Our most recommended things to do in Clare Valley

Clare Valley: Full-Day History & Wine Tour with Lunch

1. Clare Valley: Full-Day History & Wine Tour with Lunch

Visit Clare Valley's historical towns and sites, such as Mintaro and Martindale Hall, to learn more about the region's history and early settlers. Tour wineries, such as Sevehill Cellars, to learn about and to sample the fantastic wine grown in the area. Finish your day discovering the beautiful landscapes of Clare Valley with afternoon tea. Begin your tour learning more about the history of Clare Valley. Hear detailed, fully-narrated stories of the Valley and its early pioneers. Visit the grave of Clare’s first settler John Horrocks, and the landmark tree under which he first camped. Next, enjoy an intimate, guided tour of well-regarded Sevenhill Cellars, established by the society of Jesuits in 1851. Hear their stories, learn about their wine-making, inspect their 160-year-old vines, and, of course, taste their world-famous wines.  From here, travel on back roads through vineyards and farmland with stunning views of the rolling landscapes.  Sample wines from some of the Valley’s younger stars like Hill River Estate, Pikes, Paulett, or Reillys. Enjoy your lunch at a chosen winery.  Then, make a stop in the charming, historic township of Mintaro, established around 1850 as an overnight stop for Ox drays carting the rich ore of the Burra Mines to Port.  Visit Wakefield, another the heritage-listed town, which is home to the first Jesuit church built in Australia. Step back in time with a guided tour of the lavish Georgian mansion Martindale Hall, a unique estate built in 1879. The mansion is also known for being the setting for iconic Australian film, Picnic at Hanging Rock.  Last, travel the backroads from Mintaro to the picturesque Skillogalee Valley, where you will finish your day with afternoon tea at Skillogalee Restaurant.

5-Day Flinders Ranges & Outback Eco Tour from Adelaide

2. 5-Day Flinders Ranges & Outback Eco Tour from Adelaide

Join a small-group eco safari to discover the Flinders Ranges. See an abundance of wildlife, wilderness, local aboriginal artworks, and culture. Day 1: Adelaide to Flinders Ranges (L, D) Depart Adelaide at 7:30 am to journey north. Enjoy a picnic lunch and an optional bush walk with your guide. See Pichi Richi Pass, Quorn, Warrens Gorge Conservation Park, and Willochra Plain. Enjoy a delicious Aussie barbecue for dinner. Sit around the campfire under the unforgettable desert sky in the authentic Australian outback. Optional extras: Night Sky Observatory. Day 2: Flinders Ranges to Arkaroola (B, L, D) Travel along Moralana Scenic Drive to see unsurpassed scenery and Australian wildlife. Visit Stokes Hill Lookout for views of Wilpena Pound. Enjoy lunch at and a tour of the old copper mining town of Blinman. See Gammon Ranges National Park and Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. Optional extras: Scenic flight over Arkaroola and the outback and/or astronomy night. Stay overnight at the Arkaroola Wilderness Resort. Day 3: Arkaroola (B, L, D) Take on the 4WD Ridge Top Tour (approx. 4-hour return trip). Journey from Arkaroola through the incredible scenery of the Gammon Ranges. Enjoy dramatic landscapes and dramatic changing colors as you travel through the outback to the historic Beltana Homestead. Savor a country-cooked roast lamb dinner with all the trimmings. End the day with a spot of stargazing. Optional extras: Arkaroola Scenic Flights. Day 4: Beltana Homestead to Rawnsley Park Station (B, L, D) This morning travel through some of the most amazing countries there is to offer. Meet the locals at the Iga Warta aboriginal community with their collection of local artifacts. Enjoy a scrumptious lunch at the old Copley Bakery. See Brachina Gorge and enjoy a bushwalk into Wilpena Pound itself. Or, relax and enjoy the tranquillity of the Flinders Ranges. The itinerary is dependent on availability. Optional extra: 30-minute scenic flight over Wilpena Pound. Day 5: Flinders Ranges to Adelaide (B, L, D) Join an early morning bush walk to see the rock art of the Adnyamathanha peoples. Head back through the Southern Flinders Ranges to see Red Gum forests. See the beautiful wine region of Clare Valley and if time permits try a tasting. Returns to Adelaide approximately 7:00 pm.

