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a luxury escape to experience the Australian outback, The Frames is the perfect place. Beautifully designed for couples and built for discerning travellers, this is award-winning, 6-star luxury accommodation, set on the peaceful banks of the Murray River.
Gourmet breakfast provisions for your stay
Supreme BBQ pack option
Personal in-retreat 3 course gourmet meal one night prepared and cooked by a private chef (valued at $550)
Wetland & Wildlife Safari (valued at $900)
Sunset Gondola Cruise (valued at $550)
Complimentary mini-bar of local beverages
Complimentary bottle of The Frames Signature Shiraz upon arrival
Complimentary In-retreat Coffee from Arrosto
In retreat complimentary condiments (including their famous chocolate covered dry orange slices!)
Free use of eBikes
LUXURY MELBOURNE CUP 2023 PACKAGE: Flights included, then relax in our 5-star luxury Melbourne hotel, enjoy club level benefits including evening drinks and canapes, shop up a storm in Australias biggest and most luxurious mall, enjoy Yarra Valley wineries and lunch, mingle at our included dinner, THEN head off to Australasia’s premier fashion and sporting event – the Melbourne Cup 2023. Luxe Melbourne cup 2023 package here.
LUXURY MELBOURNE STAY AND GOLF PACKAGE: Combine a luxe Melbourne Hotel, Wineries, Gin and a country cottage stay inclusive of golf at a Greg Norman course. Luxe Melbourne City and Country Golf package here.
LUXE 5 STAR MELBOURNE AND HAYMAN ISLAND PACKAGE: Delight in our Club Level 5-star Melbourne hotel with many inclusions in your exclusive area including afternoon drinks, partake of some Yarra wineries with lunch, then head to Whitsundays Hayman Island to soak up the sun and relax in paradise with our free resort credit and sparkling wine on arrival! 5-star Melbourne and Hayman island package itinerary here.
HANDPICKED LUXURY TASMANIA FOODIE AND WINE PACKAGE: Sensational Tasmania (I was there in November) has so much to offer from fine hotels and stunning scenery to outstanding cuisine and winery experiences, why not add golf too? Tasmania Food and Wine Explorer package details here
ADELAIDE, BAROSSA AND OUTBACK SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SPECTACULAR: This offers all of the best of South Australia (I was there late 2021) featuring the multi-awarded Sky City EOS, a boutique Barossa Wineries cottage escape and Outback experience too. South Australia Luxury City, Country and Outback Escape package here
SYDNEY AND HUNTER VALLEY WINERIES BOUTIQUE ESCAPE: Enjoy the charm of our hand-picked Sydney hotel inclusive à la carte breakfast and evening cocktail and canapés, then head to the delights of the Hunter Valley to relax and partake of our Ultimate Hunter Valley Wine Experience. Boutique Sydney and Hunter Valley winery package details here.
SYDNEY, SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS AND CANBERRA WINE & FOODIE DELUXE TOUR : Take in all Sydney has to offer then head off to Canberra via the Southern Highlands on this boutique accommodation exclusive private adventure for 2 ( or more) with many inclusions! Sydney to Canberra and South Highlands Wine and Foodie tour here.
What is on in Adelaide?
Adelaide Fringe 17th February to 19 March 2023. Australia’s biggest arts festival! For 31 magical summer days and nights, Fringe transforms Adelaide and greater South Australia. The festival stretches from up in Whyalla all the way down to Mount Gambier, with eclectic and vibrant events that include cabaret, theatre, comedy, circus, music, visual arts, workshops and so much more. Full details here.
WOMADelaide 10 March – 13 March 2023. 600+ Artists from 30+ countries, 7 stages, 4 days… – World Of Music Arts & Dance – is an iconic open-air festival celebrating cultural discovery in the heart of Adelaide’s stunning Botanic Park. Full details here.
Tasting Australia 2023 28th April to 78 May is a celebration of eating and drinking. It is a showcase of all things South Australian: produce, people, and place. Each year they invite audiences to step beyond a standard food festival and discover deliciously different experiences that feed their curiosity. Whether you crave long lunches with friends feasting on sumptuous produce, award-winning beverages served fireside at Town Square or menus created by world-class chefs – it’s all there! Details here.
