Where the city ends, the Adelaide Hills region begins. It’s a place of vales, villages and vines – a place that’s a little bit cooler and a lot more relaxed.

1. Linger Over a Long Lunch

With more than 50 cellar doors, the Adelaide Hills is one of the closest wine regions to an international airport anywhere in the world. Growers are low-production and boutique, and renowned for their cool climate sparklings and Sauvignon Blanc. No small number of them also do stellar seasonal menus. Three of our favourites include The Lane (Hahndorf), Mount Lofty Ranges Vineyard (Lenswood) and Goldings Winery (Lobethal).

2. Take in the View

Mt Lofty (Yuridla) is South Australia’s third-highest peak and, sitting at the top of the Freeway, something of a gateway to the region. At 727 metres above sea level, Mt Lofty Summit offers sweeping panoramas and multiple walking trails (look out for koalas and superb fairy-wrens). It’s also home to a café and bar – ideal if you’ve done the thigh busting walk from Waterfall Gully.

3. Get Intimate with Native Wildlife

The spectacular bushland setting of Cleland Wildlife Park in Crafers is home to some 130 native Australian species, including kangaroos, wallabies, emus, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, wombats, koalas and reptiles. The park offers daily koala and reptile-holding experiences which include a photo and the chance to meet the keepers. Other highlights include feed-time keeper talks and guided nocturnal walks.

4. Enter the World of Sir Hans Heysen

Sir Hans Heysen, one of Australia’s most revered painters, lived and worked at The Cedars from 1912 until his death in 1968. Tour the elegant Edwardian house near Hahndorf where he raised his family, the stone studio where he created his works and the surrounding paddocks with some of the gum trees he made famous. It’s all little changed from when the Heysens were in residence and houses an unrivalled collection of Sir Hans’ works. As evocative as it is inspiring, The Cedars ranks among the world’s great artist residences and is one of the treasures of South Australia.

5. Spend a Day in Hahndorf

Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement and one of the nation’s most visited attractions. The town was established in 1839 by Prussian Lutherans and many of the original buildings are still intact. These distinct ‘fachwerk’ dwellings now house a range of colourful outlets, including artisan craft studios, cellar doors, farm gates, German-inspired cafés and restaurants and two pubs. Be sure to call into Hahndorf Academy, home to galleries, a small museum and craft shop featuring the work of local artists.

Read dueSouth Magazine here.