A key piece of the Barossa Valley puzzle

Eden Valley and specifically, Brockenchack Wines, is an integral piece of the puzzle that makes up the highlands of the Barossa Valley.

The lesser well-known area of the wider Barossa Valley is not as popular as its world-famous cousin, however, Eden Valley has much to offer locals who are wanting to explore different areas hidden from the tourists. 

We discovered Brockenchack Wines on Instagram, when they had recently opened their new luxury accommodation. The photos made the place look like a Garden of Eden and the place doesn’t disappoint on arrival. 

We were made to feel very welcome, including our fur children. It’s not very often that a place of such high quality and luxury is also dog friendly, but this was dog welcoming! 

The studio itself is perfect for pets. With modern furnishings and a view to enjoy, there really wasn’t much need for us to leave the accommodation, however, the property beyond the accommodation was ours to explore. Trevor, Brockenchack’s owner, took us on our very own private tour of the property before hosting us for what felt like the longest, yet most enjoyable wine tasting to date. We’re fairly sure that at least three bottles of wine were consumed with just the two of us tasting, well three if you include Trevor! Whilst we sipped wine and conversed, the dogs roamed the cellar door and made themselves at home on the lounge. 

Safe to say, by the time we got back to our room it was an early night. We spent the next day exploring the property. The views are just stunning. The rolling Eden Valley hills are not quite the rolling hills of Tuscany, but they’re pretty damn close. The fresh clean air and lush grass made for very pleasant walks. Not to mention there were spacious yet enclosed paddocks for us to roam and the dogs to zoom in. They had a ball! We also had a blast on the property’s very own zip line. Not to be attempted after having consumed wine! 

We enjoyed our stay so much that we didn’t actually venture out of Eden Valley. On our way into the region we stopped past Levrier Wines by Jo Irvine for a private tasting. Named after the French word for Greyhound, Levrier produces luxury wines and support the Greyhound Adoption Program of SA. They even have some greyhounds on site AND many of their labels feature artwork of Greyhounds. But the best part? They offer a safe dog friendly enclosed area just outside the tasting room, where your dogs can roam free whilst you enjoy a tasting. Once they’re done, of course they are welcome to join you in the tasting room. They’ll even offer the dogs a bed!

During our stay, we also visited Henschke Wines as it is one of the oldest and therefore most famous cellar doors in the region. They do have an outdoor area where the dogs can stay, however, because ours were too adorable, they let them come inside and sit on our lap whilst we did a tasting. But I wouldn’t expect this treatment every time.

Aside from the Eden Valley pub for dinner, we were very content just staying without our accommodation, which in itself speaks volumes. 

We will certainly be going back but maybe next time take some friends and stay in the larger retreat house! But if no one wants to join us then we would happily stay in the studio room again, after all there was a bonus jacuzzi! 

Views, wine, dog friendly, local, family owned and operated = our perfect weekend getaway!

Bethany Cellar Cottage, it’s the Bee’s Knees

Early April we added a fawn and white girl, Florence, to the family. We had to wait until she was old enough to travel, before we took her on her first adventure. It was the June, Queen’s Birthday long weekend and with border restrictions in place and a cold winter set in, there was one thought on our minds, SHIRAZ! 

It had been a while since we had last stayed in the Barossa, so we were keen to go and enjoy the world-famous region. Bethany is a small village about 2 kms out of Tanunda, making it the perfect, quiet retreat area, whilst still being in the heart of the region. 

We stayed in the Cellar Cottage, one of the two available accommodation spaces at Bethany Cottages. The Cellar Cottage was smothered in décor tributing bees! Everywhere you looked there was a bee. From prints, to pillow dressings, from place mats to doorknobs, from tea cups to tea towels. It was super charming and sweet, with beautiful rustic charm. This is an absolute gorgeous little cottage, with a large ensuite bathroom and little kitchenette with all necessary appliances. They provided all the essentials for breakfast also. The living area is centred around an indoor wood fire. The master bedroom is spacious with a comfy bed and electric blanket. The bedroom also has a heater. Downstairs in the cellar are two additional single beds. It was super cosy, comfortable, and most importantly warm!

