Kapunda, Greenock and Seppeltsfield: visit these 3 charming historic Barossa towns

Let me just start by saying, wow, what an epic month we had exploring the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. You might be thinking, “Oh my god, a whole month? That’s a lot of time!” But we work during the week, so technically, we only had about 7.5 days for going out and sightseeing.

This stretch of our travels was certainly one of the most indulgent! With so many amazing breweries, wineries, distilleries, cafes, restaurants, and pubs in this part of South Australia, we were very spoiled for choice. And, believe me, even with 7.5 days, we barely scratched the surface. There are still places on my list if we ever find ourselves in this region again!

Discover Kapunda, Greenock and Seppeltsfield with me

As our base while touring the two wine regions, we decided to stay in the delightful little town of Kapunda, recognised for its rich mining history. We had fun exploring the old mine which has now been turned into a walking trail site, but more on that later!

In this journal entry, I’ll be covering Kapunda and two nearby Barossa Valley towns: Greenock and Seppeltsfield. Mostly places to eat and drink, but there are also a couple of attractions thrown in!

Kapunda

Stay at Kapunda Tourist Park

Dog-friendly caravan park

• Website: kapundatouristpark.com
• Address: Montefiore St, Kapunda, South Australia
• Length of our stay: 28 nights
• Time of year: July-August
• Type of site: Powered grass site
• Site number: 9
• Pricing: $37/night (per double), stay for 7 nights and get 1 night free
• Rewards Card: None
• Total site costs: $888
• Online booking form: No, their online booking form only seems to be for cabins. I emailed and spoke to them over the phone.
• Deposit: Not required
• Grocery shopping: Foodland (large and well stocked) or Cooper’s Fresh (a tiny cute shop with fresh produce, some pantry goods and fresh meat)
• Phone and internet reception: No issues with Telstra phones and Nighthawk wifi router.

The pros of staying at Kapunda Tourist Park

• It’s a laidback, smaller sized caravan park.
• It’s a great base for exploring the Barossa Valley, as well as making a day trip out to Clare or Burra.
• It has a pleasant country atmosphere, there’s plenty of greenery with mostly grass sites, well established trees and colourful gardens all throughout the caravan park. We did have some really windy days and some large branches fell from some of the tall gumtrees. However, most of the powered sites are free and away from the trees.
• It’s next to a golf course and from our site, we had a nice view of the golf course lake. At times, people camped along the front of the lake in their tents or campervans but for the most part, we had an uninterrupted view of the lake during our stay.
• Most of the powered sites at the park seem roomy. Our grass site was spacious! We could fit our caravan, awning and car side by side with plenty of room at the front. The ground is really flat, we didn’t have to much levelling.
• The caravan park is family and dog friendly. Set in the historic Dutton Park recreational grounds, there’s an oval, open field, skate park, playground and memorial garden nearby. On the odd occasion, the park does get busy when there’s a footy game on and you’ll find cars lined up all along the entrance.
• It’s next to a golf course, if you’re a keen golfer.
• The caravan park is only a short 9-10 minute walk to the main street of town.
• Water pressure inside the caravan for showers was great, it actually felt like a normal shower. I didn’t try their facilities for a shower.
• There’s an open camp kitchen with the essentials and there’s plenty of tables and chairs for large gatherings. They have a wonderful little library at the camp kitchen.
• The showers/toilets were neat and tidy.
• The caravan park stayed fairly empty the whole time we were there (off-peak), apart from those occasional sporting event days. At night, it was super quiet.

The cons of staying at Kapunda Tourist Park

• There’s only one small amenities block in the caravan park. It’s a bit outdated and could do with better lighting, however it was neat and tidy.
• The laundry room only had 1 washing machine and 1 dryer, both of which were pretty vintage.
• As mentioned, on odd occasions, the driveway or entrance to the caravan park gets lined with parked cars when there’s a game on at the oval. The caravan park also seems to get packed with game day visitors staying the night. The amenities are busier during those times.
• There was a lot of maintenance and landscaping going on while we were there, so it was a little noisy during the day while we were working. This is probably not an issue if you’re out for the day.

