South Australia is a dream destination for anyone with good taste. Here, a road trip guarantees great scenery, but also great food and wine. The question is, where are the places where the region’s cuisine really shines? With this guide, and a Hertz rental car, you can curate a journey that combines stunning drives with exceptional dining, covering everything from simple local produce to exceptional dining experiences.
Adelaide
Begin your journey in Adelaide, the region’s major city. Here, good food of every level is easy to find, especially with a rental car. To start your day head to the Central Market, a buzzing indoor market packed with local cheeses, charcuterie and artisan breads. Stop by Lucia’s or The Smelly Cheese Shop before heading to nearby Peel Street, where some of the city’s most inventive restaurants live. For something elevated, Restaurant Botanic offers a multi-course tasting menu inside the lush Botanic Gardens, showcasing native ingredients and foraged produce.
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills is a region that’s an easy drive from the city, and rewards you with an eclectic produce-driven food scene. In Hahndorf, South Australia’s German heritage meets modern cuisine: think traditional bakeries and boutique chocolatiers beside contemporary wine bars. At Mount Lofty Ranges Vineyard or The Summertown Aristologist, local ingredients are plated with creativity. The roads here are scenic and winding, perfect for a leisurely drive that reveals new cellar doors and viewpoints at every turn. 
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is arguably Australia’s best-known wine region, with a food scene that pairs perfectly. Visit institutions like Seppeltsfield or Penfolds for a taste of classic Shiraz, then seek out smaller producers such as Izway Wines or Yalumba for a more intimate experience. Lunch at Fino Seppeltsfield or Vintners Bar & Grill pairs local wines with regional produce. Between meals, the drive through Seppeltsfield Road, lined with date palms, is one of South Australia’s most picturesque stretches. (Just remember to have a designated driver if you plan on having any alcohol.)
Clare Valley
Clare Valley is known for its crisp Rieslings and farm-to-table restaurants. The Riesling Trail connects cellar doors and country towns, ideal for a slow drive with plenty of tasting stops. O’Leary Walker, Grosset, and Kilikanoon are among the must-visits, while Skillogalee and Pauletts offer excellent vineyard lunches. This region moves at its own relaxed pace, and the gentle hills lined with stone cottages make it one of the most rewarding food destinations to explore with a rental car.
Fleurieu Peninsula
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a beautiful coastal region that’s home to some of the country’s best wineries. McLaren Vale is at its heart, known for bold red wines and striking architecture, while d’Arenberg’s Cube is both a cellar door and an art installation. Nearby, the Star of Greece restaurant in Port Willunga serves fresh seafood above the cliffs, offering views that complement the food. The region’s markets and farm gates make it easy to stock up for a beach picnic, and the short drive between the vines and the sea gives you the best of both worlds. 
Eyre Peninsula
If time allows, extend your road trip west to the Eyre Peninsula, one of Australia’s most celebrated seafood regions. Coffin Bay oysters are the headline act, best enjoyed straight from the farm at Oyster HQ, while Port Lincoln is where bluefin tuna, kingfish and prawns are caught and served. Between tastings, the drive takes you past rugged coastlines and pristine beaches where dolphins and sea lions are regular visitors. It’s a long stretch from Adelaide, but for true food lovers, the journey is part of the reward.
A Journey for the Senses, With Hertz
South Australia invites travellers to eat and drink their way through a landscape that changes as quickly as the menu. Every region tells its own story: through a glass of wine, a local ingredient, or a view that stops you mid-drive. And with a Hertz rental car, you have the freedom to take it all in, to your own timetable.
