Family Activities
Mazes, mines & open spaces
The best family activities in Auburn
There's plenty to keep younger explorers busy between cellar doors — the Mintaro Maze, the open-air history of Burra's mine sites, easy stretches of the Riesling Trail for little legs, playgrounds and showgrounds, and farm stays with room to roam.
The Clare Valley is more family-friendly than its wine reputation suggests, with plenty to keep children busy between the cellar doors. The classic kids' outing is the Mintaro Maze, a leafy hedge maze and gardens in the heart of the historic slate village of Mintaro — easy to combine with a picnic.
The flat, traffic-free Riesling Trail is ideal for family cycling, with bike hire available and gentle distances between towns; its Rattler Trail extension to Auburn adds more easy riding. Older kids fascinated by history will enjoy exploring Burra, where the Monster Mine and self-drive Heritage Passport bring the copper-mining era to life.
For free outdoor play, the region's nature reserves and lookouts offer space to run, spot kangaroos and picnic. Many eateries and stays around Clare welcome families, making the valley an easy, relaxed destination for a weekend with children.
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5 places
Auburn Shiraz Trail Trailhead
The southern gateway to the Riesling Trail, where the Shiraz Trail begins in historic Auburn.
C.J. Dennis Memorial
Auburn's tribute to the laureate of the larrikin.
A blue granite drinking fountain in Auburn honours C.J. Dennis, author of The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, who was born in the town in 1876.
Cogwebs Hub Cafe & Bike Hire
Coffee, homemade food and bikes where two rail trails meet.
At the southern end of the Riesling Trail, Cogwebs combines a cafe serving locally roasted coffee with bike hire for both the Riesling and Rattler rail trails.
Mostly Books Auburn
A characterful independent bookshop in heritage Auburn, a much-loved browsing stop near the start of the Riesling Trail.
Rattler Trail
A 19 km rail trail from Auburn to Riverton continuing south from the Riesling Trail through farmland and bushland.