The highlight for our pooches was the open paddock area behind the property and away from the road, overlooking vineyards. Gigi and Florence could stretch their legs and play in the grassy area, which was far enough away from the road that they were safe. 

Key things to note, the bed is very high so if your dogs are like ours, they may try and jump on it which can be dangerous if they don’t clear the landing. In addition, we had to block off the balustrades surrounding the cellar as Florence was small enough to fit through and it was a dangerous fall onto the steps of the cellar. Other than that, we would highly recommend staying here and would look to do so again the next time we want winery escape.

We spent most of our days exploring some of the dog friendly wineries of the region whilst still ensuring we were visiting places that were of interest to us. One thing we have come to learn about our two pups is that they do not like having to do their business whilst attached to their leads. So, we scouted some parks and open spaces we thought would be safe to let them off. As you enter Tanunda, just behind the Barossa Valley Brewing is Heinmann Park. It is quite secure and was very quiet so we would often stop there once or twice a day, as needed, to let the dogs stretch the legs. It meant all of us could relax when venturing into wineries knowing that no accidents were likely to happen. Both have also done accidential wees in the car before which is never fun, so prevention and risk management is key! In addition to the park,  Barossa Valley Brewing is also dog friendly with a lovely outdoor area and games for the kiddies to play so worth stopping in for a cold one whilst there. 

We’d also recommend a walk on Tanunda’s main street. There are lots of cute little boutique stores and coffee spots to enjoy. We had dinner one night in the beer garden of the Tanunda Hotel. This was a fully enclosed, heated veranda and the dogs were allowed here. It is a paved area so if your dogs prefer to sit on something comfy best to bring their bed along also. The pub is what you would expect from a country hotel, great food, good wine list, friendly patrons and the perfect end to a day of wine tasting.  

Here are the Dog friendly wineries we visited: 

Two Hands – This charming little cottage cellar door is one to visit for any red wine lovers in particular. They only offer 1 – 2 tasting of a white so it’s tailored for the heavy red drinkers. They have a beautiful outdoor deck area, which overlooks a lush and large grassed area. We opted to sit out the front of the cellar door though mainly as it was quite windy out the back but on a finer day the deck area would have been absolutely perfect. The cellar door itself was jammed packed with visitors so they are very highly reputable. The tasting was $15 per person though and not refundable off any purchase. Not an issue but just something to keep in mind especially if you are planning multiple tastings in one day.  Nevertheless, we were made to feel very welcome and sat out the front under the veranda for our tasting. At the end of the tasting, we went out the back where we were permitted to let Gigi and Flo have a run around. It was a wonderful test of their recall as at times they left the grass area, but we were able to call them back without any trouble. There were some tennis balls scattered so this was a perfect way to stretch their legs and reward them for being so patient whilst we had our tasting. It is a very ideal stop for those with dogs. 

First Drop Wines – This one is a favourite of ours because of the wine. They have an awesome variety of varieties, all reasonably priced too. We stopped here for lunch, as they have an outdoor eating area where dogs are welcome also. It’s not the most scenic views but the food is certainly worth it, as is the wine.

Turkey Flat – on top of having awesome wine, they have a lovely outdoor grass area with seated palettes, umbrellas, and blankets. Having a grassy spot for your pets to longue on makes their visit with you more comfortable. Ours were able to chill on the grass and chew their bully sticks. We happened to visit on a day when the Taco Van was out. A bottle of their shiraz went down well with tacos, nachos and more! Would highly recommend this for wine lovers and especially for those with dogs. 

