Cycling Tour Barossa & Clare Valley (Self Guided)

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Cycling the Barossa

   Make your way to the start point - a scenic 90-minute drive from Adelaide to Nuriootpa will land you in the heart of the Barossa where your tour begins. Upon arrival, you will be set you up on your bikes, together with maps and directions, for your fun day of cycling around the beautiful Barossa. The suggested cycling has you ride for an easy, flat 30-35kms (18-21mi) using the off-road trails in the region, with visits to famous gourmet & wine outlets including Maggie Beers, Penfolds, Jacobs Creek, St Halletts cellar doors and many more.

   A lovely platter style lunch and tasting is booked for you and is included in your tour. Cycle back to Nuriootpa, jump in your vehicle and head to Auburn (1 hr+) for your overnight stay, and the start of the Riesling Rail Trail.

   Your accommodation is booked at the charming Rising Sun Hotel. Vehicles can be safely parked and left at the rear. Auburn is a small historic town and regarded as the southern gateway to the Clare Valley. Vines were planted in Auburn as early as the 1850s. Today, the wine remains Auburn’s main source of industry.

   Dinner: A booking has been made for you at the Rising Sun Hotel for 7.30pm (you can vary this time by direct arrangement and subject to availability). The meals here are superb! Included in your tour package is entrée +main course per person, with drinks and/or extra courses being additional.
   

   • 21.7 miles
   • Rising Sun Hotel, Auburn
   • Lunch and Dinner

   • 

     The Rising Sun, Auburn

     Your first night is spent at this historic and welcoming pub, with superb facilities and a friendly demeanour

   • 

     The Rising Sun, Auburn

     Your first night is spent at this historic and welcoming pub, with superb facilities and a friendly demeanour

2. Day 2Cycling to Clare on the Reisling Trail

   Breakfast is booked at the local favourite Velvet & Willow café and is included in your tour, with great coffee the perfect start to the day! Your bikes will be delivered to you this morning. Pack your bags ready for check out (your bags will be collected and transported to your next nights’ accommodation for you). Today you cycle approximately 35kms (21mi) toward Clare, with lots of stops on the way. Using the maps provided, the navigation is fairly straight forward, with lots of signage to assist you along the way. You will head out north from Auburn immediately joining the Riesling Trail. Head to Kilikanoon Wines for your first optional wine tasting. The tour operator has selected this cellar door purely for the quality of the wines, some of the best Riesling in the world. Head back to Hughes Park Rd and drop into Mitchell Winery about 600 meters (1968ft) up the road which it is also strongly recommended stopping at on your way to lunch. Continue another 600m (1968ft) up Hughes Park Rd until you reach Trevarrick Rd, turn left and your lunch venue is 200m (656ft) on the left at Skillogalee Wines& Restaurant, where a lunch booking has been made for you and is included in your tour (a la carte excluding drinks).

   Enjoy the amazing and highly regarded food at this wonderful winery. There is some cycling to do after lunch so perhaps don’t indulge too much! Departing Skillogalee, there is a short steep hill which can easily be walked here without causing issues for the itinerary. There is no hurry. Follow the Rail Trail for 8kms (5mi) all the way into Clare. There are a number of optional stops after lunch including Knappstein Wines in Clare, a great location to finish the day. From Knapptein’s, head to your accommodation in Clare. Remember to let the tour operator know if you make any purchases that need collection (eg wine).

   Your evening meal in Clare is not included in your tour so you have a choice from a range of venues to visit (here's a list of the tour operator's recommended options):

   SEED Winehouse & Kitchen: Award-winning and highly recommended

   Umbria Rustic Italian: New white-cloth Italian restaurant also highly recommended

   Clare Country Club Restaurant: Super convenient dining at your accommodation with a great local wine list. Book at reception.

   Enjoy a relaxing evening in Clare soaking up the wine country feel of this regional town.
   

   • 21.7 miles
   • Clare Country Club or similar
   • Breakfast and Lunch

   • 

     Clare Valley Country Club

     Unwind at this lovely location, or one similar, close to the vineyards and next to a pretty lake

   • 

     Clare Valley Country Club

     Unwind at this lovely location, or one similar, close to the vineyards and next to a pretty lake

   • 

     Clare Valley Country Club

     Unwind at this lovely location, or one similar, close to the vineyards and next to a pretty lake

3. Day 3Cycling to Auburn

   Today you follow the Riesling Trail back to Auburn, taking a more direct and what feels like a more downhill route. There are a myriad of wineries to possibly visit, and you can. For this itinerary, the tour operator has scheduled what they feel are the best but you can, of course, stop at any time or place you choose. Whilst you will ride the length of the Riesling Trail today, there is no need for an early start. Relax, and enjoy the country air. A full breakfast is included with your accommodation. Leave your bags at reception to be collected.

   No visit to the Clare Valley is complete without a stop at one of Australia’s oldest wineries and cellar doors, Sevenhill Cellars. Make sure you view the small museum and the barrel cellar downstairs, a step back in time. Oh, and the wines are worth a little taste too, if not for a touch of holiness. Optional: For keen and fit riders, the Father Rogalski Loop (10km/6.2mi) is a worthy distraction. It is steep in parts, but the views and the wineries on the route are great rewards, especially the brilliant Pikes Wines.

   Continue along the Riesling Trail toward Auburn but keep an eye out for signage to Crabtree Wines on your left at Watervale (turn left at North Terrace off the rail trail). A gorgeous boutique cellar door with superb whites and roses. Back on the Riesling Trail, the next scheduled stop is lunch O'Leary Walker Wines. Stunning views, great wines and a gorgeous setting outside (on a nice day) and views over the valley. A gourmet platter lunch is booked and included in your tour package (excluding drinks).

   Your riding is almost done, with no further scheduled stops, but some recommendations:

   Taylors Wines: A lovely cellar door and great wines, a bit of a ride off the Riesling Trail heading into Auburn

   Mount Horrocks Wine & Station Café: Located on the edge of Auburn, it’s a great end of day visit, with terrific historical references, great wines, and a superb coffee.

   Tour End: Return your bikes to The Rising Sun, your luggage will also be waiting. Enjoy your onward journey (Adelaide is a 2-hour drive from Auburn or perhaps head to Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills). Safe travels!
   

   • 21.7 miles
   • Breakfast and Lunch