Tanunda, Nuriootpa & Angaston: a wine-free guide to the heart of the Barossa

The Barossa Valley is one of South Australia’s most recognised wine regions and home to a growing list of award-winning vineyards and wineries. While it’s known for this, I’m not really a wine drinker, so, I thought I would share some things to see and do in the area that don’t involve cracking a bottle of vino!

Lucky for me and all the non-wine-drinkers— the Barossa Valley offers so much more, it has a fantastic food scene. From fine dining to casual eats, there’s something for everyone. Not to mention all of the artisan products crafted in the region, ranging from premium gins to gourmet chocolates. If you’re travelling with your furkid, there’s also great walks and parks to explore with them!

The heart of the Barossa Valley is the small town of Tanunda with the townships of Nuriootpa and Angaston close by. All have beautiful historic buildings and main streets bursting with amazing cafes and restaurants. From where we were staying in Kapunda, it’s roughly a short 20-25 minute drive. If you’re coming from Adelaide, it’s approximately an hour.

If things like walking trails, gins, cheeses, chocolates and donuts interest you, please read on!

Enjoy a leisurely walk along the Angaston to Nuriootpa Trail

Dog-friendly walking trail

This is an easy shared cycling and walking trail that follows the old railway line, and is part of the Barossa Rail Trail. The path is paved the entire way and very flat. From Nuriootpa to Angaston, it is 7km one way and 14km return.

Beginning the trail from Angaston

I recommend beginning the trek from Angaston so you can rest and recoup at Provenance Barossa in Nuriootpa before returning. This venue is home to an amazing collection of places to eat and drink. They cover all the things—beer, wine, gin, coffee, pizza, ice cream and tapas.

Eat at Provenance Barossa

• Barossa Distilling Co.
• Bean Addiction Coffee
• Ember Pizza
• First Drop Wines
• Penfolds
• Stein’s Taphouse
• Barossa Valley Ice Cream

Okay, I got sidetracked with the food. Let’s get back to the trail!

The Historic Railway Museum

We started from the Historic Railway Museum in Angaston, parking at the carpark next to it. There’s also plenty of parking next to the Barossa Adventure Station.

Picturesque scenery along the way

Along the walk, you’ll come across picturesque views of grassy valleys, bushland, vineyards and wineries. There’s a few short not-so-scenic sections that go past industrial properties and one of them was extremely smelly!

Sometimes it’s nice to do long but less challenging walks, don’t you think? Where you can just leisurely stroll and not have to worry about footing.

Visit the Rail Trails website for more information on the The Barossa Rail Trail and the different sections, including the Angaston to Nuriootpa walk.

I felt like walking more once we got to Nuriootpa (my hubby thought I was loco) so we also did a few kilometres of the Nuriootpa Linear Park Trail, the park is just down the road from Provenance. That’s an option if you want to extend your walk!

Sample the premium craft gins and spirits at Barossa Distilling Co.

Dog-friendly outdoor tables

Barossa Distilling Co. is one of the funky drinking and dining places you’ll find at Provenance Barossa. We dropped in here to rest and recoup after walking the 7km rail trail from Angaston (plus a little bit of the Nuriootpa Linear Park trail). Since it was nearby, we thought why not sneak in a gin tasting to rehydrate?

Tasting paddles and cocktails

Barossa Distilling Co boasts a large selection of premium craft gins, and now they’re venturing into other spirits such as whisky and vodka. You can enjoy their gins in a couple of ways:

• Through a tasting paddle where you can really appreciate the individual flavour profiles. They have several options from 3 gin tastings to 5 gin tastings plus limited edition tastings.
• Or choose from their cocktail menu. They also offer a tasting paddle of 4 cocktails!

My hubby went for a 5 gin tasting paddle and he really enjoyed the Barossa Shiraz Gin and Miss Maple Gin Liqueur as they were different from the usual gin flavours you get from other distilleries. They were sweet, syrupy and almost port or brandy-like. I chose a limited edition tasting of the barrel-aged Barossa Shiraz Gin because it came with chocolate. Wow! It had such a sweet, deep and rich flavour; very port-like.