David Franz – we LOVED this winery. It was kindly recommended to us by one of the staff at Two Hands as being not just dog friendly but dog WELCOMING! They have a gorgeous outdoor veranda overlooking the vineyards which was covered and enclosed AND we were allowed to sit there with our pups. SO GOOD! The outdoor heaters meant we were all cosy, comfortable, protected from the wind and ready to enjoy an awesome afternoon. There were also heaps of grassy spots surrounding the cellar door. The best part for us adults though was that there were so many options of wine tasting. You could pick either a $5, $10 or $15 tasting depending on which wines you wanted to taste. They also provided a ‘shopping list’ of nibbles where you would just tick what you wanted, and they would assemble a tasting board accordingly. Super tailored, flexible, and suited to a modern wine tasting. The staff were all super friendly and keen to come and say hello to the pups. We even met another future Iggy owner there too! Safe to say we walked away with a few bottles. LOVED IT and would be a definite visit again. 

Bethany Wines – Given we were staying in Bethany we thought only appropriate to visit Bethany Wines. Plus, the added bonus of a viewpoint a short walk-up hill from the winery was another draw card. We had tasted Bethany wines before and not been overly impressed but it was a number of years ago. We decided to stop though for a quick tasting as it was coming towards the end of the afternoon. There is an outdoor area where dogs can sit with you as you do your tasting, although the indoor area is more comfortable for those without their pups. We did come away with a bottle but its not necessarily a cellar door we would visit again, mainly as the wines were to our liking. The walk and the view though is certainly worth it for those who haven’t been to the Barossa Valley before. 

Overall, there were only so many wineries we could visit in the space of a weekend, but we loved our time in the Barossa, as did the pups. Like bees to a honeypot we can’t help but be drawn to our local wine regions who really do produce the world’s best wine. Bee sure to check out the Barossa, it’s a real buzz.  

Kuipto

The tradition of travelling out of Adelaide for our wedding anniversary continued this year except this time we had a little 4-legged baby with us!

The ‘Tiny House’ movement has grown significantly in recent years as people grow ever more sustainable and eager to digital detox. We had been keen to book CABN Jude in the Adelaide Hills but unfortunately it wasn’t available on these dates. Luckily CABN had recently added a few more locations to the menu and Matilda was available and dog friendly (yay)!

While listed as located in Kuipto, the location is more accurately in The Range. Imagine a triangle connecting McLaren Vale, Willunga and Kuitpo, Matilda is located in the middle and you almost feel lost in this Bermuda Triangle. We have stayed in McLaren Vale and Blewitt Springs before, not to mention driven the region countless times, but it is always special discovering something new about an area you already love. 

We started our weekend with lunch at a favourite, Pizzateca. Travelling with a pup means we are have to be more particular about where we book. We knew Pizzateca had an outdoor area so we were confident Gigi would be welcome, but upon arriving with our little stallion we were made to feel very welcome. Gigi attracted much (deserved) compliments from the friendly staff. We’ve eaten our fair share of Pizza is some of the best pizza spots in Italy. So we feel confident enough in assessing Pizzatecca, which is without a doubt, the best pizza we’ve tried outside of Italy. Not to mention the arosticini, an Abbruzzese specialty.

A post lunch wine tasting seemed appropriate so we headed to another favourite and new addition to the Vale, Down the Rabbit Hole. Honestly, this really is the way of the future for cellar doors. Quirky, boho, stylish, friendly and totally instagramable.  The best part though? You cannot get a bad wine here. Dom and Elise have done an exceptional job with this cellar door, the brand, the experience but most importantly the wine. 

A couple of wines in, we decided it was time to check in to our tiny CABN. You have to drive along an unsealed road to find the gate to the property. After parking the car, you walk down a little and feast your eye on the beautiful CABN. Surrounded by the vineyards of Fox Gordon and overlooking a dam, the site really is everything the photos make it out to be. Whilst small, the CABN is perfectly cosy with all the amenities one needs. Our favourite part was the shaded deck area, overlooking the landscape and scenery and perfectly orientated to enjoy both the sunrise and sunsets. Whilst the property was not completely secured, as long as he was in our sights, we felt comfortable letting Gigi off his lead. When he needed to be though, there was a long rope provided which gave him ample slack to roam around. We popped a bottle of bubbles, put out a cheese board and enjoyed our wedding night anniversary under a full moon on a warm balmy spring night. 

