Soak up everything South Australia has to offer – from alfresco bathing to an indoor pool lit by chandeliers.
Sofitel Adelaide
108 Currie Street, Adelaide; (08) 8432 1900.
Sofitel’s indoor pool is softly lit by three blue chandeliers.
THE LOCATION The hotel is centrally located on busy Currie Street, just east of main thoroughfare King William Street, from which everything is in easy walking distance.
THE PLACE Keeping pace with Adelaide’s rapidly changing luxury accommodation scene, the Sofitel is the city’s first internationally recognised, five-star luxury hotel. The $150 million project opened its doors in November 2021 and has been custom-designed to incorporate distinct elements of South Australia’s heritage, with French luxury and style in mind.
THE EXPERIENCE No expense has been spared here. Each of the hotel’s public spaces is grand, starting with the red wine-inspired sculpture that leads guests from the front entrance through the lobby. There are 251 sophisticated guest suites and rooms, with Balmain Paris toiletries and a shower that features a mosaic depicting a stained-glass window. These elements represent cathedrals from both Paris and the city of churches. The fitness area is decked out with the latest equipment, while an indoor pool – a beautiful corridor of marble and pale blue – is softly lit by three blue chandeliers. There are also three food and wine offerings, including Déjà Vu, a ground-level champagne bar, and, on the ninth floor, the spectacular Garçon Bleu.
DON’T MISS It’s only a short walk to the Leigh and Peel Street dining precinct, which includes smash-hit New York-inspired eatery Fugazzi Bar and Dining Room.
FROM $320 a night. Kylie McLaughlin
Esca at Nest and Nature
459 Strangways Road, Inman Valley; 0499 174 654.
Set in the Fleurieu Peninsula, Esca’s off-grid pods are 75 minutes from Adelaide’s CBD.
THE LOCATION While these luxurious, off-grid pods in the little-known Inman Valley on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula feel remote, you’re only 75 minutes’ drive from downtown Adelaide.
THE PLACE Specially chosen as a pilot for ESCA’s concept of a network of off-grid retreats, these two customised suites deliver an immersive, luxury experience where it’s least expected. Designed by Adelaide-based DAS Studio and constructed off-site to minimise their environmental footprint, both 62-square-metre suites (Nest at the top of the site; Mist a discreet distance below) feature wood heaters, stone bathtubs and bespoke furniture and lighting by Adelaide’s Jam Factory.
THE EXPERIENCE From your king-size bed, soak in sweeping valley vistas to the Southern Ocean beyond. Pour yourself an alfresco bath (or ask on-site host and property owner Mark Kirk to run one for you) and soak beneath the stars. Watch wallabies graze as you fire up the barbie on the terrace and toast marshmallows around the fire pit. Breakfast, aperitivo provisions and local wine are included.
DON’T MISS Book for lunch at the friendly cliff-top eatery Star of Greece, which overlooks Port Willunga beach.
FROM $599 a night; two-night minimum stay. Sheriden Rhodes
Randells Mill
37 Victoria Street, Gumeracha; 0417 211 888.
The 1800s stone building has been reworked into two self-contained apartments.
THE LOCATION Take a 45-minute drive north-west from Adelaide, winding past vineyards and dairy cows, and you’ll arrive at the sleepy town of Gumeracha (pronounced gum-a-rack-a), famous for its “big thing”: the Big Rocking Horse.
THE PLACE In the mid-1800s, William Beavis Randell built Randells Mill on the banks of Kenton Creek as a flour mill. Today, the historic stone building has been lovingly restored to create two charming, self-contained apartments. Each features soaring ceilings and a loft bedroom with king-size bed, while eclectic treasures worthy of a “rustic farmhouse” board on Pinterest adorn each space.
THE EXPERIENCE Warm up after a day of cellar-door hopping around the Adelaide Hills in Loft 1 with its roaring, wood-fire heater and spa for two. Settle in for a romantic evening in Loft 2 with its snug sofa, toasty floor heating and classic, clawfoot bath. Roam the property’s leafy gardens and say hello to Roy and HG, the resident alpacas. Stays include generous breakfast provisions, to be enjoyed in the cosy kitchens or outside in the sun-filled courtyard.
DON’T MISS Wander 10 minutes into town and grab a coffee at The Good Pantry cafe before browsing the artisanal finds in the Peregrine Store across the road.
FROM $220 a night; two-night minimum stay. Genevieve Quigley
Brockenchack Retreat
351 Sawpit Gully Road, Keyneton; (07) 5458 7700.
Set in a working winery, Brockenchat Retreat overlooks Eden Valley pastures.
THE LOCATION Brockenchack feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere as you sit on the patio and stare across the empty pastures of Eden Valley. The truth, however, is that it’s only a 15-minute drive from the heart of the Barossa Valley.
THE PLACE This is a working winery, featuring a network of vineyards and three private accommodation options, the best of which is the Retreat. This smart, modern property may seem at odds with its bucolic surrounds, but it works. The Retreat has three double bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a huge open-plan lounge with views over the patio to an old, gnarled river red gum. There’s a fire pit, and two outdoor baths.
The Retreat has three double bedrooms and a huge open-plan lounge.
THE EXPERIENCE You could spend your days flitting back and forth to the Barossa, which is a great idea, or you could visit the nearby Eden Valley wineries, which is also smart. Another option is to enjoy a tour of the Brockenchack Wines Vineyard, which is free for guests. Regardless, every evening should be spent around that fire pit, enjoying the silence and the beauty of the Australian bush, with a glass of wine in hand.
DON’T MISS Call into Poonawatta, a nearby Eden Valley winery, for an extensive tasting. The welcome is warm and the wine top-notch.
FROM $665 a night; two-night minimum stay. Ben Groundwater
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