Other things to note about Kapunda Tourist Park

• The caravan park offers both powered and unpowered sites. If you’re not caravanning or camping, they also have a range of cabins, some with a modern country style. Unfortunately, the cabins are not dog-friendly.

Kapunda and Cornish influences

From the camp kitchen library, I borrowed a book called “The Girl from Penvaris” by Rosemary Aitken, a story set in Cornwall in the UK. It’s about a girl from a mining family who was sent to work as a servant for one of the wealthier families in town, along with her sister. There, she meets and falls in love with the younger son. Things go awry, and the sisters are forced to leave. I won’t spoil the story in case you want to read it, but it was the perfect book to read while in staying in a historic mining town steeped in Cornish culture!

Most of the boys and men who worked at the Kapunda Mine (and other South Australian mines) immigrated from Cornwall. At the time, Cornwall was at the forefront of mining technology and operations, and Cornish miners were highly sought after worldwide. The Kapunda Mine adopted the Cornish method of mining, importing a lot of equipment and machinery from Cornwall. Migrant Cornish families made up a large portion of the town’s population during its boom, bringing their customs, traditions and folklore with them.

Walk the Kapunda Mine Trail and Site

Dog-friendly walking trail

According to the information at the start of the trail, the Kapunda Mine was the first successful commercial copper metal mine in Australia, opening circa 1844. The now disused site has been turned into a walkable heritage attraction with an easy 1.5km walking trail that loops around the entire mine.

There are interpretive signs along the way that provide information about the mine’s history, various buildings, operations, and its workers. One sign mentioned that boys as young as 10 years old worked there. I recall seeing a photo of the boys at work; some of them were smoking cigarettes, and their little faces wore expressions of weary old men. It was such a different time!

During the walk, there’s a section where you can go down a set of stairs to a pit with a spooky gated tunnel. The mining families brought their Cornish folklore with them to Australia—there was an interpretive sign that spoke of Tommyknockers, short little men that embodied the spirit of deceased miners. These creatures would knock on the mine walls to warn of danger.

Enjoy a smoothie at Bliss Fast Nutrition

Even though it was winter, and it felt way too cold for a smoothie made of ice, we had to check out this cute little gourmet smoothie and loaded tea shop located on the main street of town.

Each gourmet smoothie is high protein, low calorie, and blended with ice and water, no milk. The numb hand from holding it while walking home and the brain freeze from sipping too much too quickly were totally worth it. Their loaded tea menu also sounds nutritious and delicious – enhanced with pure aloe concentrate and containing ginseng, guarana, and other energy boosters, depending on the flavour.

Location and opening hours

39 Main St, Kapunda
Open Monday to Friday, 7am – 5pm.

You can order ahead or see available flavours on the Bliss Fast Nutrition Kapunda website.

Dig into country pub fare at Clare Castle Hotel

Dog-friendly pub with beer garden

For a small town, Kapunda has its fair share of pubs! Clare Castle Hotel is one of four along the main street, located further out near Foodland. Don’t let its dated exterior and naff interior put you off—it’s a genuine Aussie country pub serving classic pub fare as well as some interesting specials like poke bowls, pulled beef brisket and mac’n’cheese pies.

We enjoyed the food at Clare Castle Hotel, and as you can see from the photo, we were hungry that night! All of the dishes were cooked and presented well, with classic flavours and generous servings. Everything you could want from a country pub!

Although we left Charlie in the car while we ate dinner because it was freezing, I believe they do have a beer garden out the back that’s family-friendly and dog-friendly.

Location and opening hours

105 Main St, Kapunda, South Australia.
Open from Wednesday to Sunday, dinner starting from 5pm.

Check the Clare Castle Hotel Facebook page for more information and the latest specials available.