Waking up to a gorgeous sunrise, we could well have stayed in bed all day, however, our little pup had other ideas. Neither of us (or at least in adulthood) had ever actually visited  Kuitpo Forest. We didn’t know much about where we were going and unfortunately the visitor information was closed so decided to pick a trail, walk 30 mins and then turn around. An hour walk in muggy conditions with a pup was more than enough to quench our thirst so after taking the perfect picture amongst the pine trees we visited K1 Wines by Geoff Hardy. Driving down the entrance we were reminded of the beautiful wineries of Tuscany with their long driveways and perfect landscaping. Wine tasting on the scenic lake makes for a more traditional experience compared to that of Down the Rabbit Hole, proving that there is still room for both modern and classic experiences. 

We decided to venture into our favourite little town, Willunga. We wanted to stop in at another of our favourites in the region Hither & Yon. These guys have a shop front for their tasting experience on the main street of Willunga. With a bowl of Coriole Olives before us, we worked our way through the delicious wine list. It is a mixture of good solid tables reds and other more exclusive ones to pop in the cellar. We downed a few too many wines here and after filling our boot with bottles galore made our way back to the CABN. 

With the weather changing, we nestled in for a night by the campfire, wine, marshmallows and some local cheese. We absolutely loved our stay here and were tempted to message to see if we could stay another night. Only the forecast of bad weather and Marius’ need to go back to work stopped that. The bed was comfortable, the how water and shower pressure perfect, the BBQ and deck area a delight. The view, scenery and location on point. We honestly could not recommend this place enough. 

If you’re ever in need of a coffee whilst in the area you must visit Dal Mare Coffee Roastery. It’s not easy to find, despite the address being the main road of McLaren Vale but it is the best coffee in town. 

To conclude our weekend, we stopped past another old favourite of ours, Alpha Box & Dice. Rather than a tasting, we ordered ourselves a glass of wine, a cheese platter and savored the last moments of out anniversary getaway. Another successful adventure with our travelling iggy. 

Gigi finally travels

When Corona hit, Marius and I knew the days of our travels overseas would be on hold, for now. In all honesty, we do not mind one bit being confined to South Australia.

It was early January when we got the call that a black and white boy was born and ready to come home with us sometime in March. We could not wait for the first getaway we could do with our iggy (nickname for Italian Greyhound).

It was more the type of accommodation than the location itself that drew us to Carrickalinga. We had always wanted to experience a Tiny House and here we had one in our very own back yard. The Fleuriu Peninsula blesses us with so much to see and do. When the listing indicted it was permissible to bring a small dog, we did not hesitate to book a weekend away.

On the way we stopped for a break in Port Willunga, one of, if not, the most beautiful beaches in South Australia. It is a photographer’s dream to capture the ruins of the old jetty posts, at any time of the day, but the beach itself has so much more to offer than an Instagram photo. Both Marius and I have spent many summer days in the crystal blue waters. It is our dream location for a holiday house. 

We continued our journey making a stop at the Yankalilla Bakery before heading to the accommodation. Located on Air bnb, Brian and Dawn’s Tiny House is situated at the entrance to their property. Built by Brian himself, the house overlooks a dam but more impressively is the views over the Carrickalinga and Normanaville cliffs and beaches. You’ll come across many Kangaroos on the property. It’s a treat even for Aussies to see so many Roos up close up! Just watch your feet as you’ll likely step in some roo poo. 

The industrial style house itself was just to our liking. Cosy and comfortable with all the amenities needed. As non campers it really is the best way to feel as though you are sleeping under the stars, but in pure comfort. 

