Cudlee Creek - Gorge Wildlife Park

30 kilometres from  Adelaide on the beautiful Gorge Road, lies Cudlee Creek - home to the Gorge Wildlife Park.

This family owned wildlife park covers 14 acres of meandering Adelaide Hills landscape in a natural bush setting.  You can really get up close and personal with the wildlife.  The kangaroos and wallabies have a large sprawling area which visitors can walk through allowing you to handfeed them.  This is pretty much open range so visitors are able to get eye to eye with many of the kangaroos - fantastic for overseas visitors!  With many rare albino species this is a truly unique experience.

Koala holding sessions are conducted three times daily.  Visitors can hold, cuddle and be photographed with the koalas at no charge.  Kids will delight in this experience and overseas visitors will be thrilled at the opportunity to get so close to our natural fauna.  In addition, the park hold "unleashed" sessions on the last Sunday of each month, presenting a variety of animals, birds and reptiles for handling by adoring visitors.  This may mean an opportunity to pat a dingo, hold a snake or meet one of the native cockatoos.

It's not all Australian native animals either.  There are also many exotic species such as monkeys, alligators and ostriches.  There is also a fantastic "kid's zoo" for the little ones, featuring goats, pigs, sheep and a variety of poultry.

The park is a particularly good place to visit on a weekday when crowd numbers are down and there is greater opportunity to interact with the animals - you'll often have the park to yourself.  Admission is well priced, and certainly much lower than the Adelaide Zoo or Cleland Conservation Park - the interactivity with the animals and general ambience of the park is also of a better quality.

This is not your average wildlife park - the open setting allows visitors and animals to truly get together.  There is an on-site cafe, but there are also plenty of places to sit and eat if you prefer to BYO as well as a sheltered barbecue area.  There's also the fantastic Cudlee Creek Tavern nearby and The Cudlee Cafe just a little further down the road on the way to Lobethal.

A great place, whether you're an Adelaide local, or interstate or overseas visitor.  Bring your walking shoes and your camera, and prepare for a fantastic day.  For more information you'll find the Gorge Wildlife Park website here:
Gorge Wildlife Park website

Birdwood

So, the weather is a bit drab for the last day of summer.  That doesn't mean you should cross the Adelaide Hills off your agenda for the day.  There's still plenty to do without getting your feet wet!

Birdwood is 40km's northeast of Adelaide (just follow North East Rd out of the city, through Tea Tree Gully and up through Chain of Ponds).  Formerly known as Blumberg, the name of the town was anglicised in 1917 due to anti-German sentiment as a result of World War 1.  Unlike other towns such as Lobethal and Hahndorf which reverted to their original Germanic names at the end of hostilities, the name Birdwood remained.

Birdwood is home to the National Motor Museum, housed in the old Birdwood Mill.  Here you will find the nations most comprehensive collection of motoring history in Australia.  Ranging from permanent displays of cars, trucks and motrbikes, to various interactive displays and exhibitions.

Opening in 1965 the centre is not only a museum but a place of preservation and an important education tool for the young. The Holden Pavilion of Australian Motoring offers 3700 square metres of some of Australia’s most important motoring icons including a 45 metre long road train as well as some very impressive fire engines and commercial vehicles.

The museum hosts the famous Bay to Birdwood run every year (in October - for all vintage vehicles), as well as the Rock N Roll rendezvous in April (for 1950 onward vehicles).

The museum is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.

While in Birdwood check out the Top of the Torrens Gallery, which promotes and displays the work, in mixed mediums, of Adelaide Hills artists.  The Gallery Shop offers an extensive range of well made individually hand crafted items suitable for gifts and souvenirs.  The Gallery has regular exhibitions throughout the year covering a diverse range of works, both in two and three dimensions.

You'll also find some greeat cafes and eateries in the Birdwood main street so you won't go hungry!

Getting here: Adelaide to Birdwood map

Lobethal Bierhaus

The Adelaide Hills are renowned for their wines, but not all of us are partial to a drop of vino.  Many people prefer a good amber liquid, and the Lobethal Bierhaus produce some of the finest beers to come out of South Australia.

The Lobethal Bierhaus is located on the Lobethal Main Street, on the site of the former Onkaparinga Woollen Mills.  Boasting a small all-grain micro brewery (12 Hecto-Litre Brew Length) with accompanying cellar door tasting facilities, off-license bottle sales and a restaurant with matching beer themed foods built around unique local produce.

