Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
CLARE
VALLEY
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
SIGHTS
&ACTIVITIES
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
CLARE
Clare
POP 5460
Named after County Clare in Ireland, this
town was founded in 1842 and is the big-
gest in the valley, but it’s more practical than
charming. All the requisite services are here
(post, supermarket, fuel, internet etc), but
you’ll have a more interesting Clare Valley
experience sleeping out of town.1 ̈Sights ̈& ̈Activities
Riesling ̈Trail ̈Bike ̈Hire ̈BICYCLEHIRE
(%0418 777 318; www �rieslingtrailbikehire�com �au;
10 WarendaRd; bike hire per half-/fullday $25/40,
tandems $40/60) Quality two-wheelers (in-
cluding two-seaters) right on the Riesling
Trail itself.Clare ̈Valley ̈Cycle ̈Hire ̈BICYCLEHIRE
(%0418 802 077, 08-8842 2782; www �clarevalley
cyclehire�com �au; 32 VictoriaRd; bike hire per half/
full day $17/25) Also has baby seats and pull
along buggies for the little ’uns.Spring ̈Gully ̈Conservation ̈Park ̈RESERVE
(www�environment�sa �gov �au; h24hr) About 3km
southwest of Sevenhill, the 400-hectare
Spring Gully Conservation Park features
blue-gum forest, red stringybarks and 18m-
high winter waterfalls. There are plenty of
bird twitters, critters and trails too.Old ̈Police ̈Station ̈Museum ̈ MUSEUM
(www �nationaltrustsa�org �au; cnr Victoria & Nea-
gles Rock Rd; adult/child$2/0 �50; h10am-noon&
2-4pmSat &Sun) The 1850 cop shop and court-
house is now the Old Police Station Museum,
displaying Victorian clothing, old photos,
furniture and domestic bits and pieces.4 ̈Sleeping
Bungaree ̈Station ̈ B&B $
(%08-8842 2677; www �bungareestation�com �au;
Main NorthRd; per person$44-99;s) About 12km
north of Clare, this beautiful 170-year-old
homestead is still a working 3000-acre sheep
farm. It was once SA’s northernmost settle-
ment, with 50 staff, a church and school. Ac-
commodation is in simple, clean, renovated
heritage buildings (one to four bedrooms,
some with shared bathrooms). You can feed
farm animals, take an audio tour (per person
from $11) or have a dip in the pool.Battunga ̈B&B ̈ B&B $$
(%08-8843 0120; www �battunga�com �au; Upper
Skilly Rd, Watervale; d/q incl breakfast $195/315;a) On an 80-hectare farm over the hills
2km west of Watervale (it’s a little hard
to find − ask for directions), Battunga has
four modern apartments in two stone cot-
tages with Mintaro-slate floors, barbecues,
kitchenettes and wood fires. This is beauti-
ful country − undulating farmland studded
with huge eucalypts.Riesling ̈Trail ̈& ̈Clare ̈
Valley ̈Cottages ̈ B&B $$
(%0427 842 232; www �rtcvcottages�com �au; 9
Warenda Rd; 1-/2-/3-bed cottage d incl breakfast
from $150/230/320;a) A newish operation
offering seven contemporary cottages, all
encircled by country gardens and right on
the Riesling Trail. Handily, the owners also
run Riesling Trail Bike Hire.Clare ̈Caravan ̈Park ̈ CARAVANPARK$
(%08-8842 2724; www �clarecaravanpark�com �au;
Main North Rd; unpowered/powered sites from
$20/29,cabinsfrom $89; aWs) This huge, effi-
ciently run park 4km south of town towards
Auburn has secluded sites, en-suite cabins,
a creek and giant gum trees. There’s also an
inground pool for cooling off post-cycling,
and it’s a stone’s throw from the Clare Valley
visitor information centre.5 ̈Eating
Taminga ̈Hotel ̈ PUB $$
(%08-8842 2808; www �tamingahotel�com �au;
302 Main North Rd; mains $16-30;hnoon-2pm
&6-8pm) The most reliable of Clare’s pubs
when it comes to food, the tarted-up Tam-
inga looks good. Pub classics are what you’re
here for: surf ’n’ turf, steak-and-kidney pie
and schnitzels.Wild ̈Saffron ̈ CAFE$
(%08-8842 4255; www �wildsaffron�com �au; 288
Main North Rd; mains $7-18;h8�30am-5�30pm
Mon-Fri,8�30am-12�30pmSat &Sun) We’re not
sure how much wild saffron grows in the
Clare Valley (most of it seems to be ‘un-
der vine’, as they say), but this new cafe is
hugely popular regardless. No surprises on
the menu (focaccias, baguettes, BLTs, soup,
homemade cakes), but it’s simple stuff done
well.Artisans ̈Table ̈ MODERNAUSTRALIAN$$
(%08-8842 1796; www �artisanstable�com �au; Lot
3, WendoureeRd; mains$28-32;hnoon-3pmSat
&Sun, 6-9pmWed-Sat) This mod, airy, hillside
bar-restaurant has a broad, sunny balcony −
perfect for a bottle of local riesling and some
internationally inspired culinary offerings: a