Lenswood: A complete travel guide to visiting the Adelaide Hills

With rolling hills and bountiful orchards, this picture-perfect town has made a name for itself – but not for the reason you might think.

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Welcome to Don’t Delay Your Stay, news.com.au’s campaign to support communities hard hit by this summer’s devastating bushfires. Many of these regions rely on tourism so one of the best ways to help is to visit and spend time in some of the most beautiful parts of our great country.

The town of Lenswood is famous for its fruit produce – apple, pears and cherries and its wines.

Cellar doors are dotted throughout the rolling hills and when they invented the word picturesque this is what they had in mind.

Pick your own fruit at the Apple Orchard in Lenswood. Picture: Ian Routledge, South Australian Tourism Commission

The area is just 15km by road and a few hills away from where the devastating Cudlee Creek fires started on December 20. Many vineyards, orchards, homes and equipment were lost and it’s been a tough time for the community.

Most businesses have reopened and the community is pulling together to support each other and the firefighters who battled the blazes.

Cherry picking is mostly over for this season but add it to your to-do-list if you plan to travel later in the year.

Lunch at Pike & Joyce Winery is a must. Picture: Duy Dash, South Australian Tourism Commission

At Pike & Joyce Winery you can enjoy lunch in the restaurant or grab a platter and sit on the lawn.

The fire got very close to Anderson Hill winery which lost some vines but its cellar door and restaurant were all saved and are now open for tastings and lunch.

Golding Wines had significant vineyard losses but fortunately its cellar door, terrace areas and gardens were not damaged and are operating as usual.

Stay the night at Ode to the Orchard. Picture: Romany Mollison/odetotheorchard.com

Sadly, some wineries in the area were lost in the fires, such as Tilbrook Estate, which has set up a GoFundMe page.

AND JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Here are a few more places you could add to your list.

The Gorge Wildlife Park at Cudlee Creek.

Enjoy a gin tasting at the nearby Applewood Distillery. Picture: Erik Rosenberg

Applewood gin distillery – Gumeracha. Located in an old apple cold store shed, this local gin maker offers gin tastings. You can set yourself at the long bar or settle into one of the comfy chairs.