The ideal way to make your weekend a little more adventurous

So, I always thought of myself as a globe-trotting, camping person deep down.

In a time of Instagram-driven holidays, beach trips that turn into photo shoots, and clothing made exclusively for capturing the perfect image, I staunchly believed that I needed to fly across the world and sleep in a tent to travel authentically.

Well I’m here to tell you I was wrong on both counts, and you probably are too.

On Toyota’s new RAV-4 launch, I took a new look at how we approach our weekends and where we choose to go, and I’m dialling down and zoning in on local, easy destinations.

Whisked away for just one night to South Australia’s McLaren Vale, I realised adventure shouldn’t be infrequent, nor does it need to be hours away.

The reality is my extravagant travel dreams tend to burn out before I have time to get off the couch.

If I had the option of a shorter flight and a comfier sleep, I’d be stepping out of home a lot more often, and a short stint camping in style in South Australia has whet my appetite for travel just a couple of hours away.

A weekend on a road less traveled

In the shadow of Barossa and Clare Valley, it’s easy to forget about McLaren Vale, but that would be a mistake.

The region is less than an hour outside of Adelaide, and sprawls along South Australia’s rugged coastline.

Booked in advanced, flights can be nabbed for just over $200 return, and a car-hire and a quick drive will find you in the midst of the vineyards within three hours of leaving Sydney.

South Australia has no restrictions on driving on the beach either, so like me, you might want to take your wheels for a spin on the region’s hard-packed sand beaches.

I was behind the wheel of the new Rav-4 so I can’t speak for a standard car, but for the four, or all-wheel drivers out there it’s an absolute must to take a spin on the sand.

Or for the less daring, a bee-line for wine, culture and some jaw dropping views is your second option.

From the D’Arenberg winery, a tantalising trip for all five senses, to seaside restaurants you can eat like a queen (or a king) for the duration of your stay, and for those looking for a slightly more natural experience I have one word for you: glamping.

Vineyard Glamping

As previously mentioned, I can be a reverse snob at times, and I always thought I was better than everybody because I went camping.

Real camping.

Waking up to a stick digging into your back, with frozen extremities and stiff joints, camping.

And I barely ever did it because camping is hard, and after a long week of work it’s the last thing I want to do.

Enter glamping; everything you want from a night spent with nothing but a stretch of canvas between you and the sprawling night sky, with none of the uneven terrain.

We were lucky enough to roll out from tents equipped with comfy beds, heating, and charging points to a spectacular view of the D’Arenberg vines, with the cube just a hop, skip and a jump away.

The winery hasn’t opened glamping to the public just yet, but there are plenty of other options to get your vineyard camping fix.

From the seclusion of Tent on a Hill, to the cosy cottage options that pepper the region, a remote getaway is closer than you probably thought.

In a nutshell, it’s easier than I thought to turn my weekends into the adventure I was always talking about, but never having.

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