Hello everyone. As today is the day before Christmas I’m sure everyone of you are experiencing different levels of relaxation and last minute running around. If you’re someone that doesn’t celebrate Christmas and looking for plans over the next week I’ve pulled together a guide just for you 💛
Merry Christmas everyone and I hope you have a wonderful time over the next week.
Let’s get into it.
A PLAN FOR THOSE WITHOUT A PLAN
What’s On In The Adelaide Hills 25th December
If Christmas isn’t your thing, or you just want some fresh air and somewhere to go between meals, the Adelaide Hills quietly delivers. With lots of open space, wildlife, community gatherings and places to stretch your legs there is something for everyone.
🦁 See the Animals
Monarto Safari Park | Open 9:30am - 5pm
So this is technically not in the Adelaide Hills but you most likely will need to drive through the Hills to get here. Also it’s open all year round and that includes Christmas Day.
Spend Christmas Day wandering one of Australia’s most impressive open-range wildlife parks. Lions, giraffes, rhinos and vast open plains make this feel more like a mini adventure than a “Christmas activity”. You can even bring your own picnic or get lunch from one of the cafes at the park. Pack water, wear good shoes and give yourself a few hours. If you’re not up for walking you can jump on a bus that takes you everywhere. Book Now As It’s Selling Out
🌿 Outdoor Walks and Easy Nature Time
The weather is looking like it’s going to be nice and mild on the 25th, and the Hills is always a few degrees cooler, so getting outdoors would be a great place to enjoy some time.
Stirling Steamroller Park
A local favourite for picnics, kid-friendly roaming and shaded grass. Bring a rug, cold drinks and something easy to eat. It’s relaxed, open and quietly social without being busy. Have some down time.
Woorabinda Bushland Reserve
A gentle bush walk tucked into Stirling that feels removed from the day entirely. Great for a slow wander, birdlife and letting kids explore without committing to a long hike. Walk around the lake.
Mount Lofty Summit Walks
This place is one of my favourite places to get outdoors in the Adelaide Hills, it’s so peaceful with stunning scenery. Whether you head up early or later in the afternoon, the Summit trails are open and accessible. Short walks, big views and a good reminder of why the Hills always feels like a reset. Feel The Serenity At The Summit
Mount George Conservation Park + Bridgewater Fairy Gardens
For those wanting something more active, Mount George offers a few hiking trails through native bushland that you can do in under an hour. It’s quieter than some of the more popular Hills walks and ideal if you want to earn your lunch.
Another option if you have kids in tow is to bring their bikes, park in Mount George and ride along the flat path to Bridgewater playground and of course check out the community build fairy gardens along the way. A Day In Mount George
🎄 Community and Christmas Events
🥳 Community BYO Christmas Day Lunch
Mount Barker Showgrounds | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Bring your own lunch and join a welcoming Christmas Day gathering with shared games, kids activities and a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere. A lovely option for individuals, families or anyone who doesn’t want to spend the day alone. INFO
🍽 A Fancy Christmas Lunch
Mount Lofty House, Piccadilly | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
A more refined option with local wines, festive food and sweeping Piccadilly Valley views. This one’s about settling in and letting someone else do the work. INFO
🍷 A Winery Christmas Lunch
Glen Ewin Estate, Lower Hermitage | From 12:00 pm
A three-course festive lunch with a three-hour beverage package, live music and a relaxed, family-friendly setting. It feels more Hills garden party than formal dining. INFO
🎅 A Community Christmas Dinner
Uniting Church, Mount Barker | From 5:30 pm
A warm, welcoming evening meal with classic festive food and shared tables. Open to anyone who’d like company and conversation as the day winds down. INFO
Here’s a simple itinerary to plan the day…
Morning:
Wildlife at Monarto or start with a walk through Mount George or Woorabinda.
Midday:
Picnic at Stirling Steamroller Park or book into one of the Christmas lunches.
Afternoon:
Mount Lofty Summit walk or a slow drive through the Hills backroads.
Evening:
Community meal in Mount Barker if you want company and connection.
One last call for anyone who is yet to enter this competition! The winner will be drawn tonight at 6pm AEST! Thank you to everyone who has jumped on board. This is the first competition I’ve run in collaboration with another Hills brand and your enthusiasm has been wonderful to see!
