Hahndorf Information

Hahndorf Information

Situated in the Adelaide Hills, a short 20 minute drive to the south east of Adelaide, Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. It is a great place to stay if you’re travelling in the region with its close proximity to Adelaide and the vineyards of the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. It has managed to retain much of its historic charm making it a must-see destination within its own right.

Settled in the 1830s, Hahndorf’s beauty lies in its retention of a classic German image. Walk down Mount Barker road and be intrigued by the smell of authentic bratwursts, smallgoods and German pastries. The historic Hanhdorf Academy, a former school house, is now a centre for arts and culture in the Adelaide Hills and well worth a visit. Check out ‘The Cedars’, home to the renowned Australian artist Sir Hans Heysen and walk through his former house and studio. Pop into one of the many cafes along Main Street for a sample of some of the local delicacies.

You should also take a short trip to the nearby Beerenberg strawberry farm which is still a commercial farm.  You can pick your own strawberries from the bushes in the warmer months and buy their excellent jam from the shop. Another place to keep the kids entertained is the Hahndorf Farm Barn where they can feed animals and milk cows as well as watch sheep shearing demonstrations.

Hahndorf also has a number of great pubs. The award winning restaurant at the Hahndorf Inn serves traditional German meals made from decades old family recipes. Bistro 25 is the favourite of the locals featuring both German and local meals including local beers and wines.

If staying in the area, there are a number of small boutique hotels such as The Manna and Zorros at Hahndorf while there are also a number of small bed and breakfasts throughout the Adelaide Hills.