This year marks 25 years since filming began in South Australia’s Barossa for the iconic television series McLeod’s Daughters.
First bringing the rugged beauty of the Barossa into people’s homes through their television sets in 2001, McLeod’s Daughters captured Kiwi audiences with its sweeping landscapes, authentic rural charm and strong female leads.
A quarter of a century later, the show’s legacy continues to draw visitors to the Barossa who are eager to experience the real-life settings that gave the show its unmistakable character.
This trend is called “set-jetting”, where travellers choose to visit a destination based on where their favourite show or movie was filmed. It has risen in popularity over the past few years, especially amongst Gen Z and Millennial travellers.
The appeal of set-jetting is experiencing the iconic locations of their favourite movie or show firsthand.
Director of Photography Roger Dowling created the illusion of a vast 50,000-hectare outback station, filmed on a heritage estate just an hour from Adelaide. From rolling hills and dusty backroads to heritage homesteads, the show’s scenery remains instantly recognisable to fans.
Today, visitors can explore a range of filming locations and even stay at Kingsford The Barossa, known to millions as Drovers Run homestead, immersing themselves in the world that made the series a household name. Beyond Drovers, the majority of filming took place in the Light County, in the Barossa Valley.
Iconic McLeods Daughters Filming Locations Fans Can Visit
Kingsford The Barossa – Drovers Run Homestead
Filmed on a 55-hectare (135-acre) heritage-listed property at Kingsford, north of Gawler and on the edge of the Barossa, the grand sandstone homestead served as Drovers Run.
Built from Edinburgh sandstone, shipped to Australia as ballast, and completed in 1856, the property was purchased by the Nine Network in 1999 prior to filming.
Both interior and exterior scenes were shot inside the homestead, adding authenticity to the series. Today, the property has been meticulously restored and reimagined as a luxury retreat set on 225 acres along the Para River.
Guests can stay in one of 13 individually designed suites, dine at Orleana restaurant and immerse themselves in the landscape made famous on screen.
Freeling – The Real Gungellan
While Gungellan was fictional, its heart lies in the town of Freeling, bordering the Barossa. Fans can still see many recognisable locations, including
- The Gungellan Hotel – The Freeling Railway Hotel was transformed for the series, with the Gungellan Hotel sign still drawing visitors today.
- The Gungellan Truck Stop – A prominent feature in the series and still standing in Freeling, though no longer operational.
- The Town Hall – Venue for major storylines, including the Miss Gungellan contest and town celebrations.
- ANZAC Park – Home to the iconic bathtub and windmill prop.
- Freeling Op Shop (“Someone Might Like It”) – Housing memorabilia and props from the series.
Visitors can explore these sites via the Memoirs of McLeod’s Daughters trail, which begins at ANZAC Park, Kapunda and the Adelaide Hills. Kapunda doubled as the neighbouring town of Fisher, while additional scenes were filmed throughout the Adelaide Hills and the broader mid-north region, further showcasing South Australia’s diverse rural beauty.