Grab a nourishing snack at 2B Nourished Cafe

Dog-friendly cafe with outdoor seating

This is a sweet café on the main street that offers nourishing, wholesome food like wraps, salad bowls, sandwiches and sweet treats like cookies and cakes, along with health products from brands like JS Health and The Happy Way.

We popped into 2B Nourished a couple of times. First time, we grabbed some hot drinks and some sweet treats (nutella cookie and a caramel slice); their nutella cookie was the bomb and their chai latte with oat milk was enjoyable, not overly sweet. Second time, we went for the beef nachos for lunch – the serving was so small for the price point, and there wasn’t enough of the beef mixture, making it a bit dry and bland to eat. It felt a bit hit and miss with the food!

The café has a few small outdoor tables at the front.

Location and opening hours

46 Main St, Kapunda, South Australia
Open Monday to Friday, 7am – 3.30pm and Saturdays, 7am – 1pm.

Check out the 2B Nourished Facebook page for their latest news and updates.

Tuck into a toasted sandwich at Winston’s Café

Dog-friendly cafe with outdoor seating

This cool little café is relatively new to the scene, only opening its doors earlier this year. We grabbed some toasted sandwiches from here and you know, sometimes you just can’t beat simplicity – using a few ingredients with great flavours and quality that work well together. Delicious!

Winston’s Café has a few small outdoor tables at the front.

Location and opening hours

36 Main St, Kapunda, South Australia
They are open daily. Tuesday to Friday, 8am – 3pm, Mondays and Saturdays, 8am – 2pm, and Sundays, 8am – 1pm.

Check out Winston Cafe’s Instagram for their menu and latest news.

Shop for fresh fruit and veg at Coopers Fresh

Coopers Fresh is located on the main street and you’ll spot their adorable shop straight away because of the fun, bright, yellow door. I wanted to include this place because unlike shopping at Coles, Woolies or even IGA/Foodland which can at times feel impersonal, this fresh produce shop has character, warmth and a real sense of being family owned.

They source the freshest and most delicious fruit and vegetables, as well as stock a small range of gourmet foods, from pantry products to SA smallgoods. I loved how they used simple, rustic wooden displays for their produce and products; it makes it feel like you’re walking through a farmer’s market.

Location and opening hours

32 Main St, Kapunda, South Australia.
Open Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm, Saturdays, 8am – 3pm, and closed on Sundays.

Check out the Cooper’s Fresh website for more information.

Feed the ducks and geese at Davidson Reserve

Dog-friendly park and trail

This is a wonderful peaceful park that’s only a few minutes from the main town precinct. The landscaped grounds showcases a large man made lake that’s surrounded by tall established trees and pretty gardens. There’s also a bridge and platform so you can stand at the centre of the lake.

You’ll find a huge amount of ducks and geese around the lake and you’re allowed to feed them, a great activity if you’ve got kiddos. However, according to the sign at the park, please avoid bread, it isn’t actually good for them or the water quality, instead feed them things like lettuce, seedless grapes, peas and oats.

Explore the town through the Kapunda Rail Trail and Cornish Pisky Trail

Next to Davidson Reserve runs an easy, short 1km paved rail trail that starts next to the reserve and finishes up a few blocks down. It’s a pity I didn’t take any photos but look out for painted stones along the way and little doors at the base of some trees. I think these might be part of the Cornish Pisky Trail but I’m not entirely sure!

The Cornish Pisky Trail seems like another great family-friendly activity to do with the kiddos. There are a number of piskies hiding throughout the town of Kapunda, and the trail helps to find them. Piskies are part of Cornish folklore and can be described as playful, mischievous little beings. You can collect a map of the trail and a free activity pack from the Kapunda Visitor Information Centre. Check out the Light Country Council website for more information.

Greenock

Known for its Scottish heritage, as the name would suggest, Greenock is a charming little village located along the northwest edge of the Barossa Valley. Don’t let its diminutive size fool you! It’s brimming with places to eat and drink and is absolutely worth stopping by to check out. From Kapunda, it’s a 13-minute drive, and from Tanunda (central Barossa), it’s about 12 minutes.

