Langhorne Creek Explorer
8 Hours
Shared tour
Wine Lover
Railway Tour
Be transported from Mount Barker to Strathalbyn on heritage rail and explore the iconic Langhorne Creek wine region.
This has to be one of the most unique wine tours in the country, travelling on a historic steam train to one of Australia's greatest wine regions. Definitely a tour like no other!
Langhorne Creek is regarded as one of Australia's greatest wine regions to those in the know, with many wine lovers vouching for the quality wines that come from the region.
Iconic winemakers like Wolf Blass, Penfolds, and Stonyfell Wines who won the first ever Jimmy Watson Trophy in 1962 with a Langhorne Creek red wine blend, knew the strength and character of the region's product which continues today with enjoyable, award-winning wines being made from local wineries.
Not only is the region's landscape aesthetically pleasing, but it is also rich in history dating back to the 1840's and 50's when settlers like Alfred Langhorne and Frank Potts first arrived in the area, with Potts being responsible for establishing one of Australia's oldest family-owned wineries, Bleasdale.
Only a stone's throw from Langhorne Creek is the historic township of Strathalbyn which is known for having a historic building around every corner. Many of the old stone build structures are today home to antique and collectable dealers, museums, art galleries, cafes and shops.
Tour Details
Pricing
$ 179 per Adult
$ 99 per Child
Tour code
WT48LCE
Departs
09:30 am
Selected Sundays from September to November
Returns
5:00 pm
What's included
Return heritage train travel from Mount Barker to Strathalbyn, Coach touring through Strathalbyn and Langhorne Creek wine region, a 2 course lunch, wine tastings at 2 cellar doors and informative commentary by a local guide.
Regions visited
Adelaide Hills
Langhorne Creek and Strathalbyn
Fleurieu Peninsula
Itinerary
Start your day at Mount Barker by boarding the Steamranger Railway Heritage train and travel away from the expanding town past strawberry fields and pastures as the steam train gently climbs to the top of range before traversing down the eastern escapement of the Mount Lofty Ranges towards the plains and the historic township of Strathalbyn.
On arriving at Strathalbyn, be collected by your touring coach and meet your host who will guide you through the historic area of High Street on your way for the short journey to the Langhorne Creek wine region.
Arrive at the first winery for the day and be guided through a wine tasting by your cellar door host before travelling to the Bridge Hotel in the heart of Langhorne Creek for lunch. Whilst travelling through the towns and vineyards of the area, enjoy a full commentary from your guide who will talk about the history of the area and point out landmarks and places of interest.
Enjoy a second winery visit and tasting after lunch and continue on to Strathalbyn for a chance to explore the town before reboarding the heritage train to return you back to Mount Barker.
Travel back through gumtrees and farming land and listen to the puff of the steam engine as it pulls its train back up the steep ranges and into the Adelaide Hills to complete it journey back at the Mount Barker Railway Station.
Highlights
-
Enjoy wine tasting at 2 local Langhorne Creek wineries and cellar doors during the tour.
-
Visit wineries such as Bleasdale, home to the 1890 historic wine press, Kimbolton, Bremerton, Rusticana Wines, Lake Breeze, Vineyard Road, Angas Plains wines or Windsong Wines.
-
Experience great country hospitality at the 1850 built Bridge Hotel nestled in the heart of Langhorne Creek to enjoy a scrumptious 2 course lunch
-
The Steamranger Heritage Railway train from Mount Barker to Strathalbyn travelling through the rolling hills, scenic valleys, tall gumtrees and farmland countryside of the region.
-
Strathalbyn’s collection of antique, collectable and speciality stores, heritage buildings and museums.
-
Step back in time and travel behind heritage steam locomotives and diesels dating back to the early 1900's.
Our Langhorne Creek Explorer tour is a great way to enjoy a fun and stress-free experience and be introduced to the Langhorne Creek wine region and Strathalbyn. We look forward to showing you around!!
Tour Schedule
9.15 AM -Check in at the Mount Barker Railway Station and board the Steamranger Heritage Railway
9.30 AM -Depart Mount Barker aboard the heritage train
10.30 AM -Arrive at Strathalbyn and board the luxury road coach for Langhorne Creek
11.00 AM -Arrive at the first winery and cellar door for wine tasting
12.15 PM -Arrive at the Bridge Hotel in Langhorne Creek for lunch
2.00 PM -Arrive at the second winery and cellar door for wine tasting
3.30 PM -Arrive at Strathalbyn with a driving tour of the town.
4.00 PM -Depart Strathalbyn aboard the train and travel back to Mount Barker
5.00 PM -Arrive back at Mount Barker Railway Station
Notes
-
Our regular South Coast Wine Train tour is not operating during 2024 due to major track, bridge and infrastructure works taking place on the railway between Strathalbyn and Goolwa.
-
There will be no wine train bar or platters available on the train for this tour.
-
Even though the Steamranger train is advertised to be hauled by a steam engine, we do not guarantee that a steam engine will always be available due to operational constraints or similar. When a steam engine is not available, needing mechanical repairs or similar, the train will be diesel engine hauled or diesel railcar.
.png)
Langhorne Creek Explorer
What to Bring
-
Comfortable walking shoes
-
Sunscreen
-
Hat
-
Camera
-
Warm clothing through the cooler months of the years
-
An appetite to try some terrific wines
Tour Bits & Tips
-
The heritage train carriages can be cold first thing in the morning, so make sure you bring a coat or jacket. This can be the case even on the sunny days as the starting station for the train at Mount Barker takes a while to see the warmth from the full sun.
-
There is a diverse spread of age and history of wineries in Langhorne Creek starting with Bleasdale Wines dating back to 1850 to the lastest cellar door to open in the last 5 or so years called Windsong Wines.
-
The Steamranger Heritage Railway maintain and operate over 80 kilometres of railway line, making it the longest preserved railway line in Australia. The rail journey from Mount Barker to Strathalbyn return is a total of 53 km or almost 33 miles.
-
There is no Creek or waterway called Langhorne Creek! The name came about due to the cattle drover Alfred Langhorne moving his mob into the area. Where he crossed the Bremer River was referred to as Langhorne's Crossing and over time that has become Langhorne Creek!
Other tours you may like
_JPG.jpg)
McLaren Vale and Hills Highlights Tour
