7 of the best things to do in the Clare Valley

Margaret BarcaBy Margaret Barca
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The Clare Valley is arguably Australia’s most underrated wine region, and this overlooked gem boasts plenty of historic charm, natural beauty, and, of course, delicious riesling.

A mere 90 minutes or so in the car north of Adelaide, the Clare Valley (luckily!) still scoots just under the radar. This laid-back pocket makes an unhurried retreat of Aussie bush and rolling vineyards, stone buildings and intriguing history, cellar doors, good food, bike trails and country hospitality. Here’s how to make the most of it.

1. Eat local fare at Clare Valley’s eateries

The Clare Valley has no shortage of fantastic eateries. If you’re looking for a winery lunch, venture down a sun-dappled back road that leads past vines curving away on the slopes of hills (‘planted to the contour’ in vigneron speak) to the 1860s cottage of Skillogalee ; a winery, restaurant and cellar door. Slate slabs cool the wisteria-draped verandah and there are tables beneath the sprawliest-ever olive. Indulge in fresh black pasta with Port Lincoln sand crab followed by Estate Muscat with vanilla ice cream.

Another food option is to join the savvy locals at Seed Winehouse + Kitchen , where the menu (slow-cooked lamb shank with lemon pepper couscous, or fettuccini Brussel pasta) has a similar farm-to-fork freshness.  And the bar has a real buzz.

Skillogalee WInery Clare Valley
Enjoy a delicious outdoor lunch at Skillogalee. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

2. Ride the Riesling Trail

When the sun’s shining and there’s that crackle of heat in the bleached grass, cruising along on a bike is like being a kid again. The 35-kilometre Riesling Trail rail is peppered with postcard views, wineries, cafes and plenty of signage along the looping route; Watervale to Penwortham is rated one of the prettiest sections. You can hire bikes at Auburn, Clare and Sevenhill.

 Not down to cycle? No worries! Pack a picnic basket and stroll for a while before tossing down your rug under a shady tree.

The Riesling Trail in the Clare Valley
This 35-kilometre trail traverses the picturesque Clare Valley wine region. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

3. Wander the wineries of Clare Valley

Riesling aficionadas will love clos Clare Wine s in Watervale and Crabtree Wines . Stop by the region’s oldest vineyard, the Jesuit-run Sevenhill , which started in the 1850s and is still going strong. The quirky Mad Bastard Wines specialises in Shiraz. For wine with sweeping scenery, lunch on the deck at Paulett Wines . For art with your wine visit Pikes .

 There are approximately 50 wineries in the region, but it’s not all wine. Craft beer and cider are bubbling up. Try the Tonic Ale (with lemon peel and ginger) from Pikes Beer Company .

Sevenhill winery Clare Valley
Sevenhill Winery is the region’s oldest. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

4. Discover Mintaro’s magic

The tiny town of Mintaro has spades of character in its timeworn slate buildings, vast Moreton Bay fig trees and old-world gardens. Visit Mintaro Maze if you have the kids in tow, or delve into the past at the palace in a paddock, Martindale Hall, where the ’70s classic Picnic at Hanging Rock was filmed.

We also recommend sharing a lazy lunch at Reilly’s Wines. Nibble on gourmet platters in the leafy courtyard that boasts vineyard views.

Martindale Hall Clare valley
Built in 1879 – 1880, Martindale Hall has significant heritage value in South Australia. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

5. Explore Flinders’ history in Burra

Burra’s wide streets, stone buildings, and tree-lined creek are a backdrop for country folk in cowboy boots and battered hats, and grey nomads stopping en route to the Flinders Ranges. You can get your urban-fix coffee at St Just Café or enjoy a veritable tea party at colourful Good Golly Miss Polly . For organic juices and wraps head to Burra Fresh, while several shops are piled with collectables, curios, and gifts for those who like to fossick. Art lovers should swing by the Burra Regional Art Gallery , housed within a restored 1860 Post and Telegraph Office.

