South Australia (Barossa Valley)
Tanunda
Tanunda is the cultural heart of the Barossa. The most German of all the valley's towns, its name actually stems from the aboriginal word for "watering hole". The town at first centred on the hamlet of Langmeil, the Barossa's second earliest settlement. A short stroll through the town's back streets or around Langmeil's Goat Square quickly makes plain the importance of northern German culture and Lutheranism to the villagers. There are four Lutheran churches and many of the town's old buildings have been registered with the National Trust. 
For the traveller, Tanunda holds all manner of delights. Wineries surround the town. To compliment the wine, German pastries, breads and wursts can be bought at several shops, or enjoyed at the town's restaurants and tearooms.

Murray Street, the tree-lined main street, with several old and beautiful buildings, proclaims its pedigree with German music at its most pedestrian wafting out of small wooden kegs above the shops. More authentic atmosphere can be found in the narrow streets on the western side of town, towards the river. Here, Goat Square was the site of the first town market and is bordered by the original cottages; during the Vintage Festival, the early market is re-enacted. Many wineries dot the town, the largest concentration along Para Road, beside the Para river: Stanley Brothers, Peter Lehmann, Richmond Grove, Langmeil and Veritas, all of which can be visited by taking a pleasant stroll along the road and the river.

For tourist information and a good introduction to the wine-making industry, head for the Barossa Wine and Visitor Centre, 66–68 Murray St (Mon–Fri 9am–4pm, Sat & Sun 10am–4pm; wine centre daily 10am–4pm; $2; tel 08/8563 0600 or free tel 1800/812 662). The centre tells the history of the Barossa in an original way – on three tiers of cylinders, which you roll to consult. Each group of cylinders represents a different historical period: you spin the top tier for a background on world events, the middle tier for a specific Barossa chronology, and the bottom tier for Australia-wide happenings at the time to examine the Barossa’s wine industry in the context of Australian and world history – it’s quite engrossing. There are also engaging interpretive displays about wine making, and it’s here that you can pick up some additional tips on wine-tasting etiquette. If you don’t want to pay the admission fee, drop in to the low-key Barossa Valley Historical Museum, 47 Murray St (Mon–Fri 1–5pm, Sat & Sun 2–5pm; free).

Less relevant, but more fun, is the Kev Rohrlach Collection on Barossa Valley Way (Mon–Sat 11am–4pm, Sun 10am–5pm; $8), a museum created by a self-made man who started collecting tractors, then progressed through motorcycles, buggies and tanks to solar-powered cars; added to this is Kev’s booty from trips to the South Pole, the Himalayas and Mount Kilimanjaro. Norm’s Coolies at “Breezy Gully” off Gomersal Road, 3km out of town (Mon, Wed & Sat 2pm; $6, children $2), could only be in Australia: 28 sheepdogs are put through their paces by Norm and a herd of sheep. Mengler’s Hill Lookout, east of Tanunda along Basedow Road and then the Mengler’s Hill Road Scenic Drive, provides an unmatched view of the valley and its vineyards: there’s a Sculpture Garden with white marble sculptures on the slopes below, and at night you can see the lights of Adelaide.

Attractions
  • BAROSSA HISTORICAL MUSEUM Tanunda's 1865 post and telegraph building houses this museum, specialising in Barossa German heritage. Its collections include wedding gowns, German artefacts, books and photographs. One room has an altar and church furniture with German inscriptions.
  • BAROSSA KIDDYPARK This seven-hectare fun park includes a fun parlour and a well equipped children's playground with activities such as electric cars, dodgem cars, train rides, merry-go- round and super slide. A wildlife section has wallabies, kangaroos, emus, wombats, ponies and native birds. Barbecue and picnic facilities are available.
  • THE KEG FACTORY Makers of handcrafted kegs, garden tubs, wine racks, barrel furniture and bars. Group workshop tours can be arranged.
  • THE KEV ROHRLACH MUSEUM On the site of the former Hardy's Winery, this technology and heritage museum displays over 3,000 exhibits from local heritage to aerospace. The Kev Rohrlach Collection is one of the finest private collections in the world with an outstanding array of several thousand immaculately preserved exhibits, most of them rebuilt and magnificently restored by Kevin himself.
  • MENGLER'S HILL LOOKOUT This should not be missed - to the east of the town, it provides superb vistas over much of the Barossa and also features Sculpture Park, with its abstract works by some of the world's leading environmental sculptors.
  • NORM'S COOLIE SHEEP DOG PERFORMANCE On an Australian farmland setting in the heart of the Barossa Valley, Norm Keast and his loyal, happy working sheep dogs put on a performance.
  • STORY BOOK COTTAGE AND WHACKY WOOD Displays 60 children's fairy stories and nursery rhymes. Whacky Wood features Australian gnomes and puzzles for all ages. A live animal enclosure has Peter Rabbit and a walk-in rabbit burrow. Tea rooms and picnic area are available.