Here’s a recap of what it’s all about…
We’ve teamed up with the much-loved A Taste of The Hills Festival, and if you’ve ever wandered through that festival weekend with a drink in hand thinking yep, this is my happy place, you’ll know exactly why we’re excited.
Now in its fourth year, A Taste of The Hills is run and funded by a little Adelaide Hills family, and it shows. It grew from a simple love of where we live and a deep passion for supporting the local businesses and producers that make this region so special. Think local food, wine, spirits, brews and live music, all coming together for a feel-good festival under the gums at Lenswood Memorial Park. It’s back on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March, and it’s one of those weekends that really shows off what the Adelaide Hills does best.
To celebrate our partnership, we’re giving away one of our limited-edition Adelaide Hills puzzles.
To enter, simply make sure you’re following both of us on Instagram:
👉 Follow Adelaide Hills Pantry
👉 Follow A Taste of The Hills Festival
That’s it and you’re in the draw. The winner will be drawn December 24 at 6pm AEST. 18+ entries only. Good luck! We can’t wait to see who the lucky winner is 🧩✨
For festival details, tickets and all the good stuff, head to www.atasteofthehills.com.au.
Got an event coming up? Let’s get the word out to thousands of people who love the Adelaide Hills.
Woodhouse Unplugged School Holiday Drop & Go Day Camps:
A great options after the fun and festivities are done and work is back. The kids come home tired, grubby, and full of stories. The UNPLUGGED program runs daily from 9am–5pm (drop-off from 8:30am) with new adventures each day like survival skills, science experiments, laser tag, Challenge Hill and the tube slide. It’s more than care – it’s adventure, fun and new friends. 👉 Book the kids in for a day.
MARKETS
🦗 No markets on this week but they’ll be back in January!
WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
🌿 Jurlique Farm Tour & Ondeen Dining Experience
| FOOD & WINE | Jurlique Farm, Verdun
📅 Wednesday, 24 December 2025 – Monday, 1 June 2026 | Times vary
Explore Jurlique’s biodynamic farm before enjoying a chef-led seasonal lunch at Ondeen, celebrating local botanicals and farm-to-table cuisine. INFO
🍷 Christmas Eve
| FOOD & WINE | The Barker Hotel, Mount Barker
📅 Wednesday, 24 December | From 9:00 AM
Raise a glass to Christmas Eve at The Barker with happy hour, drink specials, a Christmas ham raffle, and a welcoming atmosphere to celebrate with friends. INFO
🌸 The Cedars - Garden Only Ticket
| COMMUNITY | The Cedars, Hahndorf
📅 Wednesday, 24 December | 10:00 AM – 4:30 AM
Explore Hans Heysen’s tranquil gardens and scenic walks, enjoy birdwatching and photography, and relax with a picnic or at the Cedars Cafe. INFO
🍷 A Very Merry Lot.100 Christmas
| FOOD & WINE | Lot.100, Hay Valley
📅 Wednesday, 24 – Wednesday, 31 December | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Celebrate the festive season with friends or colleagues over a delicious lunch and optional drinks package at Lot.100, perfect for groups of 10 or more. INFO
🌞 Summer on The Lawns
| MUSIC | Lot.100, Hay Valley
📅 Wednesday, 24 December 2025 – Sunday, 22 February 2026 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Enjoy live music from local artists on weekends while relaxing with casual food and drinks on the scenic lawns of Lot.100, perfect for picnics and sunshine. INFO
🍷 Gin and Wine Tastings at The Gatehouse Bar
| FOOD & WINE | The Gatehouse Bar, Houghton
📅 Thursday, 25 December – 28 December | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Relax among lush garden views while enjoying Glen Ewin gin and wine tastings, local artisan dishes, and the option to picnic or linger over lunch. INFO
🎅 Christmas Day Lunch
| FOOD & WINE | The Barker Hotel, Mount Barker
📅Thursday, 25 December | From 12:00 PM
Celebrate Christmas Day with a festive three-course lunch and included drinks, shared with family and friends in a warm and relaxed holiday setting. INFO
🎄 Community BYO Christmas Day Lunch
| COMMUNITY | Mount Barker Showgrounds, Mount Barker
📅 Thursday, 25 December | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Bring your own lunch and join a welcoming Christmas Day gathering with shared games, kids activities and friendly connection for individuals and families wanting to spend the day together. INFO