We spent the afternoon walking along the golden sands of Carrickalinga beach. We had the whole beach to ourselves so Gigi had a field day, chasing waves, flies and seaweed blown long the shore. 

For dinner we headed to Forktree Brewery and demolished a couple of beers, the beef burger and the sliders. The brewery offers an indoor dining, a deck area, perfect to take in the views and the downstairs outdoor area where you can park the pooches. The generous grass area, sandpit and playground makes this the perfect family spot for lunch or dinner. 

The next morning we ventured on a walk of Brian’s property. It would have been a lovely bush walk but our little Gigi man is still learning to love walking. In addition, he discovered the aforementioned roo poo, which was apparently the greatest thing since boiled chicken. 

When staying anywhere in the area, the best place to stop for a decent coffee is One Little Sister, located on the main street of Normanville. We picked up some fresh coffee and headed down to the Normaville beach for a walk and were lucky enough to share the beach with some miniature horses. 

Neither of us had been to Myponga before so we took the scenic route via the Myponga Reservoir, a road worth taking just for the views and scenery itself. We were headed for the Smiling Samoyed Brewery, a place that epitiomises ‘dog friendly’. The family owned and operated brewery is named after the owner’s Samoyed Dogs and the staff made us feel very welcome in the outdoor patio area. Nearly every worker acknowledged Gigi and this made our experience even better. Of course the incredible food and beer helped! Luckily we had already inhaled our fries and salt and pepper chicken when the rain started to hit. All of us were welcomed inside to shelter from the rain, even Gigi. Given we had found ourselves under a cosy umbrella, we were happy to stay outside, but the gesture that we were welcome inside, even with our pup was reassuring. 

On our return to Carrickalinga we stopped off at the only winery in the area, Allusion Wines. Regrettably, this is not the best the state has to offer by far. The cellar door experience was disappointing to say the least, which is unfortunate because the wine itself was palatable and the views stunning. It is a shame the current owners and operators don’t understand what a cellar door experience should and can be. 

The rain started and didn’t really stop for the rest of the day which meant we returned to our cosy home to spend time relaxing in our comfy accommodation. The Tiny House had the most gorgeous pizza oven just outside and so we made the most of our night in and as soon as the rain passed we attempted to make some pizzas. We can’t say we will be opening our own pizza shop anytime soon. We best stick to ordering and eating in future! 

The next morning we headed the One Little Sister again for some breakfast before heading our way back to the beach for another walk. This time we headed north along Carrickalinga beach, once again with all the space in the world to run. We can’t wait to return again soon and we certainly book Brian and Dawn’s Tiny House yet again. 

What would we recommend?

• The Tiny House accommodation for sure. However, best note that the stairs inside are quite steep so if you are travelling with young children or a pup who is prone to leg breaks just be wary. 

• Lunch or dinner at Forktree Brewery. We were told they also did breakfast but when we visited they weren’t offering it. 

• Coffee and/or breakfast at One Little Sister 

• Lunch and beer tasting at the Smiling Samoyed 

• Bakery stop at Yankalilla 

• Walks along Carrickalinga Beach 

What did we learn from our first getaway with Gigi?

• Always pack a doggy towel for the beach. Even if your pup doesn’t get wet it helps to clean up the sand.

• Meal prep pays off. I made sure to bring Gigi’s favourite doggy grub, enough for each meal.

• We packed containers of his dry food and treats. Again more than enough to see us through the trip and more

• His licky-mat came in handy for meals on the go for both his wet and dry food.

• Always have a travel bottle and bowl for the pooch.

• A harness and retractable lead is helpful for when you do need to have the pup on a lead but also want them to have some freedom.