Lobethal Bierhaus produce true hand crafted character beers in a variety of styles. Currently on tap are German Wheat Beer, an American style Pale Ale, an India Pale Ale, a Porter and my personal favourite Devil’s Choice (a Belgian style strong golden ale; 10% alcohol, fruity in character, gentle on the hops, with a smooth creamy finish).

A visit to the Lobethal Bierhaus includes an introduction to the considerable history of brewing in the local area, which dates back to the 1850’s.  In fact, the former Onkaparinga Woollen Mills was built on the site of the original Kleinschmidt brewery.  The proprietors have a passion for sharing both their love for brewing and the equipment / techniques used, whilst also providing an opportunity to taste great beer in a friendly environment.

You can buy the beers by the schooner or pint.  Not sure what to try?  Why not try a tasting paddle?  $12 gets you a wooden paddle of six beers in order of depth of flavour, from the Bohemian Philsner through to the Chocolate Oatmeal Stout.  All beers are available for purchase to take home, ranging from 6 packs through to the 2 litre Growler bottles.

If beer isn’t your thing, don’t worry – the menu is fantastic, and they also stock a comprehensive range of wines, soft drinks and other beverages.  You won’t find big brand soft drinks here – all products are locally sourced.

The menu is great – for a light meal you can’t go past the best Buffalo Wings you’ll ever taste, crunchy chips (plain or with Cajun spices) or the bruschetta.  The brewer’s plate or local cheese plate is also well worth a try.  For a more substantial lunch or dinner try the Coorong Angus Tenderloin (served with semolina leek gnocchi, roasted root vegetables and wholegrain mustard jus), or the Berkshire Pork Belly (Berkshire Pork Belly – herb and garlic stuffed, served with roasted dutch cream potatoes, dill pickles, capers and cherry tomatoes).

There’s a lovely inside dining area, with tables and chairs or leather couches for wasting away a lazy Sunday afternoon (in front of the roaring fire in winter is the perfect place to spend a dreary winters day).  Out the front is an outdoor dining area, perfect for a lazy summers day in the fresh Adelaide Hills air!

The Lobethal Bierhaus is open Friday – Sunday and well worth a visit.  Check out their website here:

Lobethal Bierhaus website

Lobethal

A place I know well - my hometown and workplace.  So much to see and do you'll need more than a day and I'll need to bring you my Lobethal series in several parts.

Lobethal is the kind of place where people still smile and say hello when they pass you in the street.  Lobethal is a small community of around 2000 people located approximately 35km from Adelaide in the picturesque Adelaide Hills. The town is known internationally for its annual Christmas Lights Festival.. However, Lobethal has much more to offer than Christmas Lights and is a worthy addition to any trip to the Adelaide Hills.  It may seem that all roads lead to Lobethal with various possible routes – my favourite being Gorge Road via Cudlee Creek.  Travelling to Lobethal along rambling country roads winding through vineyards and orchards you leave the stress of city life behind.  The air here is crisp and clean. The township of Lobethal is situated within a valley which enhances its village feel.

Both in and nearby Lobethal you will find heritage buildings, wine tasting, boutique beers, fantastic foods and fresh seasonal produce such as apples, pears, strawberries and cherries.

In my next blog, I'll take you to the Lobethal Bierhaus - the best micro-brewery and restaurant in South Australia!

You know Lobethal is in the Adelaide Hills but you're not sure exactly how to get here?  Check the map - click on the link below:

Lobethal Map

If you are planning a trip to Lobethal it's wise to check the weather forecast as the temperature is often several degrees cooler than Adelaide (particularly in winter).  Click on the link below for up to date details on the weather:

Lobethal Weather

Welcome to the Adelaide Hills!

The Adelaide Hills.  To some they are a nice backdrop to the city of Adelaide.  To others a nice spot to visit for a lazy Sunday lunch, a spot of wine tasting and a drive through winding country roads.  To me, they are my home and where I work.  It’s sometimes easy to take it for granted but when I sit back and reflect, I realise that I am truly blessed to live in such idyllic surroundings.

The tourist brochures will show you the usual things to do and places to visit – cuddle a koala, have a great meal at Hahndorf, visit some local wineries.  All good stuff.  But I want to dig a little deeper.  I want to show you some of the roads less travelled and introduce you to the secret places only locals know about.  I want to shine a spotlight on some great Adelaide Hills businesses and locations.  Along the way I’ll give you some great ideas for weekend get-aways, unique gifts and fantastic experiences.  Strap yourself in!  I’ll be updating daily and am also happy to answer any questions you may have about the Adelaide Hills.