Burra Regional Art Gallery, Clare Valley
Burra Regional Art Gallery showcases 12 new exhibitions each year. (Image: Josh Geelen)

6. Visit the iconic pink lake of Lake Bumbunga

Just a half-hour drive from the valley will take you to the breathtaking Lake Bumbunga. This picturesque salt lake flies under the tourist radar, yet it’s one of South Australia’s most exquisite natural phenomena. There’s a viewing platform at the edge of the lake so you can admire the lake and snap some envy-worthy photos. Keep an eye out for the “Loch-Eel Monster" sculpture.

Lake Bumbunga pink lake
Lake-Bumbunga is one of Australia’s most intensely pink lakes. (Image: Olivia Reynolds)

7. Stay over

A swag of heritage cottages and houses are dotted all around the Clare. There’s Watervale’s upmarket Stanley Grammar Country House , converted stables at historic Bungaree Station , original miners’ cottages in Burra and even the stylish loft-style Irongate Studio B&B in Mintaro.

Stanley Grammar Country House, Clare Valley
Stanley Grammar Country House is a luxury bed and breakfast accommodation in the heart of the wine region. (Image: Stanley Grammar Country House)
For more insider tips and must-see sights, read our travel guide to Clare Valley.
Margaret Barca
Margaret is a Melbourne-based writer with serious case of wanderlust, who loves hotels – from high end to quirky off-grid retreats – cutting- edge design, a Campari soda and a banana lounge with an uninterrupted view of the pool. While she loves galleries, museums and the buzz of big cities, she is also often dreaming of Tulum, or the Aeolian Islands.
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This geological wonder is hiding in the heart of Victoria

    Michael TurtleBy Michael Turtle
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    Mythical, historical and most of all, spectacularly beautiful, Buchan Caves demands you take your time – and a tour. 

    In the pools of water, so still they could be mirrors, the reflections of the stalactites make these limestone towers seem even taller. Almost 400 million years ago, an underground river carved through the rock to create the Buchan Caves . Now, artworks created by dripping water adorn these subterranean galleries: stalactites hanging from the ceiling, pillars connecting some to the ground, even curtain-like wave formations clinging to the stone.

    Caves House
    Visit the caves for the day or stay onsite in the campground or at the self-contained Caves House. (Image: Ben Savage)

    “This is called the Fairy Cave because it’s full of fairy dust,” a guide tells visitors as they enter a cavern glittering with “calcite that’s solidified into thousands of tiny little diamond shapes”.  Buchan Caves is Victoria’s largest cave system, but Fairy Cave is a highlight and, along with nearby Royal Cave, is accessible only by tour. Naturally cold, naturally dark, these caverns deep below the surface light up as the local experts tell their stories. 

    couple walking in cave
    You’ll need to book a guided tour to see the caves. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the hundreds of caves, some can be easily accessed from the surface. For instance, a casual stroll along the FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk, as kangaroos watch on from beneath acacia trees, leads into the 400-metre-long Federal Cave and its natural steps of white limestone. A slightly longer track, the Granite Pools Walk heads through soaring forest down into moss-covered gullies where the calls of lyrebirds trill through the leaves. 

    A quick history lesson on Buchan Caves 

    Buchan Caves
    Buchan Caves are a must-visit attraction in Gippsland. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the geology and the nature are millennia of history. This part of East Gippsland connects the high country to the coast and was long a place of refuge for the local Gunaikurnai people on seasonal migrations to the mountains. Archaeological studies show humans lived here up to 18,000 years ago, with artefacts such as small stone tools found around the site. But not too far into the caverns – oh no! The Gunaikurnai didn’t dare venture deep into the dark at Buchan Caves, telling stories they were inhabited by gnome-like nyols (small grey-skinned creatures that could steal memories). 

    Buchan Caves Hotel
    The Buchan Caves Hotel was rebuilt after burning down in 2014. (Image: Jess Shapiro)

    By the early 1900s, more people had started to hear about these incredible caves and so the Moon family set up home at the site and started to run tours below ground for intrepid visitors. More than a century later, their historic residence is available as accommodation, with the three-bedroom house sleeping up to eight people and now equipped with modern amenities the Moons could only have dreamt of. 

    But whether you stay overnight or just spend the day here, it’s worth taking your time to explore more than just the main caves, to get a deeper understanding of one of Victoria’s fascinating geological attractions.