A coastal journey through South Australia promises a captivating holiday, exploring everything from cultural richness to culinary adventures. Follow our guide below to make the most of your getaway to Adelaide and experience the best that the region has to offer.
Gardens and Greenery
Begin your journey through South Australia with an uplifting visit to the picturesque Mount Lofty Botanic Garden. A 30-minute drive from the Hertz Adelaide Downtown branch, the gardens showcase an extensive range of cool-climate plants, including a heritage rose garden and Rhododendron gully. Explore the gardens at your own leisure or let an experienced guide take you on a private tour. During your visit, take time out to experience bliss at the Gatekeeper’s Day Spa, located in Mount Lofty House. With treatments inspired by the beauty of the gardens, let all your worries melt away during a luxurious massage or facial. After you’ve wandered the gardens and settled in for a spa treatment, venture back into the city for a gourmet bistro dining experience. The Kitchen at SkyCity embraces the mouth watering flavours of Modern Australian cuisine, with a focus on South Australian steak and seafood. Highly regarded as one of Adelaide’s best restaurants, The Kitchen not only boasts exquisite cuisine, but the New York-styled dining room also oozes opulence offering patrons an elevated culinary experience. 
Hahndorf and the Hills
Before exploring Adelaide’s coastal beauty, head inland to discover the rolling Adelaide Hills, filled with picturesque landscapes and charming villages. If you’re visiting on a Saturday, get a taste of local culture with an outing to the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market. Here you can browse homemade savouries and sweets, fresh produce and bring home jams, marmalades and oils while enjoying the sounds of local performers. After indulging in a coffee and treat, take a leisurely stroll through Hahndorf, Australia's oldest surviving German settlement. Here, you’ll be inspired to explore the town’s unique boutique shops and galleries, including The German Village Shop. Delve into German history and try an assortment of German Beer in the heritage-listed stone building before browsing the impressive range of cuckoo clocks, traditional German beer steins and watches. When it’s time to dine, delve into a five-course Provenance menu, seasonal Harvest menu or seven-course chef’s table experience at The Lane Vineyard. However, you choose to dine, The Lane restaurant sits in the centre of the verdant vineyard, providing a scenic setting for all, and wine aficionados won’t be overlooked with a premium selection of wine varieties from the Heritage, Estate, Provenance and Lane ranges - remember to appoint a designated driver for a safe drive back to your accommodation.
Head Out on a Tasting Journey
Back in the city, start your day with a gourmet breakfast at a chic cafe. The Loose Caboose serves up brunch classics in one of Australia's oldest railway stations. Snack on delicious delights while embracing the old-world atmosphere of the heritage-listed setting. After breakfast, take a short walk over the Hindmarsh Bridge alongside the dazzling River Torrens and soak up Adelaide’s natural charm. Boat enthusiasts can head over to Bonython Park to sail a model boat on Australia’s first purpose-built model boat pond. After a slow-paced morning, head to McLaren Vale, a short drive from Adelaide, in your Hertz rental car. The Coriole Vineyards are among a wide selection of wineries, breweries, and distilleries in the McLaren Vale wine region, which is best known for Shiraz. The Coriole Cellar Door is nestled among vast vineyards, colourful gardens and quaint farmhouses and offers hosted tastings with cheese platters to nibble on. Coriole is also part of the McLaren Vale Cellar Door Tree Trail, highlighting the importance of trees in the region. After a tasting, explore the seaside with a scenic coastal drive past Moana Beach, Port Noarlunga, and Christies Beach. Stop over at the Onkaparinga River Mouth Viewpoint and Port Noarlunga Jetty on the way, capturing scenic shots of the area for the photo album, before dining at a waterfront restaurant for dinner. 
Natural Beauty at the Beach
It wouldn’t be a coastal road trip around Adelaide without a day spent on the city’s most renowned beach, Glenelg. Only a 20-minute drive from the city centre, head out in your Hertz rental car, stopping at picturesque viewpoints along the way. Enjoy a day at the beach, whether it’s spent lounging on a daybed, trying your hand at water sports, or relaxing at a beachfront spa. With a vibrant atmosphere and coastal community feel, Glenelg is the perfect place to experience living like a local while soaking up the sunshine. For those that fancy everything seafood and shellfish, opt for lunch at the Oyster Bar on the Holdfast Shores Marina. The Oyster Bar offers fresh Oysters sourced from Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, as well as alternatives like seafood platters and grazing plates for those more interested in other seafood varieties. On the shore, explore Glenelg's Jetty Road for luxury shopping and boutique stores. Wander the kilometre-long shopping strip to browse everything from Indigenous art galleries to bespoke jewellers.
From coastal beauty at landmark beaches to luxury shopping and dining experiences, a road trip through Adelaide blends gardens, hills, and coastlines for an unforgettable scenic adventure.
