Clare Valley

Just a couple of hours north of Adelaide, Clare Valley is South Australia's most picturesque wine region, a patchwork of rolling hills, stone cottages and vine-striped valleys. It's a place that rewards slow travel — the kind where you cycle between cellar doors, picnic beside a creek and linger over long lunches in historic towns. Clare Valley is famous for its world-class rieslings, but its charm runs deeper: a rich Cornish mining heritage, a network of walking trails and a genuine, unhurried hospitality that makes you feel instantly welcome.

Highlights & What to See

• Riesling Trail — cycle or walk this 35-kilometre rail-trail linking Auburn, Clare and Sevenhill. It slices through vineyards and past cellar doors, perfect for a self-guided wine tour on two wheels.
• Clare Valley wine cellar doors — don't miss Grosset, Jim Barry, Pikes and Mount Horrocks. Book a tasting to sample benchmark rieslings, shiraz and cabernet, and chat with winemakers who love their craft.
• Martindale Hall — this grand Georgian mansion near Mintaro was the setting for the film Picnic at Hanging Rock. Its opulent rooms and manicured gardens offer a glimpse into 19th-century pastoral wealth.
• Sevenhill Cellars — Australia's oldest Jesuit winery, established in 1851. The underground cellars and stone church are as captivating as the fortified wines.
• Bungaree Station — a working sheep station turned luxury accommodation. Wander the historic woolshed, farm buildings and gardens, and feel the pulse of rural South Australia.

Suggested Time to Spend

Three days is the sweet spot for Clare Valley. Spend the first day cycling the Riesling Trail and tasting in the southern towns — Auburn, Watervale and Penwortham. Use the second day to explore the historic northern end: Sevenhill, Clare and Mintaro, including a tour of Martindale Hall. On the third morning, hike part of the Heysen Trail or visit Bungaree Station before heading off. If you're short on time, a full-day tour from Adelaide can give you a taste, but you'll wish you'd stayed longer.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Barossa Valley — Australia's most famous wine region, just an hour south. Compare Clare's elegant rieslings with Barossa's bold shiraz.
• Adelaide Hills — cool-climate wines, German-influenced Hahndorf and lush bushwalking, all within 90 minutes of Clare.
• Flinders Ranges — a dramatic red-earth landscape 3.5 hours north. Combine with Clare for a classic outback-and-wine road trip.
• Yorke Peninsula — pristine beaches, seafood shacks and coastal walks, about 2.5 hours west. A great detour for a dose of salt air.
• Kangaroo Island — wildlife and wilderness, accessible via a ferry from Cape Jervis (2.5 hours south). Worth adding a few days if you have time.

Please check official sources for current details.