25 Years On: McLeod’s Daughters Legacy Continues To Shine A Spotlight On Barossa

This year marks 25 years since filming began in South Australia’s Barossa for the iconic television series McLeod’s Daughters. This milestone celebrates not only one of Australia’s most beloved dramas, but also the region that became its beating heart.

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.

The series followed Claire (New Zealander, Lisa Chappell) and Tess (Bridie Carter) as they reunite after their father’s death to run the family cattle property, Drovers Run. 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 scenery in the show 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. Freeling and Kapunda featured heavily as the fictional towns of Gungellan and Fisher in the show. Week after week, audiences connected with the storylines set against South Australia’s stunning rural backdrop.

Stacey Kerr, Regional Manager, New Zealand, South Australian Tourism Commission, said: “McLeod’s Daughters remains a powerful example of how screen productions showcase the South Australia’s landscapes to global audiences, and continue to inspire travel long after the cameras stop rolling.”

“Twenty-five years on, it’s incredibly special that visitors can come and experience those same landscapes in person — to stand where their favourite scenes were filmed and even stay at Kingsford The Barossa. It’s a powerful reminder of how screen storytelling can inspire real-world travel.”

Dan Lewis, Regional General Manager Salter Brothers Hospitality, operator of Kingsford The Barossa, said that fans of McLeod’s Daughters travel from all around the world to experience the show’s beloved homestead.

"Kingsford The Barossa has been transformed into a luxury retreat, yet it still retains the unmistakable spirit of its Drovers Run days. You can feel it in the homestead, the paddocks and the stories our team shares with guests. With guests frequently telling us that the series played a defining role in their decision to stay with us, we look forward to welcoming more guests to experience the estate and the landscapes that have helped make the series so iconic.”

In New Zealand, the series continues to find new audiences via TVNZ+, while its enduring popularity has cemented South Australia’s reputation as a premier screen production destination.

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.

Kingsford The Barossa will host special events to celebrate the 25th anniversary throughout the year, so stay tuned for updates here.

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 broader mid-north region — further showcasing South Australia’s diverse rural beauty.

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