Barossa or Kangaroo Island
 

During our 2 week Australia trip this Dec we will be in Adelaide for 2 days (3 nights). What is the best way to spend this time? Sounds like we will need 1 day for Adelaide and for the other day should we go for Barossa or KI day trip.
Would you do Barossa on your own or as a guided trip? If guided, Which company would you recommend?

Go with KI for sure - see my other message to you.
If you have the two days spend them both in KI - you won't regret it.
Sorry can't help you with accommodation re our shack but we have a minimum rental period on it.
Your best bet is to stay in Penneshaw as that is where most tours leave from.
The Sealink tours are good as any. The 4wd tours are even better but way more expensive but probably worth the extra amount if you can afford it.
Cheers

If you decide on Barrossa, I can highly recommend "Life is a Cabernet" for a tour company. Ralf the owner took us on a tour last September. We visited 6 different wineries and had a great lunch at the Vintners. Everything was first class all the way. They also do tours to Kangaroo Island as well.

DKW

The choice really depends on how you like spending your time. I found KI underwhelming, but I accept that we may have had a different view if we'd sprung for a guided wildlife tour.

To me it seems a pity to go all that way and ignore the city of Adelaide and maybe its wine regions. The Barossa Valley is a pleasant area a short drive from Adelaide, and if vino appeals more than beasts, go for it. If you're comfortable with driving on the LH side, and plan to taste without swallowing (a bit like smoking weed without inhaling?), the Barossa and the nearby Adelaide Hills make for a nice ramble.

The Hills town of Hahndorf, which purports to celebrate the valley's German history, has some hokey faux-Bavarian references with little relevance to the original Silesian settlers, but it's worth a stop anyway.

Having said all that, if you've toured the Californian wine valleys it won't be a dramatically new experience, whereas KI may well be. I would try to spend part of a day and a night in Adelaide, though, if you can.

Sorry to sit on the fence, but it really is a question of taste.

Yes, we have done Californian wine coutry...and that's why we were leaning towards KI. Yet Adelaide and surroundings just sounds like a good place and there seems enough to do for 2 days. Doing KI for 1 day seems like a long/hectic day and to do any tour (other than Sea-link) would be >$1000 for 3 of us (including air from Adelaide). Given the costs and timeframe, I think we are leaning towards spending time in Adelaide and Barossa.....yet KI sounds good (yes we are confused!)
Has anyone gone to Warrawong Earth Sanctuary near Adelaide? Is it any good?

Hi Vactioner1,
Do NOT fly to KI. It is expensive and also there is no point as it does not work nealy as well connection wise. SeaLink run a connecting bus between Adelaide and Cape Jervois (where the ferry departs from). Takes about 1:30hr. The ferry trip between Cape Jervois and Penneshaw (KI) is about 40 minutes only.
The round day trip with SeaLink from Adelaide is a full day but not that exhausting. I can't recommend it highly enough. From memory SeaLink run two major tours on KI - a tour that covers the mostly the south side of the island and a second tour that cover mostly the northern side.
If you have to choose (ie can only do one due to time limitations) then go with the southern one that covers Seal Bay, Admirals Arch etc.)
If you don't do KI I reckon you are going to really regret it.
Yes, I live here in Adelaide, not too far away from the Warrawong Sanctuary. Yes, have been to it three or four times. Doesn't compare to KI.
It's good but doesn't compare. Would still recommend it though. If you do go then do the night time walking tour. The sanctuary holds a large amount of nocturnal animals and as such the best is a evening time walking tour. I believe they do a combination restuarant meal and walking tour and that is the ultimate ! It is located in the Adealide Hills and you are probably looking at perhaps around a $A40 taxi fare each way.
Do you have web site addresses for SeaLink and Warrawong ? If not here they are:
http://www.sealink.com.au/index.htm
http://www.warrawong.com/default.htm
Cleland National Park is also an option for you - closer than Warrawong and you may get to hold a Koala as well - I think they are still doing that. I know the KI national park does.
Let me know if you need more help - happy to help.