From Adelaide: 3-Day Flinders Ranges Small Group Eco Safari

3. From Adelaide: 3-Day Flinders Ranges Small Group Eco Safari

Get back to nature in the Flinders Ranges and look for wildlife and aboriginal art. Day 1: Rawnsley Park Station (L, D) Journey north to the southern Flinders Ranges and learn the local history along the way. Enjoy a picnic lunch and go for a bush walk surrounded by 600-million-year-old mountains. Travel through the Pichi Richi Pass and township of Quorn, and search for yellow-footed rock wallabies in Warrens Gorge Conservation Park. Day 2: Wilpena Pound (B, L, D) Explore the Bunyeroo and Brachina gorges to see some of the oldest rock formations in the world. Relax under the stars during a home-cooked dinner.  Day 3: Southern Flinders Ranges (B, L) Head back through the southern Flinders Ranges to see red gum forests and visit the historic town of Melrose. Travel through the beautiful wine region of Clare Valley on the way back to Adelaide.

Clare Valley: Wine Region Day Tour with Wine Tasting

4. Clare Valley: Wine Region Day Tour with Wine Tasting

The day begins with pickup from your hotel and heads into the heart of Clare Valley. The tour has been designed to provide a unique insight into this beloved wine region and how it came to be, as well as offering samples of the very best South Australian food and wine along the way. The first stop of the day is to Clare Valley’s very first winery, which was built by the Jesuits in 1851. Sevenhills Cellars is a secret site, bursting with spiritual character, a seductive array of wines, and some of the world’s oldest vines which were started with cuttings from the nearby Bungaree Station. Next, travel along quaint back roads, colorful vineyards, and sprawling farmland as you travel to a selection of the Valley’s most prestigious wineries. Highlights of the day include Hill River Estate, Pikes, Paulett, and Reillys. Choose which winery you’d like to stop at for lunch, and soak up views of the rolling countryside while you eat. After lunch, visit the historic township of Mintaro, which was established in the mid 1800s as an overnight stop for farmers moving their produce. Later, head west into the Skillogallee Valley to discover the contrast of wines from those in the east, Choose between award-winning wineries such as Kilikanoon, Mitchell, Penna Lane, Eldrege, and Jeanneret for more spectacular tasting sessions.

Clare Valley Day Tour: Shared Wine Tour

5. Clare Valley Day Tour: Shared Wine Tour

The Clare Valley is the most Northern of all South Australian Wine Regions (one and a half hours drive North from Adelaide). It is a lovely rural region, a popular destination for a private weekend getaway, and particularly famous for it's wines. This tour shows you and informs you more about the region than you can see on your own. With this option you avoid the impersonal multi-seater bus-trip, or the extra costs of a private tour. Your guide will introduce you to the venue operators and will be a big part of your tasting adventures. Your journey may include visiting the hamlets of Mintaro, Watervale, Sevenhill, Auburn, Leasingham, and Penwortham. Close to Burra, and just 100km North from the Barossa Valley, this wine region is full of stone buildings and still has that Aussie charm. Considered an 'Entrance to the Outback' via the Flinders Ranges, this has a 'Mediterranean' type of climate, with an annual (in winter) rainfall of just under 600mm (2x feet), however it is surrounded by flat agricultural lands where annual rain can be 150mm - 300mm (6x inches - 12x inches) less. Some of Australia's 'Ancient Vines' are here, with vines from Bordeaux cuttings in 1860 still producing grapes for wine in this phylloxera-free environment. If you book this tour, a few others might join you, but this is not a bus and the groups are mostly x2 or x4, and the maximum is x6 passengers. Your tour guide guides you through the geography, history, wines, and personalities of this most northern Adelaide wine region. As a local, your driver takes the back roads, introduces you to the cellar door staff, and can take you to vineyards and wineries where out-of-town tour operators never go. Be collected from your (local) accommodation and relax in leather seated comfort as we visit 4 or 5 lovely Clare Valley wineries. We shall return you there after your tour. The approximate times are 10am - 5pm. We have many lunch options for you to choose from (not included in the price); bakeries, country pubs, wineries or restaurants. The point is; this is the best value of all the wine tours operating to or in the Clare Valley. We are a bespoke organisation with limited availability, so if this looks good to you, and the date is available, book your tour now.

