We count Thorn Park among our favourite gourmet getaways in Australia. It has been a hit with our readers for years and the accolades just keep flowing for David and Michael's deft combination of country charm and superlative hospitality in a magical setting.

Whether you choose the elegant in-house 1850s homestead rooms or the private suites in the Old Barn or The Coach House, you will be treated to a sumptuous feast of interior style and cuisine. Indeed, the food is central to why this place is such a venerated choice. These days, as people tend to dine out or order in several times a week, we all miss that subtle and exquisite blend of home-cooked cuisine and culinary excellence.

What Thorn Park offers is a slow-food, indulgent dining experience, laid on by hosts who understand true hospitality. Delightfully, too, dinner can be served in private for two or as a group. Legendary breakfasts and morning and afternoon teas cap off this epic foodie marathon. How guests ever find the energy to visit the cellar doors of Clare we will never know.

Location: 126km or two hours north of Adelaide. RA 62 F4. UBD 317 E4.
Facilities: Homestead: three ensuite rooms, drawing room, library, formal dining room. Coach House: two ensuite rooms. Old Barn: one suite (kitchen facilities, living room, bathroom). Full breakfast served, dinner available most evenings. Residential cooking schools held throughout the year. Visit this property's website