A Roadtrip North of Adelaide: From the Barossa to Clare and Port Pirie

Most road trips out of Adelaide head south. This one goes north, through world-class wine country, past a lake that turns pink, and all the way to the wild coast beyond. Here’s how to spend some unforgettable days exploring the side of South Australia most visitors never see.

Pink Lakes and Pinot: A Northern Road Trip

Most people picture Adelaide’s road trips heading south, down toward the vineyards of McLaren Vale or the coastal curves of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Sure, they might head to the Barossa and taste the wines, but any further north never makes it into the plans.

Driving north from Adelaide, you reach rolling wine country, ancient national parks, and a lake that turns bubblegum pink depending on the season and so much more. This truly is a part of South Australia that rarely makes the postcards, and that’s exactly what makes it worth exploring!

So after a start in the Barossa, push further north and watch the landscape unfold all the way to the town of Port Pirie; the gateway to the Southern Flinders Ranges. Because along the way there’s a whole lot to uncover.

Your ‘North of Adelaide’ Itinerary

Block out at least four days, load up the car, and point it north. This is the Adelaide road trip most people never think to take, and it might just be the best one.

Stop 1: Barossa Valley

We know, the Barossa Valley needs little introduction; it’s one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions, famous for bold Shiraz and over 150 wineries. But dare to taste beyond the big names, and discover spots like Hayes Family Wines with tastings from a converted century-old garage in Stone Well, and Tscharke where cellar door tastings take place in a cool underground cave carved into the Western Ridge.

In the Barossa, the food scene runs just as deep, with paddock-to-plate menus at spots like Hentley Farm and Pindarie, pairing estate-grown produce with their own wines. You’ve simply got to book a great meal whilst you’re here (alongside the famous bakery stops!).

And for your information, Tanunda is the best base for walkable access to cellar doors, Nuriootpa is more practical and central, and Angaston brings old-world charm at a slower pace.

If you’re staying in Tanunda, Mercure Barossa Valley is a solid pick, tucked off the main road within walking distance of town, with luxury spa suites, apartments, and its own onsite restaurant, Angus & Co. Barossa.

Stop 2: Clare Valley

If Barossa is the region everyone talks about, Clare is the quieter, boutiquey cousin that you’ll wish you’d found sooner. It has the same small-producer feel, minus the crowds, with cellar doors like Mr Mick, Kilikanoon and Jim Barry tucked among rolling hills and quiet country roads.

You don’t have to spend the whole time drinking here either. The Riesling Trail is a genuine highlight, a converted rail line perfect for cycling or walking past vineyards and gum trees, and the wider region is dotted with heritage towns like Mintaro and Burra worth a wander for their old stone buildings and history. So if you prefer, come with the intention of exploration, because Clare is a slower and quieter alternative to Barossa, ideal if you want to relax rather than rush between world-famous tastings.

For your stay, Clare Country Club is a good pick, set on the edge of town next to the golf course, with a pool, spa, tennis court and its own restaurant looking out over Lake Inchiquin. Come back here after a day of cellar doors and cycling.

Stop 3: Port Pirie

On the way from Clare, heading further north, break up the drive with a stop at Lake Bumbunga, about 30 to 40 minutes past Clare near the town of Lochiel. The bubblegum-pink salt lake is a genuinely surprising sight in the middle of farming country, and the ideal, quick photo stop before continuing on.

From here, head to Port Pirie and make it your base. As the gateway to the Southern Flinders Ranges, this coastal, industrial heritage town places you near some of South Australia’s wildest and most rewarding scenery (even if you may not have heard about it before!).

Spend some time exploring the town’s history and waterfront walks first, then use it as a launchpad for the big stuff: a full hiking day at Mount Remarkable, the dramatic quartzite walls of Alligator Gorge, and the historic charm of Melrose at the base of the ranges.

For your stay, BreakFree Port Pirie sits right on the main road into town, with a mix of motel rooms, spa suites and newly built deluxe villas, an outdoor pool, and the onsite Angus & Co. Bar and Grill to wind down after a big day out.

Keep Going…

If your schedule allows for it, don’t stop at Port Pirie; this drive practically begs you to keep going!

Push on up through Quorn and follow the Flinders Ranges Way north, where the landscape turns into station country with rust-red hills and roadside wildlife the further you go. Stop in at Kanyaka Homestead ruins along the way, a haunting reminder of the region’s pastoral history, or detour to Warren Gorge for a chance at spotting yellow-footed rock-wallabies on the cliffs.

The reward at the end of it all is Wilpena Pound, a natural amphitheatre of jagged peaks ringing an ancient valley, and one of the most iconic landscapes in the country. Hike into the Pound itself, take in the view from Wangara Lookout, or simply sit back and take in just how vast and untouched this part of South Australia really is.

If time’s tighter, simply turn the car around at Port Pirie and head back to Adelaide, you’ll still have had a genuinely full and varied trip behind you!