Anniversary in Clare

To celebrate our 1st year wedding anniversary Marius surprised me with a weekend drive to Mount Gambier, purely to sample some of the best beef (and steak) the country has to offer at The Barn Steakhouse. When our 2nd year wedding anniversary came around, we were in Leicester, UK and ventured out to the oldest pub in town, The Globe. Naturally, we ordered the steak. It was there and then we realised we were yet to spend a wedding anniversary in our home-town, Adelaide and promised to always (where possible) escape and celebrate our anniversary somewhere outside of Adelaide, no matter how far. 

As our 3rd year wedding anniversary approached we brainstormed some possible destinations. Sevenhill, nestled in the Clare Valley has always had a special place in my heart. As a child I spent time playing in the grounds of Polish Hill River, where the polish community of Adelaide would often venture for visits and gatherings. In addition, as old scholars of Saint Ignatius’ College Adelaide, there is an extra special connection. 

When the Jesuits first came to Australia, they settled in Sevenhill in 1851, built a church, opened a school and planted vineyards. Sevenhill Cellars is the oldest winery in the region. While they started with sacramental wine, their wine portfolio is extensive, varied and very much one of our top recommendations. Not just a place to sample some of the best wines in the area, but beautiful grounds, a winery museum and underground cellar, all which must be explored.  If you have time, and are not opposed to visiting churches, pop into Saint Aloysius and the crypt. 

Clare Valley is often the forgotten 4th child after the McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. Depending on where you are in Adelaide, it is that bit further out to drive than the aforementioned regions, but it is worth it, especially if you plan on staying overnight. Whilst it can be explored in a day, it will be far more enjoyable if you booked yourself some accommodation and take your time. 

Marius and I booked a tent at Bukirk Glamping. We are not, nor will we ever be campers. If you are a backpacker, this blog is not for you! We had always been interested in glamping so when we discovered Bukirk, situated just north of the main town of Clare in Stanley Flat, we could not resist. The site is named Bukirk (which if you pretend you are a chicken, and make the sound, then you are saying it right). Owner Alison, or better known as Chook is an incredible host and has created an amazing excuse to visit the Clare Valley. Her site holds 5 tents, each with an adjoining bathroom (toilet, shower and basin). It really is an absolute must for couples or a group of friends. With a shared area to enjoy also, we’d recommend making the most of the facilities and spend at least 2 nights there. Chook will also introduce you to her farm animals and you’ll want to return just to see what more she does with the site that she has built herself. 

The tents are all named after different types of chickens, which she houses on site. You can’t leave without meeting Kevie (Bacon) the mini pig, although not so mini! I had pictured a tea cup piglet. The tents are beautifully decorated and furnished and extremely comfortable. Heating and electric blankets mean that even in the peak of winter, you’ll be super warm. Having some red wine running through the veins helps with that also. Would we go back? For sure, but we would also take 8 of our closest friends and book out all the tents, just because we know they’ll love it! If you’re a couple though, know that you can go and enjoy the seclusion of your own tent and area. Tip? Take something warm for the cold evenings. There’s only one way to enjoy those clear skies and star viewing and that is outside in the darkness with a glass of red. But dress for it! 

Clare Valley naturally is known for its wine, in particular Riesling, so our time spent there was pretty much just tasting wine and eating wonderful local produce! Here are our recommendations for any visitor of the area. 

To eat:

The Little Grape, Sevenhill – a gorgeous bakery with exceptional country baked goodies. Go for the chunky pie or sausage roll. Their finger buns flew out the door before we could try one, so clearly that says a lot. We’re confident anything you choose will be amazing. Marius in particular would encourage you to order a chocolate milkshake on the side of, well, anything really! 

Zest Coffee – this was probably the best coffee Clare has to offer. They know what a piccolo is and stock Milk Lab almond milk…. But we are coffee snobs, so this for us wasn’t our best coffee but still better than starting your day without any! 

