CLARE VALLEY
The Clare Valley is just an hour and a half north of Adelaide, but you might as well be a world away. With a rich cultural tapestry dating back 160 years and more than 35 cellar doors, the region is perfect for immersing yourself in the finer things in life. It's famed for its wineries, restaurants and country pubs. Settle into a bed and breakfast within one of the valley's historic villages, where you'll relish the bucolic vistas and the charm of this engaging region.
See where it all began at Jesuit's Sevenhill Cellars, founded in 1851 to produce sacramental wine and still distributing to churches across Australia and Asia. Explore the Clare Valley's oldest winery and visit the magnificent St Aloysius Church and crypt before tasting award-winning wines at the cellar door.
Explore one of Australia's most beautifully preserved towns on Burra's Heritage Passport Trail. Armed with a guidebook and your own key, you'll drive past 65 fascinating sites and learn why Burra was once South Australia's copper central. The 11 kilometre route includes Redruth Gaol, the Monster Mine and "Creek Street", where 1600 people lived in dugouts along the riverbank.
Taste the delectable wines of the Clare Valley along the Riesling Trail, a 25 kilometre walking and cycling route linking world-renowned boutique wineries and towns between Auburn and Clare. The old railway line journeys through some of South Australia's most stunning wine country and bush scenery, so be sure to look out for the natives (animals that is).
Return to a bygone era at Martindale Hall, the lovingly restored 1879 mansion that featured in the hit 1970s Australian film Picnic at Hanging Rock. Stay overnight in Georgian opulence before exploring the delightful historic town of Mintaro, State Heritage listed and the boyhood home of Australian poet CJ Dennis.
See where Australia's first major mine was developed and meet the towering sculpture of Map Kernow the Cornish miner at Kapunda. Armed with a Kapunda Heritage Trail brochure, you'll discover a town steeped in history, with elegant stone buildings and the Bagot's Fortune mining museum. Duck into a bakery for a traditional Cornish pasty, and don't miss Sunday lunch at the character-filled Wheatsheaf Pub, just north of town.
Time your visit to coincide with the Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend, one of the first events of its kind in Australia and now held every May. It's just one of many exceptional events on the regional calendar. You'll also find rodeos, country shows, the Gongolope season of spring activities, antique fairs and race days.
