Best things to do in Clare Valley
Riesling, ridgetop lookouts and copper-mining heritage across South Australia's most characterful wine country.
The Clare Valley is one of South Australia's great touring regions - a string of stone villages threaded between vine-covered hills, with a depth of history and a quality of Riesling that punch well above the area's size. You can spend a long weekend here and barely scratch the surface, so we have pulled together a genuine cross-section: the wineries you should not miss, the walks and lookouts that show the valley at its best, and the heritage sites that tell its story.
Wine and the great outdoors
Clare is Riesling country first and foremost, but the region rewards anyone happy to get out of the car. The Riesling Trail runs the length of the valley for walkers and cyclists, while short climbs to lookouts above Clare deliver some of the finest panoramas in the state.
History at every turn
From the Jesuit cellars at Sevenhill to the copper-mining town of Burra, the Clare Valley wears its colonial past proudly. Set aside time for the grand houses and stone villages - they are as memorable as the wine.
-
1
Clare
Riesling Trail
A 35 km walking and cycling trail following the old Clare-to-Auburn railway, linking towns, vineyards and cellar doors along the valley floor. It is the single best way to see the Clare Valley under your own steam, with easy gradients and plenty of places to stop for a tasting.
See place → -
2
AuburnGrosset Wines
Jeffrey Grosset is widely regarded as the benchmark of Australian Riesling, and his tiny Auburn cellar door is a pilgrimage for serious wine lovers. If you taste one wine in the valley, make it a Grosset Riesling.
See place → -
3
SevenhillSevenhill Cellars
The Clare Valley's oldest winery, founded by Jesuits in 1851 and still making wine beside its historic stone church. It is a rare combination of cellar door and heritage site, and an essential first stop for understanding the region.
See place → -
4
MintaroMartindale Hall
A grand 1880 Georgian manor near Mintaro, best known as a film and TV icon from Picnic at Hanging Rock. The beautifully preserved interiors offer a vivid window into colonial pastoral wealth.
See place → -
5Clare
Neagles Rock Lookout
A short, sharp climb to a rocky outcrop above Clare rewarded with one of the finest panoramas over the township and surrounding vineyards. It is an easy detour and a perfect spot for sunset.
See place → -
6
BurraBurra Monster Mine
The open-cut Burra Burra copper mine that helped save colonial South Australia, now preserved as an open-air museum of engine houses and mining relics. Walking the workings brings the town's extraordinary 19th-century boom to life.
See place → -
7Penwortham
Skillogalee Wines
A picturesque boutique winery and much-loved restaurant tucked into the Skilly Hills, famous for both its wines and its long lunches. The setting among the vines makes it one of the valley's most rewarding cellar-door-and-dining stops.
See place → -
8
MintaroReillys Wines
A heritage cellar door and restaurant set in an 1856 bluestone cottage in the slate village of Mintaro. It pairs characterful local wines with seasonal dining in one of the region's prettiest historic settings.
See place → -
9Clare
Jim Barry Wines
A celebrated family winery just north of Clare, home of the legendary Armagh Shiraz and elegant Rieslings. It is one of the region's marquee names and a must for anyone chasing Clare's biggest reds.
See place → -
10
AuburnTaylors Wines
One of Australia's largest family-owned wineries, based at Auburn and known for its St Andrews range. The smart cellar door makes an accessible, polished introduction to Clare Valley wine.
See place → -
11
BurraBurra Heritage Passport
A self-guided trail that unlocks eight historic copper-mining sites across heritage-listed Burra, including the miners' dugouts and engine houses. It is a brilliant, flexible way to explore the town and a great outing for families.
See place → -
12
ClareBungaree Station
A historic 1840s pastoral station north of Clare, run as a self-contained heritage village. Touring its original buildings is one of the best ways to understand the squatting era that shaped the region.
See place → -
13
ClareBlyth Cinema
Since 2005 the little town of Blyth has run its own cinema inside a heritage-listed former hall. Catching a film here is a quirky, genuinely local night out and a fun change of pace from the cellar doors.
See place → -
14Burra
Waters Burra Bakery
A welcoming country bakery in heritage Burra, the natural place to refuel while exploring the town's mining trail. It is a reliable, friendly stop for a quick, casual bite.
See place →
More like this
The Best Rainy Day Things to Do in the Clare Valley
Rain in the Clare Valley is good news for the vines and no bad news for visitors - museums, galleries, a community cinema and some very comfortable tasting rooms await.
Top 10
Where to eat in Clare Valley
Our pick of the best places to eat in Clare Valley - winery restaurants, fine dining, revived country pubs, cafes and bakeries spread from Clare to Watervale, Auburn and beyond.
Guide
Cycle the Riesling Trail
The Riesling Trail follows a disused railway line for 35 km through the heart of the Clare Valley - gentle gradients, vineyard views and a cellar door every few pedal strokes. Here is how to ride it well.
Guide
A Clare Valley Cellar Door Day
You could spend a week tasting your way around the Clare Valley. With one day and a designated driver, this route hits the icons without feeling rushed - book a long lunch in the middle and let the afternoon drift.
Guide
Burra Heritage Loop
Burra is a living museum of the copper boom that helped save colonial South Australia. Pick up the Heritage Passport, unlock the locked sites, and trace the town's extraordinary 19th-century story over a full day.
Guide
The Heritage Towns Loop
Beyond the vines, the Clare Valley hides one of Australia's richest concentrations of 19th-century history. This loop links its finest heritage towns.