Seed Winehouse and Kitchen – Doesn’t matter where we went in Clare, when we mentioned we had booked a table at Seed, everyone gave the enthusiastic nod of approval. We went on a Wednesday so it was quiet, but if you’re there on the weekend, we would recommend booking a table to avoid disappointment. It was all good. We ordered a few plates to share from their seasonal menu. If the artichoke risotto is on the menu, order the main to share and thank us later. If you enjoy gin, then you might get lucky with a gin cocktail on the house on arrival which is a lovely generous gesture. We ordered an espresso to finish the night and it was perfect. If Seed is open during the day then please stop in for a coffee. 

Skillogalee Winery and Vineyard – The most beautiful outlook. This tasting experience was perfect. We had a table in the outdoor restaurant and in between courses could pop inside for tastings. Across the road there are some beautiful vineyards for the best instagramable photo opportunity. 

To drink:

Paulette Wines – simply put. The best view in the valley. They have a café with an amazing view. While we didn’t eat there, we were completing our tasting while many diners were settling their bills. All gave glowing reviews and if we had another day we would have visited for a meal also. Nevertheless the service and wines were wonderful. 

Pikes Wines – probably the most stylish cellar door we have seen in a while. Only recently completed, it is sleek and sexy. The staff were fun and enjoyable to chat (and drink) with. Again if you have more time it is probably worth visiting their dining room, Slate. Next door you can also purchase a beer paddle tasting for $10. Perfect if you are visiting with a group and not everyone enjoys wine, although we understand nobody is perfect. Pikes is also situated next door to the Polish Hill River museum, although important to note it is only open on Sundays. But if you are like me and have some polish heritage if may be of interest to you. 

Sevenhill Cellars – as already mentioned. Please visit! If you only visit one cellar door in the whole valley, make it this one. While most cellar doors are close at 4pm, Sevenhill will still pour tasting until they close up at 5pm. 

Mad Bastard Wines – okay this one is an interesting one. Chook from Bukirk warned us that the owner and principal wine maker Jim Barry really is a mad bastard so we knew to expect the unexpected. When we opened the door and were told to ‘F*** off’ we were not disappointed! The cheeky signposts on the drive in were also entertaining and refreshing. True Australian sarcasm and dry humour is available along with some wonderful wines. Not for the easily offended though. 

Shut the Gate – grab a group of friends and go! It has the most beautiful outdoor seating areas. They also have a little provedore so you can purchase some wine, cheese and nibbles and get comfy whilst looking over the beautiful vineyards. It has an awesome vibe and one to enjoy for an extended period of time and perfect if you don’t want a sit down extended lunch. 

Jeaneret Wines – another good one if you are with non-wine drinkers. This is home to Clare Valley Brewing Co. so once again you can purchase a paddle of beer tastings and also some cheese boards and sit on the deck shaded by towering gum trees for a true Australian Bush Cellar door experience. 

We love that our 3rd year wedding anniversary will always be memorable thanks to the Clare Valley. But there are so many other places to eat and drink in the Valley so by no means is this an extensive list. The visitor centre in Clare can also give you some amazing ideas. We just hope you make the effort to visit this stunning untapped area not too far from Adelaide and enjoy it as much as we did. 

Staying healthy

You never get sick, until you travel! Both Marius and I like to think we are healthy, but no one is perfect.

There are some things that we always ensure we have with us because nothing is more challenging than being in a foreign language and needing to visit the pharmacy. 

• Panadol (some form of paracetamol) 

• Nurofen (ibuprofen) 

• Voltaren (anti-inflammatory) 

• Vicks (nasal spray/inhaler) 

• Bandaids (adhesive strips) 

• Ice Gel or Silver Clove (for those aches and pains) 

• Aeroguard (bug repellent) 

• Sanitiser (perfect for bite stings and cleaning those hands)

Our biggest issues:

Marius suffers from allergies when he enters some parts of the world unfamiliar to him. So he always needs to take some anti-allergens for occasions when the sneezing, running nose and itchy eyes attacks. 