🎄 Christmas Lunch
| FOOD & WINE | Mount Lofty House, Piccadilly
📅 Thursday, 25 December | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Enjoy a luxurious Christmas lunch with local wines, festive entertainment, and stunning Piccadilly Valley views. INFO
🎄 Christmas Day Lunch
| FOOD & WINE | Glen Ewin Estate, Lower Hermitage
📅 Thursday, 25 December | From 12:00 PM
Celebrate stress-free with a three-course festive lunch, 3-hour beverage package, live music, and family-friendly dining at Glen Ewin Estate. INFO
🎄 Christmas Night Community Meal
| COMMUNITY | Uniting Church, Mount Barker
📅 Thursday, 25 December | From 5:30 PM
Share a warm and welcoming Christmas evening with a festive community meal featuring meats, fresh salads, hearty vegetables and delicious desserts, open to everyone who would like to celebrate together. INFO
🍻 BOXING DAY
| COMMUNITY | The Barker Hotel, Mount Barker
📅 Friday, 26 December | From 8:30 AM
Keep the festive spirit going on Boxing Day at The Barker with all-day dining, drinks, and The Ashes live on the big screens. INFO
🍕 Grunthal Brew All You Can Eat Pizza Nights
| FOOD & WINE | Grünthal Brew, Verdun
📅 Friday, 26 December | 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Enjoy a relaxed Friday night feast with unlimited handmade pizzas served fresh from the oven at the much-loved Grünthal Brew. INFO
🌿 Sunday Morning Yoga Flow with Intention
| WELLNESS | The Hahndorf Lavender Estate, Paechtown
📅 Saturday, 27 – Sunday, 28 December | 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Begin the day with an outdoor yoga flow among the lavender, blending mindful movement, breath and gentle reflection to cultivate grounding and presence. INFO
🍸 Gin Blending Masterclass
| FOOD & WINE | Ambleside Distillers, Hahndorf
📅 Saturday, 27 – Sunday, 28 December | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Discover the art of gin blending with guided tastings and hands-on creation of your own bespoke gins at Ambleside’s Adelaide Hills distillery. INFO
🍷 Jauma Farm Cellar Door
| COMMUNITY | Davenport Square, Macclesfield
📅 Sunday, 21 December | From 5:00 PM
Settle in for a joyful family evening with community carols led by the Macclesfield Choir, special guest artists, a visit from Santa, affordable BBQ, face painting and festive fun for all ages. INFO
🌞 Summer Picnics
| FOOD & WINE | Sinclair's Gully Winery, Norton Summit
📅 Sunday, 28 December | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Relax beneath the candlebark forest with a picnic and handcrafted wines, enjoying nature, birdsong and the peaceful Adelaide Hills atmosphere. INFO
🍕Vista Pizza Sunday
| FOOD & WINE | Longview Vineyard, Macclesfield
📅 Sunday, 28 December 2025 – Sunday, 28 June 2026| Times vary
Enjoy endless pizza, antipasto boards, live music and vineyard views on the last Sunday of each month for a relaxed afternoon of food, wine and good company. INFO
❓ QUIZ NIGHT 2025
| COMMUNITY | The Oak & Iron Tavern, Mount Barker
📅 Monday, 30 December | 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Test your trivia skills with comedian Bill Egan, enjoy door prizes, and compete for the grand prize in a fun, free-spirited quiz night. INFO
🥂 New Year's Eve Celebrations
| FOOD & WINE | Hardy's Verandah Restaurant, Crafers
📅 Wednesday, 31 December | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Ring in the New Year with a 6-course degustation dinner paired with exclusive wines and a stunning dining experience on the terrace and inside the award-winning restaurant. INFO
ON LATER, BOOK NOW
Click the button below to check out all upcoming events to help you plan ahead beyond this week…there are so many cool things happening across the Hills this summer!
Thanks for reading Adelaide Hills Pantry. I hope it added a moment of enjoyment to your day.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the traditional custodians of our land. We recognise Peramangk and Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the place where the content in this newsletter is featured and where the newsletter is created. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future and to the cultural authority of First Nations Peoples from other areas of this country.