Whether it’s a family getaway or a romantic weekend, SA’s regional accommodation offerings mean you can get away from it all without even leaving the state.

Words Melissa Keogh, Bridget Laucke, Gretel Sneath, Christine Webster and Belinda Willis

Adelaide Hills: Mt Lofty House
After much excitement, Mt Lofty House Estate’s latest addition, the new luxury lodge Sequoia, will open to guests in November 2020. The elegant sanctuary offers a reception, dining room and lounge, 14 luxurious suites, and Japanese style spring-fed onsen pools with breathtaking views. Sequoia adds to the existing high-end accommodation on the estate at Mt Lofty House which was the most awarded hotel in Australia in 2019. Whether it’s for a special occasion, wedding or work conference, Mt Lofty House is the place to be pampered and enjoy the best of old-fashioned hospitality.

Adelaide Hills: Lucent Art house
Lucent Art House is a spacious architecturally-designed accommodation, filled with original art, designer furniture, hand-selected vintage wares and carefully picked items to ensure you love every moment of your stay in Stirling. It’s like sleeping in a gallery. In fact, it is a gallery space for Worth Gallery and show room for builder LUCENT Constructions. There are three completely private, self-contained spaces – The Tree House, Pool Room and Snug – which can accommodate up to 14 guests in total. Underfloor heating and double glazing offer year-round comfort, with a mineral pool, spa, and fully-equipped kitchen.

Fleurieu: Tent on a Hill
Glamping experience Tent on a Hill gives visitors a chance to unwind, relax and reconnect with nature, but in style and with comfort. There are five different tent locations, all in the McLaren Vale region. Each tent is stylishly designed and features a queen bed and basic needs such as bedding, towels, washing facilities, water and dinnerware. Board games and some other homely touches are also included, and during the cooler months, guests can use the fire pit to warm up, cook a meal or roast some marshmallows.

Fleurieu: Naiko Retreat
Stay at Naiko Retreat and feel like you’re on the edge of the world. It sits on a hill on the south coast near Deep Creek Conservation Park, overlooking a private cove. Boasting views of the ocean across to Kangaroo Island, the eco-luxe retreat has three king bedrooms with en suites and a free-standing bath. Homewares and furnishings are polished and sophisticated, the environment secluded and offering an escape from busy reality.

Barossa: Lyndoch Hill
Lyndoch Hill is the perfect base from which to explore the Barossa Valley. Set on a 10-hectare property with a stunning garden it is a wonderful escape from everyday living. The 34 motel-style rooms overlook various parts of the garden, the Barossa Ranges, or vineyards and 24 of them have their own small private balcony. Watch the sunset over the Barossa Ranges while listening to an orchestra of birds. Book a table at the Lyndoch Hill restaurant, which offers breakfast and seasonal a la carte menus.

Barossa: Barossa Pavilions
Relax in your own private sanctuary at Barossa Pavilions, with six freestanding self-contained private villas to choose from, as well as the award-winning Barossa Glasshouse, designed by renowned architect Max Pritchard. Perched in the hillside, the eco-luxury accommodation sits on 30 hectares adjacent Chateau Yaldara. You’ll enjoy not only the views over the Barossa Valley, but also all those little luxuries that make a stay so much more comfortable, such as a locavore gourmet breakfast selection.

Clare: Neagles Retreat
The villas at Neagles Retreat are dispersed enough to enjoy undisturbed scenery and privacy, yet close enough if you’re staying with friends or family. The retreat is set on a 75-acre property, among five acres of riesling vines. Each villa features a cosy area with gas log fire and deck outside to overlook the vines with a glass of crisp riesling in hand. Venture to the many nearby wineries, including Neagles Estate, where you can try their Fresca Sangria.

Clare: One Tree Bed and Breakfast
One Tree Bed and Breakfast offers modern country accommodation with many eco-conscious features to enjoy. Use it as your base as you take your time to explore Auburn and the Clare Valley, or relax and unwind in your own private accommodation with complimentary wine, generous breakfast provisions, organic chocolate and more. Choose from either The Suite, a romantic studio for two people, or The Retreat, a two-bedroom cottage, both with luxurious features including spas.

Flinders & Outback: Leigh Creek Outback Resort
The Leigh Creek Outback Resort is a hub of tourism and hospitality in the Northern Flinders region. A great spot to base yourself, the resort has a range of accommodation, as well as a restaurant and cafe. Nearby is Lake Eyre and the Aroona Dam Sanctuary. Staff at the resort will be only too happy to help you build an itinerary of outback adventures.

Flinders & Outback: Flinders Bush Retreats
Experience the beauty and tranquillity of the outback at Flinders Bush Retreats near Hawker in the Flinders Ranges. The award-winning boutique farm stay offers the Mt Scott Homestead and The Quarters, both self-contained farmhouses ideal for families or groups. Visitors wanting to experience nature with a few creature comforts can glamp it up in the fully self-contained yet secluded eco tent, complete with a small kitchenette, barbecue, and en suite bathroom. True campers can set up at the bush campsites in designated spots in Willow Waters Gorge.

Kangaroo Island: Oceanview Eco Villas
Leave Kangaroo Island with the smallest of footprints at Oceanview Eco Villas. The two villas feature two bedrooms each, with private en suites and spacious living areas. The 500-acre coastal property is the backdrop to the luxury stay, which includes three-course dinners accompanied by Kangaroo Island wines, and a cooked breakfast each morning. It’s the perfect place to spot some wildlife, from kangaroos and wallabies to wedge-tailed eagles and white-bellied eagles. Local products are used at Oceanview wherever possible to minimise their impact on the environment.

Limestone Coast: Blue Fin Holiday Homes
Base yourself beachside at Port MacDonnell’s Blue Fin Holiday Homes, just 20 minutes from Mount Gambier. Their Horizons apartment has been designed with ocean views in mind and is perfect for a whole family, or for a romantic getaway. Breakfast in the morning and wine in the evening are best enjoyed on the balcony. The Blue Fin apartment is just behind the foreshore and a short distance to a walking track and has plenty of room in the yard for activities. The Red Fin apartment has views of the bush and reserve; spot the kangaroos feeding at dawn and dusk.

Limestone Coast: Abode Accommodations
Overlooking Mount Gambier’s Vansittart Park, Abode Accommodations has been completely renovated, with a contemporary, yet classic style. Sit outside and enjoy a barbecue, or on chilly days and nights, rug up in front of the gas wood fire. It’s just a short walk from the town’s amenities, including pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Limestone Coast: Bellwether Wines
Even the most adamant anti-camper will fall for glamping beneath a starry sky at Bellwether Wines. From the vintage nanna basket filled with wine, freshly-baked bread and a night lamp, to the luxe bedding with cosy woollen rugs and the morning call of the kookaburras, this is outdoor heaven. Great for a weekend away with a bunch of couples – tie it in with a Table of 12 dinner experience inside the rustic Bellwether winery, dining with your own personal chef and winemaker. 

Eyre Peninsula: Port Lincoln Hotel
On the shores of Boston Bay with a range of rooms with views of town or ocean, this award-winning retreat has 111 rooms and suites. There is 24-hour reception, function spaces, lift access, free Wi-Fi, restaurant and bar, gym and a solar-heated pool to keep guests happy. A fine location making it easier to wander the town streets or foreshore.

This information first appeared in The SALIFE Food & Wine List 2020.