There are high teas, and then there are experiences that take you somewhere entirely different. The Mother's Day High Tea at Glen Ewin Estate is firmly in the second category. Set on a heritage-listed property in South Australia's Adelaide Hills, surrounded by manicured gardens, sweeping lawns, lakes, and orchard surrounded by native woodland, this is the kind of setting that makes a Sunday afternoon feel genuinely extraordinary.
On Sunday 10 May, the Gatehouse at Glen Ewin Estate opens its doors for a special Mother's Day High Tea — and if you're looking for something in Adelaide that goes well beyond a standard restaurant booking, this is it.
A Setting Unlike Any Other in Adelaide
Glen Ewin Estate was established in 1843 by Scottish horticulturist George McEwin, and its history is woven into the fabric of South Australia itself — the sandstone quarried on the property also graces Adelaide Town Hall, the General Post Office, and St Peter's Cathedral. Over 180 years, it has been a jam factory, a vineyard, a fig orchard, and now one of the state's most celebrated event and hospitality venues.
The Gatehouse Bar offers stunning views of Glen Ewin Estate, providing a tranquil setting to relax and enjoy a variety of local artisan dishes. It's a modern building with a stepped roof built in homage to the original stable block — sitting lightly on the landscape while looking out over the pond and grounds. For Mother's Day, it becomes the backdrop for a high tea that reflects everything the estate stands for: locally grown produce, estate-made products, and genuine, unhurried hospitality.
The Fig Gin High Tea — Estate-Made, Start to Finish
Glen Ewin's high tea offering has a distinct character that sets it apart from anything you'll find in the city. The estate's fig orchards now number over fourteen thousand trees, and the family has developed a range of gourmet fig products on site — including Fig Gin, produced by Pot and Still, a spirit company founded by Willa Wauchope that captures the flavour of the estate's orchards.
That Fig Gin is woven directly into the high tea experience. Every guest is welcomed with a Fig Gin Spritzer on arrival — a refreshing, botanical opener that immediately signals this isn't an off-the-shelf afternoon tea.
From there, the menu is a thoughtful combination of savoury and sweet, prepared by the estate's Executive Chef:
Savoury
- Hummus & cucumber sandwich (v, df, nf)
- Vegetarian arancini with aioli (nf)
- Homemade chicken sausage roll with tomato sauce (df, nf)
Sweet
- Signature scones with estate fig jam & local vanilla cream (v, nf)
- Lemon meringue tartlet (v, nf)
- Berry & chocolate slice (v, gf, nf)
- Fig caramel macaron (v, gf)
Unlimited freshly brewed coffee or tea throughout
The fig jam on the scones is made on the estate. The Fig Gin in your spritzer was distilled on the estate. All items on the high tea menu are created and made on site — which gives the whole experience a coherence and authenticity that's rare and genuinely worth celebrating.
What Makes This Special for Mother's Day
Overlooking the beautiful grounds, guests enjoy a high tea at the Gatehouse lovingly put together by the chef, while listening to live music. That combination — estate views, live music, locally made food and drink — creates an atmosphere that's celebratory without being formal. It's relaxed enough that Mum can actually enjoy herself, rather than feeling like she's in a performance.
Glen Ewin Estate is a family business with authentic values woven into the fabric of the place. Growing up on the estate, the Wauchope family was surrounded by generosity and instilled with a love of food, wine, and people. That spirit comes through in how the day is run — this isn't a conveyor-belt Mother's Day event. It's a small, considered occasion on a property that has been welcoming guests for generations.
For those travelling from Adelaide, Glen Ewin Estate is a heritage-listed property located 25 minutes north-east from the Adelaide CBD — close enough to be an easy day out, far enough to feel like a genuine escape into the Hills.
Good to Know
- Date: Sunday 10 May 2026
- Where: The Gatehouse, Glen Ewin Estate, 43 Lower Hermitage Rd, Lower Hermitage SA 5131
- Distance from Adelaide CBD: Approx. 25 minutes north-east
- Price: Check current pricing when booking via the link below
- On arrival: Fig Gin Spritzer included
- Dietary options: Vegetarian selections available; advise requirements at time of booking
- Bookings: Essential — minimum 2 people per booking
👉 Book your Mother's Day High Tea at Glen Ewin Estate
Visit Glen Ewin Beyond Mother's Day
If the Mother's Day sitting doesn't work for your schedule, the Fig Gin High Tea is available Friday to Sunday year-round, with bookings at 2:00pm and 2:30pm — minimum two people per booking. It's one of the most distinctive regular high tea experiences in South Australia, and well worth returning for.
The Gatehouse also welcomes walk-in guests for drinks and shared plates Friday to Sunday from 10:00am, with the kitchen closing at 2:30pm. Fig picking in the orchards, wine tastings, and picnic hampers on the grounds are also available — making Glen Ewin a genuinely full day out for the family.
Book Before It Sells Out
Mother's Day at Glen Ewin Estate is a ticketed event with limited places — and the combination of a heritage setting, live music, and an estate-made Fig Gin experience makes this one of the most distinctive high teas in Adelaide this year. Don't leave it to the week before.
Visit the Glen Ewin Estate listing on Find High Tea and secure your tickets directly through the venue.
Looking for more Mother's Day high tea options in Adelaide and South Australia? Explore all Adelaide high tea venues on Find High Tea.