I have a condition known as interstitial cystitis, where the bladder can become inflamed and the urge to go to the toilet often arises, which causes obvious discomfort. So I need to be careful when travelling. Travelling and toilets don’t always go hand in hand. This can cause anxiety for those who ‘need to pee’ often, myself included. There’s not much that can be done to stop the urge, so the best thing is just to accept that when you gotta go, you gotta go. Try and think ahead and accept that sometimes you may need to pay. Have some spare coins handy, always carry some tissues or wet wipes and hand sanitiser and travel with someone who doesn’t mind ordering themselves a coffee so that you can use the bathroom. It is not polite to just use a toilet from a business and not purchase anything. If you are near a shopping centre or even McDonalds, then that’s your best bet. No harm in ordering a cheeseburger while you’re there. 

Pillows! Marius and I try to take good care of our bodies and luckily, we are easy sleepers so can just about sleep anywhere BUT we always take our own pillows with us wherever we go. We aren’t back packers so if that’s your type of travelling this blog isn’t you for! But even if it is just a weekend away, our small carry on suitcases can even fit our pillows. We would sacrifice an extra pair of jeans or a bottle of shampoo for a decent night’s sleep and for that to occur we need our chiropractic approved pillows. 

Travel Tips

Eight tips on travelling.

One. Walk. Doesn’t matter how long you are in a city for, if there is a free walking tour, DO IT. They are the best ways to see a city, learn about the history, anecdotes of the places and people and, oh did we mention, it’s free!? Of course, you should always give a monetary tip and depending on the length and enjoyment of the tour, you decide how much. What I love is having a tour with a local. Someone who was born in and grew up in the city. When not on a tour and wherever possible WALK. It is the best way to get to know any place. Both the good and bad! 

Two. Dress like a local and be treated as one. Don’t look like a tourist. Imagine you were going on a tour of your own home city, what would you wear? What would you pack? Use a bag that doesn’t shout ‘I’M A BLOODY TOURIST COME AND GET ME.’ Marius and I pride ourselves on being stopped and asked for directions wherever we are. If we can blend in, mission accomplished! 

Three. Patience. This is the greatest virtue you need when travelling and sightseeing. There will be lines, crowds, annoyingly loud cultures (you know who they are). Your travel buddy will be tired, you will be tired, so just remember to be patient. You won’t see it all, you won’t do it all and that’s okay. Enjoy the moments in real time and stop worrying about what else there is to do. 

Four. Snacks. Don’t underestimate the power of a small handful of nuts. These snacks are light, don’t take up much room in you bag, don’t need to be kept cold and when your travel buddy or you are feeling hangry, eat a nut or two. 

Five. Shoes. A good pair of shoes can make or break your holiday. It doesn’t matter where in the world you go, you must have a pair of sneakers that can go with every outfit. Marius and I always pack a pair of Converse and Adidas sneakers, (black and or white). They go with most outfits and perfect for most temperatures. In cold climates we would recommend a decent pair of boots. Can’t go past an Australian pair of RM Williams. Worth. Every. Cent. Of course in hotter climates you will need an open shoe to let the feet breathe. 

Six. Sunnies. A good pair. A real pair. Something that actually protects and shades the UV light. If you are going to be out all day, you need to have a decent pair of sunglasses. Our favourite, why it’s Ray Ban of course!

Seven. Language and respect. DO NOT ever assume that people know how to speak English. If you are in a non-English speaking country, please please please learn the basics and master the polite form of asking ‘Madam/Sir, do you speak English?’ in the local language. Remember it is not an expectation for them to speak English. As native English speakers we are so blessed that so many places DO speak English, so please respect other cultures and languages by making the effort to learn something. Type it into Google translate and read it out from your phone if you must. They’ll appreciate that you have tried. 

Eight. Prioritise. Do and see what you love and are interested in. Why visit a church if you have no interest in architecture, art or religion? Why visit a museum if you find history boring? Don’t spend hours looking for a place to eat when you can easily pack a panini if that’s all you need. Prioritise and do what YOU love, not what the travel guides or bucket lists tell you to do.