Indulge in a South American feast at El Estanco

Dog-friendly restaurant with outdoor seating

Looking over El Estanco’s website and social media photos, I was instantly drawn to their beautifully presented food and gorgeous venue. This aesthetically pleasing cafe/restaurant offers a South American inspired menu.

The outdoor area

We decided to go for lunch and even though the weather wasn’t the best, we risked sitting outside so Charlie could join us (there’s plenty of seating but not overly protected for rain). The alfresco area at the back is lovely with attractive landscaping and splendid gardens. It seems like it would be amazingly festive in summer weather and the cactus garden really adds to the vibe. Their Friday Pizza Fiesta nights sounds like a lot of fun!

To get around to to the back, there’s a gate near the carpark that you go through (even though it says something like staff only). If you prefer somewhere a bit more sheltered, there are small tables out the front of the restaurant underneath their verandah.

The building

I thought it was pretty inside (looking around while I was ordering at the counter) with a modern industrial country chic. Please excuse the lack of photos, I was feeling a bit shy that day and wasn’t up for photographing inside. I did take photos of the outside and the building’s architecture and rustic material complements the stunning aesthetics inside.

The food

El Estanco’s lunch menu consists of a limited selection of entrees, mains and sides, designed to be shared. On weekends, you can choose to order a la carte or go for their “Feed Me” long lunch option, where your table will be served an array of the chef’s favourite dishes.

I have to be honest, while the dishes looked exquisite and most of them tasted decent enough, I was expecting way more of a flavour explosion for the price point. I ordered the slow roasted lamb for mains and I think being slow roasted, I had expectations of richer flavours with the meat, married with bold spices. I was hugely disappointed when it tasted bland and lacked any sort of flavour.

The service

I did feel a little ignored when I first walked in but the staff were nice and they did check up on us regularly throughout our lunch (we were the only crazy people sitting outside).

Location and opening hours

8-22 Murray St, Greenock, South Australia
Thursday, 8am – 4pm
Friday, 8am – 4pm | 5.30pm – 10pm
Saturday to Monday, 8am – 4pm
Closed Wednesday and Tuesday.

Food offerings and service hours

Breakfast, 8am – 11am
Saturday Bottomless Brunch, 8am – 10.30am
Lunch, 12pm – 2.30pm
Friday Pizza Fiesta, 5.30pm – 10pm
Patisserie, all day.

I know that my review of the food is less than favourable but I still recommend visiting if you’re in the area to experience it for yourself. I feel like there’s so many other positive things going for it! Check out the El Estanco website for more information, to view their events calendar or book a table online.

Grab a pint at Greenock Brewers Barossa Valley

Dog-friendly brewery, indoors and outdoors

Located just off the main street, this incredible unassuming little microbrewery and cellar door should be on your list of places to visit in the Barossa Valley! We had a lot of fun hanging out at Greenock Brewers after lunch at El Estanco.

The service

The owner has a warm and welcoming personality, he’ll have you laughing with his dad jokes as soon as you walk in. For a Sunday afternoon/evening, the brewery got packed! It seems to be a popular watering hole just as much for the locals as it is for tourists.

The building

The brewery and cellar door is housed inside a charming historical building that used to be the old Wheat Store. They have a small pretty courtyard with plenty of wine barrel bar tables with umbrellas. Dogs are more than welcome inside, you can sit around the cellar door bar or sit around the vats – there’s wine barrel bar tables and cosy couches surrounding a fireplace.

Dog-friendly

It’s awesome how dog-friendly they are, I must’ve counted maybe 4 or 5 dogs that came in that afternoon. The owner was kind enough to go around to all the doggies and give them a treat! Charlie made friends with a sweet pomeranian named Ava, she had no teeth and her tongue hung out so cutely.

