The sensational thing about Stirling is that it offers the opportunity for outdoor adventures as well as cosy indoor experiences. The town serves as a jumping-off point to the wider Adelaide Hills region, offering access to wineries, wildlife parks and other attractions. Start your day under designer bed threads at Ode to the Orchard, just 20 minutes away from Stirling. The 1890s cottage is set on 6.5 hectares of orchard, vineyard and bushland. The chilliest day of winter never looked better than at The Stirling Hotel which has an indoor gin bar and elegant bistro. The Miss Perez Kitchen & Bar will also warm the cockles.

Make the most of winter in the Adelaide Hills by browsing the high street of Hahndorf. Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement was established in 1839. As well as being home to some of the best winery restaurants in South Australia, the town is one of the state’s most bewitching in winter. Celebrate Christmas in July at the family-run German Village shop which will transport you to the chocolate-box villages of Bavaria. Pick up a souvenir beer stein and then head to the German Arms for a Big Daddy Schnitzel the size of your head. Stay at cosy CABN, which has a sauna.

Start your day with a swig of coffee and pastry at Port Elliot Bakery, one of the best regional bakeries in South Australia. The site has been a family-run bakery for more than a century and the original wood-fired oven adds to the convivial atmosphere. Port Elliot is one of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s most popular seaside towns. Embrace your status as a newcomer and arrive at country pub, Hotel Elliot, via the iconic Cockle Train. The hotel is just 350 metres from Horseshoe Bay Beach, so it makes sense to order the beer battered garfish served with chips and a garden salad. Retreat around the roaring log fire after exploring the countryside.

The Limestone Coast becomes even more enchanting in winter. We’d recommend staying sequestered in the historic Royal Oak Penola in the heart of Coonawarra wine country for days. Sit near the roaring fire at Royal Oak Hotel, which was built in 1873, and tuck into daily specials such as the spiced chickpea and feta salad or the chilli crab and prawn linguine. Penola is rich in colonial history and peppered with cellar doors. Pop into Moss and Wild to pick up some licorice-coloured leggings before venturing to The Tasting Room at Mayura Station for the ultimate paddock-to-plate experience.

Sitting beside a fire sipping on a glass of wine in the region where it’s produced is really the height of pleasure. Clare is a town in the Clare Valley wine region that is known for historic buildings like its old stone churches and heritage courthouse. Wander the streets, cycle the Riesling Trail and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Clare community. Stay in the Clare Valley Wilderness Lodge which is a convenient jumping off point for a three-day guided walking tour. Warm up in front of the fireplaces at the Clare Valley Wine, Food & Tourism Centre and Eldredge Wines.

The cosy South Australian town of Angaston has long been a destination for day-trippers from Adelaide. And that ease of access from the South Australian capital makes it more than worthy of a weekend away in winter. Explore the tree-lined streets by bike and visit some of the Barossa Valley’s best cellar doors, such as Saltram and Yalumba. Visit the Otherness Cellar Door, Wine Bar & Bottle Shop to pick up a bottle of Barossa shiraz. The picturesque town is also home to the cosy Casa Carboni, an Italian cooking school and enoteca/wine bar. Stay at The Louise, premium luxury accommodation just 11 minutes away.

The perfect winter weekend away in Crafers is not all about staying indoors, as the sun-drenched winter days here will inspire you to beat the seasonal blahs. Make the most of the shorter, colder days by hiking around Mt Lofty Summit, a five-minute drive from Crafers. Wandering around Cleland Wildlife Park or the Mt Lofty Botanic Garden will also put a bit of colour in your cheeks. When your 10,000 steps are complete, head to the historic Crafers Hotel for a pub lunch before retiring to your luxury digs at Sequoia Lodge. Conclude your cosy weekend away with dinner at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant at Mt Lofty House.

Lobethal is known for its lush valleys, pretty orchards, picturesque setting and German heritage. Embrace the chill at Golding Wines, which hosts an annual ‘winter wine escape’. Or simply taste the terroir at the rustic family-owned estate, which will charm the woollen socks off you in winter. Hunker down in the sandstone barn, which houses a tasting room and the acclaimed Gingko restaurant. Stop by the cosy South Australian town for a German pastry at Lobethal Bakery and factor in a detour to the Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard located in the nearby appellation of Lenswood.

You won’t get diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) when holidaying in this cosy regional town in South Australia over winter. Middleton is often dry and quite mild in the winter (average minimum temperature is about 8°C) so you might even want to Wim Hof it with an icy dip in the ocean. The town’s candy-striped Beach Huts Middleton are popular with families who come here to whale watch during the season. Must-dos include catching the iconic Cockle Train and visiting the Middleton Tavern for some pub grub.

The coastal town of Victor Harbor is a Fleurieu Peninsula favourite, named South Australia’s Top Tourism Town three years running. Staying active in winter helps warm you up and the seaside village is known for everything from waves to wildlife. Activities of interest to add to your itinerary include cycling along the Encounter Bikeway or taking a self-guided journey along the art trail. Wait till the sun is high in the sky before pulling on your leg warmers and walking across the causeway to Granite Island. Bounce between book shops, bars and boutiques in the town centre and stay and play at the cosy Hotel Victor.