Clare Valley
A South Australian wine region famed for dry Rieslings, where you can cycle the Riesling Trail past family-run wineries and visit stone towns such as Mintaro and Burra.
The Clare Valley lies in central-north South Australia, about 130 km, or 2 hours' drive, north of Adelaide. It is a narrow hilly valley about 35 km long from north to south. Its high elevation and wide day-night temperature range give it crisp, dry Rieslings that are known around the world, and it also produces fine Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The valley runs from the town of Clare in the north to Auburn in the south. Small villages such as Sevenhill, Penwortham, Watervale and Leasingham lie in between, along with more than 40 cellar doors, most of them family-run.
The classic way to explore is cycling the Riesling Trail, built on a former railway line, and stopping at wineries along the way for tastings. On the east side, the entire town of Mintaro is heritage-listed, and nearby Martindale Hall is a film location. About 45 km northeast lies Burra, a 19th-century copper mining town.
The best seasons are spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May). The May Clare Valley Food and Wine Festival is a highlight. Summers are dry and hot, while winters are cool and rainy but quiet, with fewer visitors. There is no convenient public transport, so drive yourself or join a winery tour from Adelaide. Bicycles can be rented in town. Plan 2–3 days, and never drink and drive.
Top sights
- Riesling Trail – A 35 km cycling trail built on an old railway line, linking vineyards, historic towns, and wineries from Auburn to Clare.
- Sevenhill Cellars & St Aloysius Church – Founded by Jesuits in 1851, this is the Clare Valley's oldest winery, still producing Mass wine, with an old stone church beside it.
- Martindale Hall – A Georgian-style mansion completed in 1880 and the filming location of Picnic at Hanging Rock, with its Victorian-era furnishings preserved.
- Mintaro – A 19th-century slate village whose entire town is listed as a state heritage area, with stone cottages, old pubs and slate quarries well pr…
- Mintaro Maze – A large hedge maze made from cypress hedging, ideal for families and on the way between Mintaro and Martindale Hall.
- Burra – A 19th-century Australian copper-mining town where the stone houses of Cornish miners, cellar dwellings and an old gaol form an open-air mu…
- Burra Burra Mine (Burra Mine Site) – Historic site of the Burra copper mine, worked from 1845 to 1877 and nicknamed the 'Monster Mine', with an open-pit lake, engine house and…
- Redruth Gaol – South Australia's first prison built outside Adelaide (1856), and a filming location for the movie 'Breaker Morant'.
- Clare – The heart of the Clare Valley, where the historic stone main street, restaurants and visitor centre make it the base for exploring the vall…
- Watervale – A historic village along the Riesling Trail, famous for the 'Watervale Riesling' grown on limestone soils.
- Auburn – A stone-built town at the southern gateway to the Clare Valley, the southern starting point of the Riesling Trail and the hometown of poet…
- Spring Gully Conservation Park – A forest conservation park about 6 km south of Clare, with red gum woodland, seasonal waterfalls and wildflower trails.
- Skillogalee – A family winery restaurant in 1850s stone buildings, where a terrace lunch overlooking the vineyards is a classic Clare Valley experience.
- Knappstein Enterprise Winery & Brewery – A winery in the 1878 former brewery buildings in Clare town, where you can taste both Riesling and craft beer.
- Kilikanoon Wines – A well-known winery near Penwortham, celebrated for its award-winning Shiraz and Riesling, with a stone cellar and terrace restaurant.
- Jim Barry Wines – A family winery north of Clare, known for its flagship 'The Armagh' Shiraz and the rare Aglianico wine.
- Pikes Wines – A family winery in Polish Hill River valley with craft beer and a slate-themed restaurant, ideal for a lunch and tasting combination.
- Taylors Wines – A large family winery near Auburn, sold overseas under the 'Wakefield' brand, with a wide range of wines to taste at the cellar door.
- Polish Hill River Church Museum – A stone church built by Polish immigrants in the 1870s, now a small museum on the history of Polish migration to South Australia.
- Bungaree Station – A merino sheep station founded in 1841, with its woolshed, homestead and chapel preserved. Visitors can tour the site and stay in the histo…
Where to eat
- Skillogalee Restaurant – The iconic winery restaurant of the Clare Valley, overlooking the vineyards, with a seasonal menu paired with house Rie…
- Watervale Hotel – The most awarded country pub in the Clare Valley, sourcing ingredients from its own organic farm, with a ten-seat chef'…
- Mr Mick Cellar Kitchen – A cellar restaurant in an old winery building in central Clare, serving shared tapas with house wines and close to the…
- The Little Red Grape Bakery – A family bakery in Sevenhill that has repeatedly won the Great Aussie Pie competition. Its seafood and lamb pies are si…