Illuminate Adelaide: A celebration of art, light, music and technology Australia’s newest major winter event is a beacon, an invitation, a city-wide spectacle of art, light, sound, and imagination, daring you to shake off the winter blues and rekindle a sense of wonder. Shining a light on South Australia from 28 June – 30 July 2023, details here.
The 75th annual Barossa Vintage Festival runs over four fun days April 19-23, 2023, with more than 70 stallholders expected at the event. The theme for the 2023 festival is ‘OLD ROOTS, NEW WAYS’. This honours the event’s significant history while looking to the future with enthusiasm. Barossa Vintage Festival 2023 details here.
Barossa Valley Seasons: Summer days are long and sunny, with warm to hot daytime temperatures and slightly cooler evenings. The landscape is lined with green vineyards laden with ripening grapes, orchards are heavy with stone fruit and the patchwork of farmlands turns a light gold. The wine harvest begins late in the season.
Daytime temperatures range from 26-29°C in summer.
Autumn days are easy in the Barossa, with mild days and cooler evenings. The grape harvest continues and orchards yield crops of apples, pears, quinces and figs, and mushrooms spring up in forests making rewarding foraging. The annual Tanunda Agricultural Show is a season highlight for locals and visitors.
Daytime temperatures range from 17-26°C in autumn.
Winter is chilly in the Barossa, making it a perfect time to relax by a crackling open fire with a glass of the region’s signature shiraz. The landscape is wintry, with vines pruned and the many deciduous trees bare. It’s a wonderful season for brisk walks, wine tasting and long, decadent dining.
Daytime temperatures range from 12-16°C in winter.
Spring in the Barossa is fine, with warmer days signalling buds to burst on the vineyards, bright green leaves to spread along the wines and fruit trees to blossom in pinks, whites and reds. It’s a season to enjoy outdoor activities alongside wine tasting and long, al fresco lunches.
Daytime temperatures range from 17-24°C in spring.
Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is a vibrant and culturally rich destination with a huge variety of local travel options for you to explore. Here are a few suggestions for things to do and see in Adelaide:
Wine has been a way of life in Barossa Valley since 1842. Fast forward to today, and Barossa is home to more than 550 grape growing families, many with the sixth generation still working the same plot of land, supplying quality grapes to more than 170 wine companies.
The best Barossan wines sit comfortably alongside the great wines of the world. Barossa Shiraz and Eden Valley Riesling have led the way as regional heroes, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro, Grenache, Semillon and Fortified wines all contributing to Barossa’s standing as Australia’s global wine region.
Barossa incorporates both the Barossa Valley and Eden Valleys, making it one of the only wine regions in Australia to have neighbouring warm and cool climate growing conditions. With such a diversity of growing conditions and soil types across both valleys, and vineyards that have been tended by hand for many generations, you are bound to find a wine to call your own.
Hot air balloons are often seen gracefully gliding over the vineyards in the early morning light in the Barossa, making an unforgettable start to the day. The scenic flight takes in spectacular views over the Barossa Ranges that stretch across the landscape to capture glimpses of the sparkling ocean in the distance. Sparkling wine optional (or essential!).
Gin Tasting…The spirit of the Barossa and South Australia! Just up the road from The Louise, the Seppeltsfield Road Distillers have created a great range of small batch spirits, flavoured with local botanicals. The distillery is a must-visit for gin lovers, with tastings and grazing platters available for a light bite.
Cooking Classes Famous for its owner Maggie Beer, The Farm Eatery comprises a restaurant that showcases fresh local produce and a shop that features Maggie Beer’s extensive range of gourmet treats. An Experiences Centre is set up especially for cooking classes, run by Chef Tim Bourke, formerly chef at sister South Australian property Southern Ocean Lodge.
Enquire about one of the holidays featured on our site or tell us where you’re keen to go for a customised experience.
Bryce will call to chat about your holiday goals, then create a fully customisable itinerary tailored to your budget.
Everything’s taken care of for you, so all you have to do now is make sure your passport is up to date, and enjoy your trip away.
Need more info or want to have a chat so we can fine-tune things to your requirements? Let’s explore – I’d love to hear from you!
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