From Adelaide: 4-Day Lake Eyre and Flinders Ranges 4WD Tour

6. From Adelaide: 4-Day Lake Eyre and Flinders Ranges 4WD Tour

DAY 1 Visit the old coastal towns of Port Wakefield and Port Germein, which boasts the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Your guide will introduce you to a remarkable and resilient history of both Aboriginal and white settlement in South Australia. Take in the beauty of the Southern Flinders Ranges, 600 million year old mountain peaks and spectacular views over Spencer Gulf. Travel through picturesque Pichi Richi Pass to the historic township of Quorn, the setting for many iconic Australian films. Drive to Warrens Gorge Conservation Park to search for rare Yellow-Footed Rock Wallabies. Dramatic rock outcrops harbour these endangered wallabies with only an estimated 8,000 living in the wild. Sit back in our comfortable, fully equipped 4WD vehicle as we head along remote tracks through the deserted Willochra Plains where eagles soar and emus run free. DAY 2 Take off from the local airstrip with excellent views of the Flinders Ranges. Fly over Wilpena Pound, Bunyeroo and Brachina Gorge before tracking north to Lake Eyre, Parachilna, the Leigh Creek open-cut coal fields and the Marree Man, following the outback tracks crossing the awe-inspiring Lake Eyre. After marvelling at the wonders of this mammoth inland salt lake we will land at the outback town of William Creek. Enjoy lunch at a remote pub where the local stockmen gather. Make the return trip back to Wilpena Pound over the Painted Hills, Andamooka opal fields and Lake Torrens. DAY 3 After a hearty breakfast, drive on a wonderful journey to the spectacular Bunyeroo Gorge. Explore the ever changing creek beds of Brachina Gorge. This is an area alive with wildlife and boasts a remarkable geological history including Ediacaran fossils dating back millions of years. Immerse yourself in the ancient landscape; take that special photograph from Razor Back Lookout or just enjoy some of the most spectacular outback scenery Australia has to offer. As the sun becomes low in the sky we will follow the road through a landscape of absolute beauty. Wildlife including Kangaroos, Emus and Wedge-tailed Eagles prolific in this rugged terrain. DAY 4 Spend a lovely morning travelling back to Adelaide along the Eastern side of the Flinders Ranges. Heading south down the RM Williams way, the land changes into lush rural expanses of natural beauty. Enjoy a break in the world-famous Clare Valley wine region.

From Adelaide: Clare Valley Winery Tour

7. From Adelaide: Clare Valley Winery Tour

Discover the history, food, and wine of the Clare Valley region on a winery tour. After getting picked up from your hotel in Adelaide or Glenelg, travel to the historic village of Auburn to enjoy morning tea (at Your Cost ) and a stroll through the quaint streets and antique stores. From Auburn, continue to Mintaro, the home of the Martindale Hall and historical pub, post office, and other stores. Your first winery stop is at Sevenhills Cellars, run by the Jesuit Brothers. Here, visit the historic church and learn more about the first vineyard in the region. Next, sit down to a delicious lunch ( At Your Cost ) under the olive groves at Skillogalee Restaurant and Winery. After lunch, if time permits, head to a wine tasting at Kilakanoon

Cycle the Rail Trails of South Australia

8. Cycle the Rail Trails of South Australia

Soak up the knowledge of your local guide whilst discovering South Australia's best rail trails including the Riesling Rail Trail in the Clare Vally, The Barossa Trail & the Coast to Vines Rail Trail in McLaren Vale. The scenery varies across the three regions we explore, from vast rows of world-class vineyards and old farm trucks of the Barossa, to the historic cellar doors and Lutheran history in the Clare, to the more modern feeling, ocean vistas of the McLaren Vale region. It all starts – and ends – in lovely Adelaide fast becoming one of Australia’s highest rated tourist cities. In fact Lonely Planet named Adelaide in the Top 10 Cities to Visit.

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What people are saying about Clare Valley

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 9 reviews

It’s was lots of fun & very easy going. A great way to experience the region & some hidden away wineries. Dave is an awesome Tour Guide & kept us entertained all day long.

Great group of people we were with. Nice wineries and a lovely lunch. A little bit expensive for the 6 hours we were out.

Fabulous day in the Clare Valley, great variety of wineries - thanks so much Tom.