The Best Tour Operators in Adelaide That Don’t Just Read a Printout

I’ve done my fair share of wine tours, and so far, Trailhopper is the one that has worked out best for me.

They allow travellers to curate their own journey, as long as it’s across Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Hahndorf. You can essentially hop off at any stop, stay there as long as you like, and wait for the next bus that operates on an hourly basis.

In my experience, you can typically visit about four wineries in a day. The main hiccup? It’s not ideal for those seeking a full-service guided tour.

On the plus side, Trailhopper doesn’t have outrageous fees. Their prices align with Adelaide’s standard rates, and groups of 7–12 people can even enjoy better value with the $199 (per person) deal.

I also love the personality of their guides and drivers. Yvette, for example, combines her excellent local knowledge with a bubbly personality (and she’s quite good at telling jokes).

No door-to-door hotel pickups, though.

Will Be Back

Excellent tour of the Adelaide Hills. Got picked up in Hahndorf and then had an enjoyable drive around the Hills. Our driver was a great driver but did wish that they had talked more about Adelaide Hills rather than just played music. Was good to talk to the other guests about each of the wineries. Glad we did our own research about where to visit as we were the only ones to go to Lot100 and that was the best of all on the day. Bird in Hand also great. Will be back to do a few more tours soon. Really worth it.

Megan Saville, Google Review

Best Guide Ever!

Yvette was the best guide ever! Knowledgeable, punctual, and hilarious 😆 Took the Barossa Valley trip and loved the entire experience! Well done. Next time in Adelaide we will do the other two tours!

Andrew Warner, Google Review

Bums on Seats have been around for over 26 years. That’s a pretty good tell that they know the local scene.

Range-wise, they’re a frontrunner, with half-day, private, and full-day tours that don’t stick to a single experience. For example, their bestseller is the Barossa Valley Wine and Food Tour, but you also have alternatives, like the more eclectic South Australia Highlights Tour.

If you’re short on time, there’s the City Highlights one, which is a half-day trip focusing on nearby attractions, such as Mt. Lofty and Hahndorf.

No glaring red flags on the rates either. From what we’ve seen, they match the going rates for Adelaide, with prices as low as $129 per person.

That said, a few travellers have complained about abrupt changes and missed stops. Some also didn’t appreciate one of their drivers’ grumpy attitude and off-colour remarks.

A Day to Remember

Went with bums on seats for a tour of the Barossa valley winery’s. This is was a day to remember, Perry our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, funny and accommodating. For a discounted price you would not believe what was included! 4 wine tastings and even lunch. I will absolutely be booking through them again.

Anastacia Harvey, Google Review

Amazing People

We had the most incredible day with Geoff on our full day tour of the Barossa Valley! We visited stunning wineries, had a beautiful lunch at the Monkey Nut cafe and met some amazing people along the way. The day ran so smoothly, we tasted so many incredible wines from the Barossa valley and made memories to last a lifetime. Special shout out to Geoff who made sure we had the best day possible by making sure everyone was comfortable and by providing detailed descriptions of all of the places we visited today.

Kim Broderick, Google Review

If you’re a fan of smaller and story-driven tours, Flamboyance is worth considering.

Their range is something I’d describe as ‘truly Adelaide.’ Instead of driving to wine regions or coastal towns, travellers get to experience the city’s art, history, food (including the quirky ones), and culture, all on foot.

They even offer some niche experiences most names here don’t have, primarily the audio-guided Adelaide Queer History Tour.

Katina, the main guide, was also commended by our interviewees for her passion, bright personality, and strong local knowledge. That’s no shocker, as she’s trained internationally and has bagged accolades, like the South Australian Tourism Award (silver) in 2024.

Unsurprisingly, though, the biggest issue with Flamboyance is that it’s only limited to walking tours within the city. Things like unpredictable weather and mobility issues could also be a concern.

Still, they’re not a bad choice, especially considering the low prices, ranging from $14 to $99.

Knowledge is Extensive

We contacted Katina and asked if she could run a special Icons of Adelaide tour for us as we only had a Saturday available and she doesn’t usually run them on Saturdays. Fantastic tour for our family group – her depth of knowledge is extensive and her story telling intriguing and captivating. We loved it – do yourselves a favour whether local or visitor and book on a tour ! Thank you Katina – great tour

Cheryl Turner, Google Review

Super Knowledgeable

I visited the beautiful city of Adelaide in May, early fall, as all the leaves were turning colors. It really is the City of Festivals and Arts. The month long History Festival, and the 10 day Taste of Australia Event were both happening at the time of my visit.

