Historic gardens are another feature of the Adelaide Hills, and many are open to the public as part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme. The Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, open all year round, is a good place to start and is an ideal spot for a relaxing picnic.

The secret to the Adelaide Hills’ success as a food and wine region lies in its produce. Strawberries, apples, pears, cherries, potatoes, cheese, salmon, venison, wine grapes … these are just a few of the delicacies produced in the area, making it the perfect getaway for those with food and wine on their mind. You’ll find a dazzling array of fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, bread, pulses and olives, to stock up for that Hills picnic. Great coffee and tempting lunch-time treats are also served at many Hills venues.

The Hills are home to some of South Australia’s premium food producers and many of them are open to the public. You can pick your own strawberries at a number of strawberry farms, satisfy your sweet tooth at a number of chocolate and confectionery makers, enjoy an indulgent lunch of smoked salmon from Mt Barker or stock up on fresh fruit and veg at one of the roadside vendors that you’ll find dotted throughout this region.

The Adelaide Hills area has a strong pub culture, with many townships owing their origins to the construction of a hotel. Some hotels offer jazz on weekends and top-quality food in the restaurant. Balconies and stunning scenery are also on offer at a number of well-placed establishments to complement the good selection of beers on tap and Adelaide Hills wines. A good selection of cafes and fine dining are scattered throughout the Hills region, with many specialising in regional produce.

Finally, there’s no such thing as a country town without a bakery, and the Hills is lucky enough to have many a good bakehouse at which to buy a crusty loaf to combine with some traditional mettwurst!

Part three next month: Nepenthe
We take a closer look at one of the area’s up-and-coming vineyards.

A premium wine region
That’s the background to the wine-production story. The Adelaide Hills has a deserved reputation as one of Australia’s premium cool climate wine regions, producing excellent sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and chardonnay.