Gorgeous historic building

The ornate interior of the distillery’s tasting room and cocktail bar is beautiful, it really showcases the building’s wonderfully rich heritage, in the past serving as the Penfolds Distillery. They have kept the original commercial stills which are apparently some of the oldest in Australia. They do offer guided tours for the building, check out the Barossa Distilling Co. website to find out more.

Botanical garden

If you’re travelling with your furry friend, the distillery has a great outdoor botanical garden with plenty of picnic benches under large umbrellas. In cooler weather, they light a giant fire pit for the afternoon.

Food menu

They offer a limited food menu, which includes tasty woodfired pizzas from Ember next door. We had such a blast, sampling their tantalising craft gins and feasting on pizza. The staff at the distillery are really friendly and passionate too which makes for a good experience!

Stocking up on delicious gin

We couldn’t leave without stocking up on a couple of bottles of their delicious gin. I definitely felt like a pack mule trekking the 7km back to Angaston!

If you’re exploring the Barossa, I highly recommend checking out this place, you won’t be disappointed.

Location and opening hours

18-28 Tanunda Rd, Nuriootpa, South Australia

Thursday, 1 – 5pm
Friday and Saturday, 11am – 9pm
Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Check out the Barossa Distilling Co. website to book a table online or to find out more about this incredible venue and their offerings.

Indulge in artisan cheese at Barossa Valley Cheese Company

Dog-friendly outdoor tables

As a cheese lover, I insist on everyone popping into the Barossa Valley Cheese Company while visiting the sweet little country town of Angaston. This is such a delightful little cheese cellar, where they hand-make all of their artisanal cheese on site, using milk from local farmers.

Create your own grazing platter

They stock their full range of cheeses at their cheese cellar, as well as local gourmet grazing platter ingredients, and related servingware and products. Their goat’s cheese camembert is delicious. I feel like it’s a good one to sample if you’re new to goat’s cheese because it’s mild and smooth.

I love the cheese cellar frontage with a striking black and white awning, cute wooden planter boxes and sweet bushy lemon trees. It’s lovely to sit in this area while enjoying a delicious cheese tasting plate which consists of a selection of 4 cheeses, accompanied by crackers and condiments.

Location and opening hours

67B Murray St, Angaston, South Australia

Wednesday to Monday, 10am – 4pm
Closed on Tuesdays and public holidays.

Check out the Barossa Valley Cheese Company website for more information on their delectable artisanal cheeses.

Stock up on mouth-watering chocolates at the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company

Dog-friendly outdoor tables

If you’re a self-confessed chocoholic, like myself, Barossa Valley Chocolate Company is a must-visit while in the region. Located just outside of the Tanunda town centre, you’ll find their production kitchen/retail shop/gelateria/cafe nestled on a vineyard.

You’ll adore their decadent chocolates, hand made on-site using high quality sustainably-sourced ingredients. With over 250 products available, you’ll definitely be in heaven while visiting their shop.

The cafe

They have a cafe at their premises serving quite an extensive menu from burgers to sharing platters. In addition, they have a huge cabinet of sweet treats and house-made gelatos.

The cafe leads out to a nice large verandah overlooking water and with peaceful views of vineyards. Dogs are allowed on the deck area – from the car park, the entrance is on the other side and you have to walk around the lake.

Dining experience

One thing that I have to point out from our visit is that their pricing is kind of nuts. I ordered a slice of cake, which was the width of my finger, plus a chai latte and it came to about $16. Don’t get me wrong, the cake tasted beautiful but that sort of price point is crazy right?!

While I probably wouldn’t dine there again, their chocolates are divine and it’s worth stopping by to taste and stock up! My personal favourite are the milk chocolate covered pretzels, the blend of sweet and savoury is so more-ish.

Location and opening hours

 64 Burings Rd, Tanunda, South Australia

Wednesday to Monday including public holidays, 10am – 5pm
Closed Tuesdays, Christmas and Boxing Day.

