Our tiny village of Marananga is located at the start of Seppeltsfield Road's iconic avenue of palms, arguably one of the most beautiful areas of the Barossa.  Marananga is best discovered on foot, and an easy stroll from your Villa brings you to five cellar doors, Seppeltsfield Road Distillers and the award-winning restaurant Appellation Restaurant.  

 A walk around the ‘block’ takes you past an idyllic vista of vineyards, rolling hills and grazing paddocks, and a short drive or bike ride will lead to additional local cellar doors with options for lunchtime local produce platters!

Barossa on Foot

You could easily spend a day exploring this gorgeous part of the Barossa on foot:

And just a short drive to Whistler Wines, Torbreck and Schubert Estate.

The award-winning Seppeltsfield Road Distillers are our near neighbours, offering  the option of a sunset gin on their deck, or ours.  

Wildlife

Our Villas might be secluded, but you won’t be alone.  You’ll share the space with a variety of locals – may we introduce you?

Magpies gather around The Villas each morning and evening to feed.  We never tire of their beautiful chorus of song echoing in the trees.  Kookaburras sit high in the treetops, a perfect vantage point for hunting.  You may not see them, but you’ll definitely hear their laughter.  In the spring, a devoted pair nest in a palm tree near The Villas driveway – you can watch them feeding their young each morning and evening.  A noisy flock of Choughs inhabit the scrub, jostling for territory with the Magpies.  In summer, Galahs move in, and will entertain you with their antics.  A rainbow variety of Parrots enjoy the grass seeds, (and the fruit from the orchard!!).     

Kangaroos are present but elusive, passing through and around our land, but probably when you are asleep.  The best opportunity to see our local mob amongst the adjoining vineyards is to take a walk at dusk or dawn.   And Possums – delightfully furry and cuddly, but you may hear them growling in a eucalypt on a spring or summer night.

History & Heritage

Marananga and the Seppeltsfield Road precinct sit within Ngadjuri Country. The Ngadjuri are the traditional custodians of the western Barossa region with Ngadjuri territory extending from Gawler in the south, to Orroroo, in the Flinders Ranges to the North. These traditional lands are closely aligned with the range of the Eucalyptus odorata (Peppermint Box), which explains why the Kaurna people's name for Ngadjuri people is Wirameju, meaning in Kaurna ‘Peppermint Gum forest people’. You’ll see remnant Peppermint Box grassy woodland throughout the Marananga area.

Marananga village was established by German settlers in the 1840’s and originally named Gnadenfrei, loosely translated ‘free by grace’, echoing their desire for religious freedom.  These were hardworking people who carved out a new life in a landscape so different from their European origins, and they laid a foundation for the extraordinary lifestyle we enjoy today.  Their legacy can be seen in the much-photographed Gnadenfrei Lutheran Church, and a walk through its cemetery provides a glimpse into this pioneer era.  The Marananga Brass Brand has existed since 1907, and visitors are welcome to attend the band hall for their rehearsal each Tuesday evening.  Our 1863 home was the village schoolhouse until 1922, when a larger school was established across the road.

Seppeltsfield Road

Wine. Dine. Play. Stay.

Seppeltsfield Road’s iconic avenue of palms winds its way through the vineyards of the western Barossa, passing through the tiny villages of Marananga and Seppeltsfield.  The region is home to renowned wineries such as Whistler Wines, Seppeltsfield, Tscharke and Torbreck as well as an intriguing number of small batch wine producers.  Seppeltsfield Road is also home to some of the Barossa’s most exceptional culinary experiences - Fino, Appellation at the Louise and Hentley Farm Restaurant. If you're looking for some adventure, try ballooning or a Segway, helicopter or trike tour.

Beyond Seppeltsfield Road, the Barossa is a wonderful playground. More than 170 wineries, with 80+ cellar doors, amazing culinary experiences and boutique shopping. You'll need an extended itinerary to explore all that this beautiful region has to offer.

The Seppelt family established Seppeltsfield  in 1851 and today the 420 acre estate provides a unique blend of history, beautiful buildings and experiences – wine tasting at the recently restored cellar door,  artists in residence at the Jam Factory Contemporary Art & Design studios, Vasse Virgin’s luxurious olive oil skincare products and the acclaimed Fino restaurant.  The Seppelt family mausoleum is an amazing piece of architecture situated high above Seppeltsfield Road, and well worth the climb.

Beyond the remarkable experiences, a stay in the Seppeltsfield Road precinct is made special by the intangibles of community and friendship that knit neighbours and businesses together.  You’ll experience the enthusiasm as a business owner recommends another, the generosity of celebrating each other’s wines, the eagerness to share the breadth of offerings that make this place special.

We feel incredibly blessed to call this community home and look forward to sharing it with you.