The beers

The beers are hand-crafted onsite using the best and purest ingredients, traditionally fermented, and produced only in small batches. Their range currently includes 6 unique flavours. My hubby is into his darker beers so he enjoyed the stout and dark ale, and even bought a few 6 packs.

Just bar snacks

The brewery does not serve meals but they do offer grazing platters and bar snacks like beef jerky, chips etc. They have BBQ facilities as well in their courtyard which you are free to use.

Location and opening hours

9 Murray St, Greenock, South Australia.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 7pm.

Visit the Greenock Brewers website for more information and to view their available range of craft beers.

Seppeltsfield

Close to Greenock, about a 4 minute drive away, is the area of Seppeltsfield. I don’t know if you can call it a town but it’s best known for the historic and grand Seppeltsfield Estate and Winery, which is basically like a little village. I popped out with Charlie to the estate during a weekday and enjoyed wandering its picturesque grounds, as well as checking out the iconic Avenue of Palms on the way.

Take a photo at the iconic Avenue of Palms

Dog-friendly attraction

This is an iconic attraction of Seppeltsfield and the Barossa Valley wine region. A 5km stretch of road that is lined with striking palm trees (Canary Island Date Palms) which were apparently planted during the Great Depression from 1920-1930.

I was lucky enough to have a blue-skied sunny winter’s day when I went to check out the street, the colour contrast was really cool to see. You can find the Avenue of Palms along Seppeltsfield Road. I took photos near the bend at Radford Road, headings towards the Seppeltsfield Winery, or you can go up further and find a section that you like. This is a fun spot for photos but please exercise caution and watch out for traffic!

Wander the grounds of Seppeltsfield Winery and Estate

Dog-friendly with outdoor seating

Seppeltsfield Winery and Estate would have to be one of Barossa Valley’s most recognised wine estates. The winery boasts a long-running and rich history in winemaking, dating back to the mid-late 1800s. The vast landscaped grounds are impressive with heritage buildings, stunning paved and lawn courtyards, lush picnic areas, and magnificent gardens and trees.

Experiences

Offering more than just fine wine and food, there’s a diverse range of experiences you can have at the estate that include:

• Fino Restaurant – fine dining
• The Lodge – breathtaking accommodation (super fancy shmancy!)
• JamFactory – a craft and design retail shop and gallery
• Vasse Virgin – EVOO based all-natural skin and body products
• Octeine Cafe – light lunches, snacks, coffee and drinks
• Dragan Fine Art Gallery – gallery showcasing Dragan Radocaj’s photography
• YN Oak Cooperage – learn the art of barrel-making
• Segway Vineyard Tour – explore the historic grounds through a 90 minute segway tour
• Cellar Door – there’s a variety of wine tasting and tours on offer
• Events – the estate holds many different health retreats and creative workshops.

Octeine Cafe

I chose to eat at their cafe for a light lunch as I was exploring solo and didn’t really want a fancy meal at Fino. Octeine is a good place to eat if you just want something casual. They have plenty of seating under the verandah and on the large lush lawn to the back of the cafe (this area was so nice).

They offer their own locally blended and roasted coffee, as well as smaller food options like sandwiches, grazing platters and cakes. They also serve wine, ciders and beers at the café.

Did I enjoy what I had? Look, it was average. The tortilla stack was a bit squidgy like it was just microwaved and the flavour was a tad bland. Somebody was heavy handed with the vinegar when it came to the side salad dressing, making it hard to eat. The beauty and tranquility of the grounds made up for it though!

Location and opening hours

730 Seppeltsfield Rd, Seppeltsfield, South Australia.

For more information and to find out specific opening hours for each individual venue at the estate, check out the Seppeltsfield Winery and Estate website.

And that’s a wrap!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the local attractions, eats and drinks you can visit while exploring the beautiful historic areas of Kapunda, Greenock and Seppeltsfield.

Have you been to any of these places before? Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments; I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for joining me, hope to see you again!