A Day of Stall Hopping in the Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills are full of stalls at the end of driveways. Here's a day out, from garlic to sourdough to honey, and how to find them.
I reckon the best part of the Adelaide Hills isn't on any tourist map. It's the stalls. Drive almost any back road up here and you'll pass a trestle table, a little shed or an honesty box at the end of someone's driveway, most of them you'd never clock at speed.
So here's a day out. A good run of stalls scattered across the Hills, the sort of run you can build a Sunday around. I've put them roughly city end first, but they're spread right across, so you won't knock them all off before lunch. Pick a direction, or open the app and use the map to plot your own loop.
One thing worth knowing before you go. These aren't shops with set hours and a sign out front. They're roadside stalls, and what's on the table changes with the day and the season. That's exactly why the app helps. It shows you what each one has out right now, where to find them, and directions to the gate. Bring a bit of cash too. A few of these run on an honesty box, and each stall's page tells you what that seller takes.
Palate Sensations, Greenhill
First stop, barely out of the city. Palate Sensations sits up at Greenhill, and it's a little roadside cabinet packed with treats. Loaded brownies, granola by the bag, gluten free cookies, and dehydrated citrus. You stop for one brownie and leave with a bag of three things. Have a look at Palate Sensations.
Haaseford Farms Garlic, Ironbank
Head south to Ironbank and there's a timber stall stacked with garlic, and not the supermarket kind. Haaseford Farms grow certified organic elephant garlic, they do a black garlic, a garlic and chilli paste, and jars of minced garlic so you're not peeling cloves on a Tuesday night. If you cook, this one's worth the detour on its own. Find Haaseford Farms Garlic.
Hillview Flowers, Mylor
That cream shed at the top of the page is Hillview Flowers, over at Mylor. It's about as pretty as a roadside stall gets, and there are usually fresh bunches ready to go. Grab one for whoever's hosting, or just for the kitchen table on the way home. Here's Hillview Flowers.
Cudlee Creek Estate, Chain of Ponds
Up in the northern Hills, out Gumeracha way at Chain of Ponds, Cudlee Creek Estate bake sourdough. Proper sourdough. A classic loaf, a multigrain, a fruit loaf, and a low gluten one for anyone who has to think about that. Time it for a fresh loaf and the drive home smells like a bakery. Here's Cudlee Creek Estate.
Morialta Morsels, Woodforde
Out towards Morialta at Woodforde, Morialta Morsels do one thing and do it well. Nectarines, sun dried from their own Riverland orchard. Chewy, sweet, and a proper snack for the drive to the next stop. Here's Morialta Morsels.
The Petal Porch, Littlehampton
Over at Littlehampton, The Petal Porch does bouquets and native bunches, and the mixed pink and purple ones are a good grab. There are earrings on the table too, if you want something off the day that lasts past the week. Here's The Petal Porch.
Posy Patch, Mount Barker
Into Mount Barker proper, and Posy Patch is a good little pull-in. Wrapped bouquets, potted plants, loaded cookies, even bags of coffee beans, and usually a dog on greeting duty. Here's Posy Patch.
The Red Shed on Matthew, Nairne
Just east at Nairne, the Red Shed on Matthew is a whole wall of preserves. Jars of jam, chutney, pickles and sauce, lined up with handwritten prices. If you like a pantry that does the talking, this is your stop.
First Steps Trading, Strathalbyn
Down at Strathalbyn, First Steps Trading sell fresh eggs, the crackin good kind straight from the coop. And while you're in town, Friendship Lane Coffee Roasting roast their own signature blend just up the road, so you can grab beans for the drive home. Here's First Steps Trading and Friendship Lane Coffee Roasting.
Karoonda Honey, Callington
Last one, out east at Callington on the edge of the Hills. Karoonda Honey do the good local stuff by the kilo. Mallee, blue gum, red gum, orange blossom, and a creamed honey. Grab two while you're there, you'll get through the first one quicker than you'd think. Here's Karoonda Honey.
Build your own run
That's a full day right there, and there are still dozens more out here. New ones pop up, others open and close with the weather, so the app is the live version of this list.
Open the map and it shows every stall near you, the ones open now up front. After something in particular? Type it into the search, honey, garlic, flowers, sourdough, and it'll find who's got it. Found a good one? Save it to your favourites so it's one tap away next time.
Download the app, open the map, and find local. SideStall is free on the App Store and Google Play.
Selling at your own gate somewhere in the Hills? Putting your stall on SideStall is free, there's no monthly fee to take payments, and locals are out here looking for exactly what you make. Set up your stall →
Santo Arabia is the founder of SideStall, the Australian app for roadside stalls and farm gates.
Take the guide with you
Want it on paper? Download a printable one-page version of this guide, good for the glovebox, the fridge, or a guest welcome pack.