We visited another restaurant in McLaren Vale before leaving the Fleurieu Peninsula on our way to Kangaroo Island. Coterie is the restaurant of Woodstock Wine Estate. What is really impressive when you arrive, is the architecture. The building of twenty years old has been designed in a semicircle to blend with the shape of the land, so much so that not one tree was cut down during construction. The windows of the restaurant offer a beautiful view of the lush gardens of the property. The slogan of the house at the entrance of the restaurant says it all: great food, good company and finest wines! The atmosphere is really friendly. The food is actually excellent contemporary fine Australian cuisine. You will not want it to end! The products are fresh and seasonal. The vegetables are from the garden. The fish is caught an hour before being cooked. Our favourite: oven baked hand made pumpkin and mushroom cannelloni (although char-grilled kangaroo tenderloin with quenelle dark chocolate ganache seemed very appetizing too!). As for the chocolate soufflé, served with Spanish churros and thick dark chocolate dipping sauce, it alone is worth the trip! Note that you can enjoy a tasting in the cellar door whilst waiting for your meal: a great idea to help you choose the wine that will accompany your food experience! Finally we suggest you go for a walk around the wildlife sanctuary of the property to digest everything.

The writers were guests of Woodstock Coterie.

Currency Creek is located about twenty minutes northeast of Middleton. This small town in the Fleurieu Peninsula is famous for having been proposed as a potential site to house the state capital of South Australia, a role which is played today by Adelaide. Nowadays, the region is known for its vineyards. Currency Creek Winery is perhaps the most famous of them. On site, in addition to wine-tasting, you can dine in the restaurant or stay in one of the six luxurious villas of the property. The a la carte menu offers an appetizing selection of local produces. On Friday night, the chef offers the "T" Night which consists of a three-course meal including two glasses of wine from their vineyard for just over $30. This seems to be a very popular choice and hopefully you will get the chance to try it for yourself.

The writers were guests of Currency Creek Winery.

The Fleurieu Peninsula is a destination to consider particularly for its beaches. Those located on the south coast are usually found in small coves protected by granite boulders. Whether for swimming or surfing, the conditions are ideal. In Middleton, we took a surfing lesson with Dan from South Coast Surf Academy. After receiving a very informative course on water safety and the formation of waves, it was time to get down to the finer details of the art of surfing. Even if the ocean is cold at this time of year, they supply full length wetsuits to keep you warm once thrown into the deep end. Each student moves at their own pace to successfully find the right wave and stand up on the board. If you need a helping hand to propel you, the instructor is never far away. A priceless moment that definitely leaves you wanting more!

The writers were guests of South Coast Surf Academy.

Southern Fleurieu Peninsula is a tourist destination becoming increasingly popular in South Australia. Fortunately the region still retains its natural tranquility. The coastline that stretches more than fifteen kilometres between the historic river port of Goolwa and Victor Harbor offers beautiful beaches in summer and is a great place to spot migrating whales in winter. It is no surprise therefore to find many hosting options in the area. The most famous and certainly the most unique, are the Beach Huts. Located within walking distance of Middleton Beach, these twelve self-contained accommodations are absolutely lovely. All are decorated differently from each other, inside and out. Some are even equipped with a spa. Upon your arrival, a bottle of sparkling wine and provisions for breakfast await you in your room. It is a quaint and novel concept, done really well. The Beach Huts are clean, modern, cozy:  in short, it feels great to stay there! Note that you can also enjoy the barbecue and tennis court on site.

The writers were guests of Beach Huts.

Photo: Beach Huts Middleton

Our culinary discovery of the day takes us to Star of Greece restaurant, located ten minutes away from Willunga and McLaren Vale. If one of the first determining factors of success in hospitality is location, then this place is already a huge success! Star of Greece is located on the edge of a cliff overlooking the bay of Port Willunga, which apparently appears in the top 20 destination beaches in the world. Contrary to what its name might suggest there is no pita or baklava but sophisticated Australian cuisine with Asian and Mediterranean inspiration. Here they do not rely on the service and decor to impress you, it is the food that does the dazzling! Unfortunately the quality of the photo does not reflect the outstanding quality of the cuisine. The food is fresh and seasonal. The chef sources ingredients directly from local producers, breeders and growers in the region of the Fleurieu Peninsula and more widely in South Australia. Our favourites: duck doughnuts, whipped goat cheese, seared duck breast and the inevitable chocolate pavé. Go there for lunch not to miss the view. We certainly recommend this place!

The writers were guests of Star of Greece.

iPhoneography Oz stayed in Willunga during its visit to McLaren Vale. This charming little village, known for its Sunday Saturday Farmers' Market and for being host to the Tour Down Under every year, is located just minutes away from the vineyards. We stayed in the luxurious property of Evelyn Homestead. This historic building built in the 1850s is now a luxury destination in the McLaren Vale, where celebrities and politicians choose to come and spend a few days. Totally renovated, the villa was built on a beautiful garden of 1,800 m² and has still retained its original charm. The thickness of the walls are there to remind you of its era. It is the attention to detail that makes a place special and inside this beautiful cottage nothing is overlooked to ensure the comfort of guests: two rooms decorated with style (bedroom 1, bedroom 2), a large bathroom with a spa, provisions for breakfast, a bottle of wine plus chocolate to welcome you. What more could you want! If you are not convinced, take a look at the website of Port Willunga Cottages where you will find two other equally charming hosting alternatives. To have experienced it we can say that the best way to resist the temptation of such quality accommodation, it is to give in! You will not be disappointed especially considering how competitive the price is.

The writers were guests of Port Willunga Cottages.

South Australia, with its many wine regions, is a dream destination for foodies. We visited the Coonawarra region a few days ago. In the coming days we will spend some time in McLaren Vale. This region, in the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide, is home to over 60 wineries. It produces very good Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. For our first tasting, we stopped at The Kitchen Door, the restaurant at Penny's Hill Winery. With a menu that changes every two months, you are sure to enjoy seasonal produce. We recommend the tasting menu, a four-course menu that offers an excellent selection of local produce. Dishes can be, at your convenience, married with the best wines of the vineyard. The dining experience is heavenly and the variety, quality, taste and presentation of the products is second to none. If you like cheese and desserts, you will not be disappointed either. Taste the frozen chocolate mousse and give us your opinion! The Kitchen Door restaurant is a culinary delight that we highly recommend.

The writers were guests of The Kitchen Door.