They also offer experiences like chocolate and cheese pairings or even chocolate-making workshops, check out the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company website for more information.

Taste the most incredible donuts at Browns Barossa Donuts

Dog-friendly outdoor tables

I don’t say this lightly, I think Browns Barossa Donuts might be the best donuts I’ve ever tasted. Just thinking about their donuts makes me wish that I was back in Kapunda and within a reasonable driving distance to their shop in Tanunda.

Deliciously soft and rich brioche

Their French inspired brioche dough is apparently aged for 26+ hours, creating the fluffiest and richest donut. I can confirm, firsthand, how soft and buttery their donuts are! They have so many delicious flavours at any given time, it’s actually hard to choose once you’re there – ah, first world problems.

All of the donuts we tried were beautiful and most of them weren’t overly sweet. I also liked the filling to donut ratio, it was just the right amount. If I had to name just one, I would have to say that the sticky date pudding is the bomb diggity. But honestly, you can’t go wrong with whatever you choose!

Mini donut sample boxes

If you get in early enough, you can grab a sample box of mini donuts with a selection of the crowd favourites. However, they do sell out quite fast.

Browns Barossa Donuts’ cute little shop is located on the main street, opposite the Tanunda Hotel. They have limited seating both inside and outside. Note the opening hours as well, they shut pretty early and are only open on certain days.

Location and opening hours

46 Murray St, Tanunda, South Australia

Wednesday, 8.30am – 1pm
Thursday and Friday, 8.30am – 2pm
Saturday, 9am – 1pm
Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

A trip to the Barossa would not be complete without indulging in a donut from this place! Visit the Browns Barossa Donuts Facebook page to see photos of their amazing donuts and to keep up with their latest creations.

Take your furbaby to Nuriootpa Dog Park for zoomies

Dog park

I took Charlie to Barossa Veterinary Service in Nuriootpa for a quick health checkup. The staff were very friendly and welcoming of travellers. If you’re in the area and need to book your furbaby in for a checkup or vaccination, they are great. They’re located at 29 Railway Terrace, Nuriootpa.

After the vets, I thought I would take Charlie to the local dog park to have a good romp around. This wonderful dog park is located along Penrice Road, at one corner of the Nuriootpa Linear Park. If you’re travelling in the area with your furbaby, it’s a lovely one to take them to.

The narrow rectangular park is a great size with plenty of grass, tunnels and an obstacle course. On one end, there’s a drink fountain with a doggy bowl and access to a hose, tubs and buckets. We also came across a number of baskets filled with balls, rackets and other toys to play with.

The park is cared for by a sweet group of dog-loving volunteers who regularly give their time to help maintain and improve the conditions of the park, as well as organise weekly group play dates. You can find them on Facebook, Friends of Nuriootpa Dog Park, see photos of the cute canines that frequent the park and check out what group play dates are on.

Location and opening hours

4 Penrice Rd, Nuriootpa, South Australia

Open all year around.

Grab a chai or coffee at Ooh La La Cafe

Dog-friendly outdoor tables

Ooh La La Cafe is a cosy coffee shop that serves light lunches, hot drinks and decadent little cakes. Located on a corner along the main street of Tanunda, it’s the perfect spot for people-watching.

After taking Charlie to the vets and then letting him have his zoomies at the Nuriootpa Dog Park, it was time to get some much needed lunch. I didn’t take many photos but I ordered a ham and cheese toasted croissant with a chai latte – both tasted great.

Ooh La La Cafe also stock a small range of artisan products ranging from dried fruit garnishes to gorgeous wooden serving/cutting boards.

Location and opening hours

Shop 4/76 Murray St, Tanunda, South Australia.

Open daily
Monday, 8.30am – 2pm
Tuesday, 8.30am – 4pm
Wednesday, 8.30am – 2pm
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 8.30am – 4pm.

Check out the Ooh La La Cafe’s Facebook page for their latest news.

And that’s a wrap!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this wine-free guide for the heart of the Barossa Valley. As you can see, there’s so much more to the region besides incredible wines!

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!

Sheryl