Adelaide Hills

5 safe things to do in the Adelaide Hills, with Stage 2 of COVID-19 restrictions easing


On June 8, South Australia moved into Step 2 of the COVID-19 restriction easing roadmap. This is a long-awaited step, especially in places like the Adelaide Hills which fared well during the crisis. 

As of now, groups of 20 can gather and life is as close to ‘normal’ as it has been in months. Cinemas, theatres, galleries and museums are open and seated dining is available. Beauty and massage salons welcome back clients, while gym and fitness clubs start to fill up again. Sports also has a restart, but without an audience for the time being.

South Australia has its eyes set on larger gatherings and reopening bars, entertainment venues, sport stadiums, food courts, spas, and state borders. It’s a proud time to be a South Australian, with the way we’ve managed the pandemic, locally. At Nitschke, we’ve all been grateful to be living in this region, with the size and spaciousness of Adelaide Hills properties. We hope this has been the case for your family, too.

Adelaide Hills during Covid

It’s okay if you’re still a little nervous

We’ve all been in lockdown for weeks, so it’s normal to feel a little uneasy at the thought of things going ‘back to normal’ too quickly. It’s important to get back out into the community and to bring businesses back to life, but make sure to do it at your own pace. Being in the Adelaide Hills, we’re positioned well given the wide-open spaces and abundance of nature to enjoy.

Here are five ideas for ways to spend your time, over the next few weeks as we back into normalcy. If your Adelaide Hills property continues to be your safe place, that’s perfectly fine too. Take your time.

1. A dinner party

What better way to ease into socialising again than having your favourite people visit you. Support the community at the same time by ordering takeout from a restaurant, buying a bottle of local wine, and catching up in the comfort of your home.

2. See a movie

Give Netflix a break and buy tickets to a movie at Wallis Cinemas in Mount Barker. Ask the clerk if the space is busy before you buy the ticket, that way you can make sure there’s plenty of seats in between visitors. Most likely, they’ll have procedures in place to minimise the numbers.

3. Visit the park

On the next sunny day, pack a picnic and head to one of your local parks. The National Parks and Wildlife Service have released a list of South Australian spots that have reopened, as well as visitor information, social distancing rules, and FAQs. Get out in nature and enjoy some fresh air, without worrying about crowds. 

4. Lunch at a winery

It’s not a real Adelaide Hills weekend without a glass of wine in-hand. Make a list of a few producers (particularly those that were impacted by the bushfires) and plan your own . Start with those providing outdoor facilities (with a fire) if you’re concerned about being close to groups of people. Just call ahead to find out about any bookings required for cellar door tastings.

5. Stay a caravan park

Itching to get away for the weekend? Couldn’t go on a trip that you’d planned, pre-COVID? are open, so round up the family and enjoy a change of scenery for a couple of days. Hahndorf is a great option, surrounded by attractions such as wineries, distilleries, cheese makers, the chocolate factory and German village fun.

Have you realised, during lockdown, that the house you’re in doesn’t serve you anymore? Has your situation changed and you’ve decided to buy a house or downgrade and find a house for rent?

Get in touch with our award-winning real estate agents in the Adelaide Hills. Contact us on 8391 5004 or fill in this contact form. And yes, we’re open and following all the precautions.