Food Scene
Simply the best place to dine in Penola. Owned and run by Simon and Erika Bowen of the Bowen Estate family, these guys serve up fantastic seasonal dishes. The wine list also is a knockout with great local Coonawarra options as well as other domestic and international offerings. Bookings are essential - Closed on Sunday & Monday
14 locals recommend
Pipers of Penola
58 Riddoch StSimply the best place to dine in Penola. Owned and run by Simon and Erika Bowen of the Bowen Estate family, these guys serve up fantastic seasonal dishes. The wine list also is a knockout with great local Coonawarra options as well as other domestic and international offerings. Bookings are essential - Closed on Sunday & Monday
Good local pub fare and cold beer on tap. Great for functions and get togethers. Come have a drink with the locals!
11 locals recommend
Prince Of Wales Hotel Motel
58 Church StGood local pub fare and cold beer on tap. Great for functions and get togethers. Come have a drink with the locals!
Windara Bakery
32 Church StCountry bakery? Hot pies, cakes, and pizza slices? Yes please!!
Fantastic breakfast and lunch fare with an everchanging menu of favourites and new lunch/brunch creations. Grab a coffee or a milkshake and relax.
diVine Cafe
39 Church StFantastic breakfast and lunch fare with an everchanging menu of favourites and new lunch/brunch creations. Grab a coffee or a milkshake and relax.
Iconic pub steeped in history. Enjoy hearty fare or grab a beer in the main bar with the locals.
Royal Oak Hotel UBET (TAB)
502 Sydney RoadIconic pub steeped in history. Enjoy hearty fare or grab a beer in the main bar with the locals.
Great little cafe serving home cooked breakfast & lunch options. It's also licenced, so why not grab a glass of wine with your lunch?
Vintage Cafe
50 Church StGreat little cafe serving home cooked breakfast & lunch options. It's also licenced, so why not grab a glass of wine with your lunch?
Cafe Lito
47 Church StSmall coffee shop serving great coffee and cake options.
Arts & Culture
Penola is a special place, where Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods co-founded the uniquely Australian Sisters of St Joseph in 1866. Our friendly volunteers will welcome you in the Interpretive Centre, which houses the MacKillop and Woods exhibitions, the research room, and the shop. In the Schoolhouse there is an exhibition on Josephite education and displays in the living areas. St Joseph’s Church, with its Shrine to Mary, the Old Convent and the early Cameron Home are also on site. The Mary MacKillop Stable School Park is in Penola and the Father Woods Sculpture Park is north of Coonawarra.
7 locals recommend
Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre
Petticoat LanePenola is a special place, where Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods co-founded the uniquely Australian Sisters of St Joseph in 1866. Our friendly volunteers will welcome you in the Interpretive Centre, which houses the MacKillop and Woods exhibitions, the research room, and the shop. In the Schoolhouse there is an exhibition on Josephite education and displays in the living areas. St Joseph’s Church, with its Shrine to Mary, the Old Convent and the early Cameron Home are also on site. The Mary MacKillop Stable School Park is in Penola and the Father Woods Sculpture Park is north of Coonawarra.
Parks & Nature
Naracoorte Caves National Park is South Australia's only World Heritage site. Naracoorte Caves, along with the Riversleigh fossil site in far north-west Queensland, form the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites World Heritage Area. Both sites were officially recognised in 1994 for their importance in telling the story of Australia’s unique animal heritage. At Naracoorte, the caves have acted as pitfall traps and owl roosting sites, collecting animals for at least 500,000 years. The Caves preserve the most complete fossil record we have for this period of time, spanning several ice ages, the arrival of humans in the area and the extinction of Australia’s iconic Megafauna roughly 60,000 years ago.
23 locals recommend
Naracoorte Caves National Park
Naracoorte Caves National Park is South Australia's only World Heritage site. Naracoorte Caves, along with the Riversleigh fossil site in far north-west Queensland, form the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites World Heritage Area. Both sites were officially recognised in 1994 for their importance in telling the story of Australia’s unique animal heritage. At Naracoorte, the caves have acted as pitfall traps and owl roosting sites, collecting animals for at least 500,000 years. The Caves preserve the most complete fossil record we have for this period of time, spanning several ice ages, the arrival of humans in the area and the extinction of Australia’s iconic Megafauna roughly 60,000 years ago.
Shopping
Stop in and ask the IGA team for the best cheeses and meats in the district. Build your platter from scratch right here!
11 locals recommend
Penola IGA Fresh
27 Church StStop in and ask the IGA team for the best cheeses and meats in the district. Build your platter from scratch right here!
Sightseeing
Consistently rated as the most knowledgeable and personal wine touring and experience service in the region. Coonawarra Experiences offers bespoke and personal tours taking you behind the scenes to meet the winemakers, taste the yet to be released wines and help our guests get to know the people that make Coonawarra tick. Larger groups, as well as corporate outings, can also be catered for by Coonawarra Experiences. The sky is the limit so speak with the only trusted professionals in town about your touring needs. Guests staying with Penola Parkview receive a 10% discount off the price of any tour with Coonawarra Experiences.
6 locals recommend
Coonawarra Experiences
19 Arthur StConsistently rated as the most knowledgeable and personal wine touring and experience service in the region. Coonawarra Experiences offers bespoke and personal tours taking you behind the scenes to meet the winemakers, taste the yet to be released wines and help our guests get to know the people that make Coonawarra tick. Larger groups, as well as corporate outings, can also be catered for by Coonawarra Experiences. The sky is the limit so speak with the only trusted professionals in town about your touring needs. Guests staying with Penola Parkview receive a 10% discount off the price of any tour with Coonawarra Experiences.
No trip to Coonawarra is complete without a selfie at the siding! Finished in 1898, this was how the famous John Riddoch dispatched his wines from Coonawarra to various parts of the country. Get a real idea of the region by standing on the platform and taking in the stunning views. Also, remember to take in a sunset here!
Coonawarra Siding
Giles RoadNo trip to Coonawarra is complete without a selfie at the siding! Finished in 1898, this was how the famous John Riddoch dispatched his wines from Coonawarra to various parts of the country. Get a real idea of the region by standing on the platform and taking in the stunning views. Also, remember to take in a sunset here!