The are some wonderful places to stay in the Barossa Valley, the superb The Louise - a luxury Relais & Chateaux resort - and atmospheric Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage among them. But both can be budget busters.
I tasted some new accommodation: Barossa Valley Apartments, a block of two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments right in Tanunda township that are ideal for family groups, or for two couples to share, and won't break the bank either.
All the apartments have large kitchens with Bosch appliances, tea and coffee-making facilities and everything needed for self catering, while the lounge areas are large with comfortable sofas and big Plasma TVs and sound systems.
All bedrooms have reverse-cycle air conditioning, smaller TVs and alarm clocks, while one bathroom has a two-person spa bath, the other a double shower. Everything is modern and comfortable and the facilities clean and convenient.
There is also a resort-style garden, a pool (not heated) and an undercover barbecue with Tanunda's hotels and restaurants just a short stroll away.
To be honest, not everything is perfect. The two towels left for me were more like serviettes than towels, barely adequate for drying a large body. How about some big, fluffy towels please?
And not only was there no free wi-fi; there was no wi-fi signal at all.
And in one bedroom it was impossible to reach the power points, meaning I had to charge my phone in the bathroom.
Hopefully these issues will be addressed.
Online prices start from around $205 per night on accommodation sites - good value in a busy wine region where quality accommodation can be hard to find.
So if your priority is spending your money on fine wines at venues like Seppeltsfield, St Hallett and Grant Burge, or dining at eateries like award-winning FermentAsia, then staying here might be a good option.
And if you want to organise some wine tours, the apartments are owned by Kym and Steve Brown, who also operate the award-winning Tour Barossa company.
Although known for its food and wine, there are also many activities for children and teenagers around the Barossa region which you can find out about at the official Barossa Valley website.
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This article first appeared on Winsor's Gourmet on the Road Blogspot. He travelled to South Australia courtesy of Qantas.
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