This perfect Barossa Day is on your doorstep when staying at any of the many beautiful accommodations along the Seppeltsfield Road precinct (such as our neighbours at Stonewell Cottages & Vineyards or  The Louise ) OR as a daytrip from Adelaide, where you could be in the heart of Marananga in much less than an hour’s drive!

Plan to start with a late breakfast selected from the abundant Barossa produce in your Villa: local Barossa eggs, bacon from Steiny’s Traditional Mettwurst, Tanunda Bakery artisan sourdough and at least one steaming mug of coffee brewed from Barossa Coffee Roasters beans.

Suitably fortified by a generous Barossa breakfast, slip on some comfy shoes, and get ready to explore this magical part of the Barossa. A beautiful walk west along Seppeltsfield road will take you past the historic Gnadenfrei Lutheran Church, whose white spires have marked a spiritual centre for this community for generations – and have been captured in innumerable photographs against the stunning backdrop of western ridge vineyards.

As you continue on, intriguing glimpses of the other-worldly grandeur of the Seppeltsfield Mausoleum will appear above the horizon – a triumph of classical architecture perched high in the landscape. It is absolutely worth taking on the challenge of the ascent – you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the surrounding area and an absolutely beautiful place to catch your breath.

Next – retrace your steps back towards Marananga village – but take a 50m detour along Kraehe Road, into Barossa Valley Estate . The cellar door is set within Australia’s largest perennial gardens, created by world-renowned landscape designer Paul Bangay. We recommend a wine-tasting, and then a walk through these staggeringly beautiful grounds, perhaps with a pre-lunch glass of Rosé in hand. 

After a pleasant stroll back to the heart of Marananga, your next destination is Two Hands Wines  cellar door, located in a meticulously restored historic cottage. Settle in on the tasting deck, soak in the sunshine and vineyard views and enjoy a guided tasting through their portfolio accompanied by a cleverly curated produce platter for a light lunch.

Now it’s time for you to freestyle! With three more cellar doors to explore within approximately 10 – 15 minutes’ walk, we’ll leave it to you to decide on which order you visit Greenock Creek Wines  and Heritage Wines  before reaching Tscharke’s beautifully unique cellar door.

Damien & Eva and the Tscharke team have an infectious passion for sustainable winemaking, backed by organic certification and biodynamic practices. Eva’s gorgeous range of pottery is used throughout the cellar door – and is on display to tempt you in the upstairs gallery.

By now the sun will be in its downward arc, signalling that your day exploring Marananga on foot is slowly drawing to an end. A short walk will find you on the deck at Seppeltsfield Road Distillers  with a suitable afternoon beverage in hand, after meeting Chase, the resident distillery dog, and the wonderful SRD team.

(For guests staying at The Villas – Barossa, at this stage of the walking tour we recommend a brief interlude: take the one minute walk back to your villa, watch the wildlife and relax…) For those on a daytrip, you may just have to order another G & T…

After a 10-minute walk to renowned property The Louise - there is only one significant decision left to make today – where to dine? Will it be a grown-up fine dining experience in Appellation at The Louise  – where Executive Chef Dan Murphy’s team will work wonders with seasonal produce? Or the equally delightful Three75 Bar + Kitchen , for Head Chef Kyle John’s menu offering all that is scrumptious? 

Whichever you choose, you’ll experience the warmth of hospitality and culinary excellence that both dining establishments are known for – and a great immersion in the local community as you’ll be sure to be seated among plenty of locals.

If Three75 Bar + Kitchen does happen to be your choice – we offer our own tip…the doughnuts!! Absolutely don’t miss ordering a serve of the house-made doughnuts served with jersey cream and seasonal jam. In our (extremely) biased opinion as neighbours – these doughnuts alone are worth visiting for.

And on that sweet note, your walking tour of Marananga village comes to an end…