The Clare Valley rivals the Barossa in beauty and sophistication. The town of Clare is near the northern end of the valley about an hour and three quarters from Adelaide. Just follow Main North Road to Clare, that’s it.
After crossing the wheatbelt and passing through Tarlee and Rhynie you’ll reach the cute little town of Auburn. Auburn marks the southern edge of the valley and is a great place to stop and stretch the legs with plenty of stores and facilities.
From here, you’ll head north through a string of little villages. There’s excellent signage directing you to cellar doors all along the route so make some time to stop and try one or two before lunch in Clare.
Clare is a bustling little town with plenty of food and shopping options. There’s heaps of parks and even a mini railway that operates on specific days.
Heading home from Clare is a good time to take a side trip and follow the signs along Jolly Way to Mintaro. Mintaro seems like a village frozen in time with heritage buildings dotted about randomly. It’s home to the hedges of the Mintaro Maze and the impressive Martindale Hall isn’t far away.
These landscapes are what people mean when they refer to ‘classic country’ in Australia. Huge gum trees stand against the wide open sky and verdant fields and the air is clear. This trip should definitely be on your radar. If you would like some more suggestions for excellent road trips around Adelaide, then click here to check out the list.