I wanted the perspective of a local guide so I found a well reviewed (and woman led) company called Flamboyance Tours. 👍

The F Factor: This 1st tour was a short visit to the shopping district to taste the famous Haigh’s chocolates and we were introduced to the early ornate shopping arcades still gracing this city. We then went on to a substantial tour of the delicious goodies at the bustling local Central Market which was full of local produce. Andrea, our guide did a very good job on the histories of the local merchants and she also introduced us to many delicacies!

Iconic Adelaide Tour: The 2nd tour was led by the owner Katina, who has a journalism background and has trained in Europe on tour guiding. She was super knowledgeable and was able to provide deep details when asked. The tour starts with some of the earliest structures in Adelaide, namely the Mounted Police barracks and Armoury established in 1838. What mostly amazed me was how many women were prominent in governing, social services and academic roles in Adelaide. Their statues are all along North Terrace and are there as proof. I LIKE this city ! A most welcoming place for ALL….

Miranda Alexander, Google Review

Bus and Barrel helps avoid the ‘too many strangers on this tour’ issue. They keep things intimate and highly personalised, with private excursions that explore Adelaide’s premier wineries.

For example, their trademark Barossa Valley Wine Tour typically runs with just 4–6 folks. Not only that, but it also stops at about 3–4 wineries a day.

Naturally, pricing can be too steep for some, chiefly smaller parties. The Standard Package, for example, falls between $159 (2 travellers) and $299 (group of 6+), and that doesn’t include lunch.

To be fair, Bus and Barrel exclusively stops at big-name producers. Think Penfolds, Langmeil, and The Cube.

Their drivers are professionally trained and accredited, too. That’s probably why they’re often touted as friendly and knowledgeable.

Most importantly, this operator can provide a fully private experience for almost any group size. Their fleet of small cars and coaches helps make that possible.

Clean and Comfortable

The perfect day out sampling some of the Adelaide Hills region’s best wines. Tour was great and so was the weather, really relaxing day. Luigi was friendly, looked after us changing itinerary as needed and has great knowledge. Bus was clean and comfortable. Fantastic way to spend my Birthday.

Tegan Ridgeway, Google Review

So Professional and Lovely

We had an amazing day in the Barossa Valley. Food was great, the selection of wines was some of the best I have tried, and the driver was so professional and lovely. Looking to book one for McLaren Vale next time!

Valerie M, Google Review

Since Adelaide doesn’t solely revolve around city and wine country attractions, we had to include Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours. True to its name, this operator highlights dolphins.

Specifically, travellers get a slice of Garden Island’s Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, where bottlenose dolphins, shipwrecks, and a 10,000-year-old mangrove forest await. You can soak that in either with a guide or as a lone wolf.

Personally, I prefer the guided tour. The helpful commentary on the area’s marine life and Kaurna heritage is a perk the solo version doesn’t have.

Nothing to moan about the rates either. Paying $79 for a guided 3-hour cruise is a steal.

The rates are even lower for children, at $49 per sprog. Sadly, those under 9 years old can’t join yet.

It’s also worth noting that dolphin sightings aren’t guaranteed. Remember, the sanctuary isn’t a zoo.

Can’t knock their facilities, though. Secure parking and beach/clubhouse access are part of the deal.

Extremely Wonderful

Highly recommend for everyone regardless of your kayaking skills. My tour guide Louis is awesome and very knowledgeable. He navigated us through the mangrove and the bay as feeding ground for dolphins where I finally saw two of those incredible creatures at close range thanks to his sharp eyes. The encounter was followed by a close visit to the shipwreck. Stranded a few times but my experienced captain who was an Adelaide resident managed to pull us out (credit to her!). Overall extremely wonderful experience!

Guang Young, Google Review

Great Outing

This was a wonderful experience. Our guide Fiona was super knowledgeable and great fun. She acquainted us with the equipment and led us out to watch the dolphins. The water was calm, the sun was out, it was magical. Fiona also took us into a Mangrove “hideaway” inlet where we silently glided along soaking in its peaceful wonder.

Came back both mellow and invigorated.

This would be a great outing for individuals and families. Thanks Fiona for a great time.

Elizabeth Philips, Google Review