There is nothing fussy about Mount Lofty House, which was a prerequisite for our child-free, 4- night mini-break during the festive season. Driving into the lush surrounds wet our palette for the serene getaway to come. Check in was a hassle-free affair and we were directed to our Heritage Room in the original house, as opposed to the more recently built Summit Wing. The room was comfortable and featured high ceilings and a shared veranda which overlooked the beautifully manicured gardens and Piccadilly Valley below. The bathroom was a little tired and in need of attention but otherwise we were very pleased with our accommodation.

We breezed out onto the veranda to admire the view, only to find a couple canoodling on the cane couch. My husband cleared his throat to alert them of our arrival and we introduced ourselves in that awkward way you do when you’ve interrupted a couple’s foreplay. My husband and I made small talk, popped our complimentary bottle of vino and kept straight faces until the eager couple retired to their room and drew the curtains. Although intimacy was certainly on the agenda, we didn’t expect our neighbours to beat us to it!

Later that night we had a sumptuous meal in the Piccadilly Restaurant and enjoyed a wide-ranging breakfast in the same setting each morning. We were only slightly perturbed upon signing for our initial dinner that unbeknown to us, our “Mount Lofty” labelled wine had been substituted for a comparatively priced quaff, due to the absence of stock. So much for supporting the locals!

We filled our days bush walking, touring the countryside, visiting the McLaren Vale wineries and lazing by the pool – me engrossed in my book “A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian” by Marina Lewycka (funny name – funny book, especially for those with a European heritage) and my husband hunched over his beloved Apple Air. Some things never change……….

We ate sausage with sauerkraut in Hahndorf, devoured a fabulous tasting plate at the Stirling Hotel (2 nights in a row!) and waited in anticipation for our booked-a-month-in-advance lunch at the Star of Greece Cafe at Port Wilunga.  The setting was awesome, perched high on a cliff overlooking the sea. The day was sunny with bathers strewn across the slightly pebbly beach below. The interior was charming and we drooled over the menu ………… but…………… the staff were aloof, the service was slow, my prawn entree was served with the digestive tract in tact (Matt Preston would scowl at such a culinary faux pas) and my asparagus, zucchini flower, potato & Ricotta Tart was overcooked and dry. A massive disappointment – which I expressed to the waitress who enquired as to whether we enjoyed our meals. Graciously she apologised and placed the bill on the table.

All in all, a very enjoyable getaway and a repeat destination

7/10 hotel facilities, 10/10 location, 9/10 wine tasting, 4/10 bushwalking signage