Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
CLARE
VALLEY
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
GETTING
THERE
&AROUND
Adel Aide & South Au
Str Ali A
AUBURN
Clare ̈Show ̈ AGRICULTURAL
(www�sacountryshows�com) The largest one-day
show in SA, held in October.
88 Getting ̈There ̈& ̈Around
BICYCLE
InAuburnandClareyoucanhireabiketopelt
aroundthewineries�Ratesarearound$25/40
perhalf-/fullday�BUS
Yorke Peninsula Coaches(%08-88212755;
www �ypcoaches�com �au) Adelaideto Auburn
($28,2¼ hours)and Clare($36,2¾ hours),
runningTuesdayto Thursdayand Sunday�
Extendsto Burra($36,3¼ hours)on Thursday�TAXI
Clare Valley Taxi Service(%0419 847 900)
Drop-off/pick-upanywherealongthe Riesling
Trail �Auburn
POP 320
Sleepy, 1849 Auburn − the Clare Valley’s
southernmost village − is a leave-the-back-
door-open-and-the-keys-in-the-ignition
kinda town, with a time-warp vibe that
makes you feel like you’re in an old black-
and-white photograph. The streets are de-
fined by beautifully preserved, hand-built
stone buildings; cottage gardens overflow
with untidy blooms. Don’t forget to pick up
a copy of the Walk with History at Auburn
brochure from the Clare Valley visitor in-
formation centre.Now on the main route to the valley’s win-
eries, Auburn initially serviced bullockies
and South American muleteers whose wag-
ons − up to 100 a day − trundled between
Burra’s copper mines and Port Wakefield.
The brilliant 25km Riesling ̈Trail starts
(or ends) at the restored Auburn Train Sta-
tion. Cogwebs (% 0400 290 687, 08-8849
2380; www �cogwebs�com �au; 30 Main North Rd;
bike hire per half-/fullday $25/40,tandems$35/65;
h8�30am-6pmThu-Tue) has bike hire.4 ̈Sleeping ̈& ̈Eating
Auburn ̈Shiraz ̈Motel ̈ MOTEL$
(%08-8849 2125; www �auburnshirazmotel�com �
au; Main North Rd; s/d/tr from $80/90/120;
aW) This small motel on the Adelaide
side of town has been proudly renovated
with shiraz-coloured render and cabernet-
coloured doors. There are nine bright units
and friendly hosts. Bike hire $40 per day.Rising ̈Sun ̈Hotel ̈ PUB $$
(%08-88492015;www �therisingsunhotel�com�
au; 19 MainNorthRd; mains$16-35;hnoon-2pm
& 6-8pm;W) This classic 1850 pub has a
huge rep for its atmosphere, food and ac-
commodation. The pub food is unpreten-
tious (but unremarkable), with plenty of
local wines to try. Accommodation takes
the form of en-suite pub rooms and cot-
tage mews rooms out the back (doubles
from $90 and $125 respectively).Cygnets ̈at ̈Auburn ̈ CAFE$
(%08-8849 2030; www �cygnetsatauburn�com �au;
Main NorthRd; mains$10-20;h9�30am-4pmFri-
Mon) This gourmet cafe serves and stocks lo-
cal produce, and has the best coffee in town.
The scones with homemade raspberry jam
steal the show (‘Oh, so light!’ says one happy
customer). There’s also cottage B&B accom-
modation out the back in the 1860 stables
(doubles from $125).Mintaro
POP 230
Heritage-listed Mintaro (founded 1849) is
a lovely stone village that could have been
lifted out of the Cotswolds and plonked into
the Australian bush. There are very few ar-
chitectural intrusions from the 1900s − the
whole place seems to have been largely left
to its own devices. A fact for your next trivia
night: Mintaro slate is used internationally
in the manufacture of billiard tables. PickTHE ̈RIESLING ̈TRAILFollowing the course of a disused rail-
way line between Auburn and Clare,
the fabulous Riesling Trail is 24km of
wines, wheels and wonderment. It’s
primarily a cycling trail, but the gentle
gradient means you can walk or push
a pram along it just as easily. It’s a two-
hour dash end to end on a bike, but
why hurry? There are three loop track
detours and extensions to explore, and
dozens of cellar doors to tempt you
along the way.
For bike hire, check out Clare Valley
Cycle Hire (p120) or Riesling Trail Bike
Hire in Clare, or Cogwebs (p780) in
Auburn.