Be Consumed

We went to the Barossa Valley to be consumed.

OK, it wasn’t much like the advertisement – there wasn’t a moody Nick Cave soundtrack playing, nor did we roll around in the dirt, pluck any chickens or stand in the rain, but we did see some rabbits.

In our Barossa experience, we took Audrey and the kids to the Tanunda Caravan Park (about 69 kilometres north of Adelaide). It has now taken over the best caravan park in SA spot (in my eyes). Up there, in a very close second, is Clare, third is Port Vincent. We have many more to visit and I won’t name the ones that lag behind, but these three tick all the boxes for us as a family. But with any caravan parks it’s all about picking the right site (we always try for end spots) – the wrong site can ruin a trip. And it’s all about trying to get there when it isn’t peak times so you have the run of the park.

Tanunda pushed to the front for a number of reasons. First off – it has the cleanest, most modern toilet blocks I’ve ever seen in a caravan park. It has an old school outdoor auditorium where the kids put on plays and danced. At night it was transferred into an outdoor cinema – people sat in their deck chairs, wrapped in blankets and watched the movie under the stars. The staff were super friendly. The sites were grass, covered with tall trees for shade and privacy. There was a bouncy pillow, playground and a pool – all vital when kids come along. There was a huge grassed area where we played frisbee, quoits and chasey.

The township of Tanunda, and nearby Nuriootpa, are delightful and have amazing produce. The wineries are world class. Markets scrumptious. There’s also a local Rex Centre with brilliant heated indoor pools and cafe which makes holidaying with kids so much more fun. Barossa Valley is stunning. And to get there took us about one hour which makes quick trips away easy.

Mostly it’s about the experience you share as a family. And we had a few days jammed packed full of fabulous experiences – visits to local shops, geocaching down winding country roads, swimming and much laughter. Our trip may have been vastly different from the ad, it wasn’t sultry and sexy which is sure can be when you travel as a couple, but it is a magical place all the same. Barossa. Be consumed.