Holiday houses in Stirling

Nestled in the Adelaide Hills, the small village of Stirling is most famous for its brilliant sweetgum trees that draw crowds every autumn when their leaves change colours. These trees line Druid Avenue, home to the monthly Stirling Market, as well as Mount Barker Road, whose street is wider than others in the district because it was used for horse-drawn vehicles around the 19th-century. Nearby, you’ll find a whole host of parks and gardens, such as the Mount Lofty Summit, the highest point in the Mount Lofty Ranges, or the Mount Lofty Botanical Gardens, perched on the mountainside.

Be sure to pay a visit to tranquil Woorabinda Lake and its four-kilometre trail that weaves through wetlands fringed with reeds and eucalyptus woodland. The Adelaide Hills is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, well-regarded for its cool-climate wines like chardonnay and pinot noir. You can sample some of the region’s wines directly from their cellar doors while admiring the beautiful view over the Adelaide Hills.

Due to its moderate climate, there is no bad time to visit Stirling. The summer has the driest weather, though it can get very hot in the surrounding areas. In November, there is a lovely Christmas pageant complete with richly decorated floats, live music, children's games, and a Christmas fair. The spring and fall have comfortable, dry weather. The fall is an especially great time to visit if you want to see the trees at Druid Avenue and Mount Barker Road burst into a palette of red, orange, and yellow. The winter can be a little bit chilly and rainy and the weather can sometimes be unpredictable. However, this is the perfect time to get cozy in one of the many cafes or bars. The Stirling Market is held the fourth Sunday of every month and is considered one of the best street markets in South Australia for its diverse and high-quality offerings, like homemade chutneys, handmade children’s clothing, wrought iron antiques, and seasonal native plants.

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden

These beautiful gardens are home to plants from around the world. During your visit, you can stroll through the Woodland Garden, which is home to Northern Hemisphere tree species, gentle streams, and flowing waterfalls, or you can visit the vibrant Rhododendron gully which features one of the best collections of rhododendrons in Australia. Make sure not to miss the Rose Garden or the prehistoric Wollemi Pine trees.

Mount Lofty Summit

Mount Lofty Summit offers sweeping views over the city of Adelaide and the Southern Ocean. It is an amazing place to watch the sunset and there is a lovely cafe at the top for a quick snack. There are a handful of hiking paths located near the summit that take you through pristine bushland, including a section of the famed Heysen Trail, South Australia’s iconic 1,200 kilometre long walking trail.

Woorabinda Bushland Reserve

With 34 hectares of parkland full of eucalyptus woodlands, reed-fringed wetlands, and four kilometres of walking trails, the Woorabinda Bushland Reserve is a beautiful spot to explore the nature of South Australia or enjoy the Woorabinda Lake. If you pay attention, you may even see a koala way up in the trees.