3 Day Guided Walk
Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail
Overview
Escape the crowds and experience the Clare Valley on foot with a small group of like-minded travellers who share your love of walking, exceptional wine, great food and unforgettable scenery.
Stay in our beautiful private walkers’ lodge and enjoy the perfect balance of scenic walks, memorable restaurant meals and premium wines from the Clare Valley.
Grab a few mates, make a long weekend of it and escape to the Clare Valley for three wonderful days of walking, eating, drinking and simply enjoying time together in one of Australia’s most celebrated wine regions.
Included
Not Included
Pricing Table
The price of this tour depends on what sort of room type you select, Standard Room and Ensuite Room types can be selected in the booking process.
Room Type |
2 Guests |
1 Guest |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard Room* |
$2000 pp |
$3000 pp |
|
Ensuite Room |
$2250 pp |
$3375 pp |
Gallery
Food
Great food is a big part of the experience. Our aim is to keep you well fuelled with plenty of fresh, healthy and locally sourced food throughout the tour, while also giving you the opportunity to experience some of the Clare Valley’s best dining.
Breakfast
We provide two breakfasts during the tour, with everything you need supplied at the lodge so you can prepare breakfast at your leisure before we pick you up for the day’s walk.
Think fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereals, muesli, oats, fresh bread, eggs, tea and coffee – simple, healthy and delicious, with an emphasis on fresh and locally sourced produce.
Lunch
We supply 3 lunches on this tour, 1 x catered picnic lunch and 2 restaurant lunches provided by Pikes and Skillogalee
Pikes Slate Restaurant
One of our lunches is at the beautiful Slate Restaurant at Pikes Wines. Pikes is one of the Clare Valley’s most celebrated wineries, known throughout Australia for its exceptional Riesling and other premium wines.
Relax after the morning’s walk and enjoy your choice of main course accompanied by a glass of Pikes wine.
Skillogalee Restaurant
We also enjoy lunch at Skillogalee’s Barrel Hall. Skillogalee has been a Clare Valley food and wine institution for decades and, under new ownership, has taken its dining experience to another level.
Set amongst the vineyards on the banks of Skillogalee Creek in the picturesque Skilly Valley, it’s a beautiful place to settle in for a long lunch. We enjoy a set menu with a choice of dishes, accompanied by a glass of Skillogalee wine.
Dinner
We provide two dinners during the tour, freshly prepared by local restaurants and delivered to the lodge for you to enjoy together.
Over the years, our guests have told us that after a full day of walking and a leisurely lunch, they love being able to relax at the lodge rather than dress up and head out to another restaurant.
So that’s exactly what we do. Put your ugg boots on, open a bottle of Clare Valley wine and enjoy a delicious dinner in the comfort of the lodge while to open fire crackles in the background.
Watervale Hotel Restaurant
The Watervale Hotel Caters for one of our dinners, their Ethical Epicurean Experiences has become one of the Clare Valley’s most celebrated dining destinations, winning around 40 awards since reopening in 2020, including Best Restaurant in a Pub or Club in Australia.
Led by award-winning chef Nicola Palmer, the kitchen has a strong farm-to-plate philosophy, showcasing seasonal produce from its own organic and biodynamic Penobscot Farm alongside ingredients from other local producers.
For our walkers, it means something simple: exceptional Clare Valley food, prepared by one of the region’s most highly regarded kitchens.
Ragu & Co Restaurant
Another dinner is catered by Ragù & Co. This local Italian Restaurant brings a genuine taste of Italy to the heart of Clare. Owners Romolo and Sabrina draw on memories of growing up in Italy, creating traditional, uncomplicated Italian food using fresh South Australian produce, including locally sourced Clare Valley ingredients. Handmade pizzas, gnocchi and slow-cooked ragù showcase the flavours and traditions of Italian family cooking.
Their authenticity has been recognised with the prestigious Ospitalità Italiana accreditation, awarded by the Italian Government and Italian Chamber of Commerce, as well as Best Italian Restaurant – Clare Valley Region 2023 and Most Authentic Italian Restaurant – South Australia 2024.
Wine
Many of our guests enjoy wine, while others don’t drink at all. The Clare Valley’s premium wines are certainly a highlight for those with an interest in wine, but they’re by no means essential to enjoying the tour. Many of our guests simply come for the beautiful walking, exceptional food, comfortable accommodation and the chance to experience the Clare Valley.
During our walks, we stop at several wineries where you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a tasting if you wish. A glass of Clare Valley wine is also included with our restaurant lunches, and we provide a selection of local wines to enjoy with dinner at the lodge.
We visit these Clare Valley Wineries
Accommodation
Clare Valley Wilderness Lodge
The Clare Valley Wilderness Lodge is located in the Spring Gully region of the Clare Valley, just 10 minutes from the Clare Township.
It is a large stone home which sleeps 10 comfortably in 5 king / twin rooms, there is a large central lounge with huge fireplace, leather couches, large dinning table and floor the ceiling windows to take in the magnificent views.
Each bedroom has a private bathroom, 4 rooms have ensuites and 1 room has a abthroom across the hall. Different room types can be selcted in the booking process.
For more about the Lodge click: Clare Valley Accommodation
Dates
3 Day Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail Coming Soon
27 – 29 Oct 2026
3 Day Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail Sold Out
6 – 8 Apr 2027
3 Day Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail Coming Soon
23 – 25 Apr 2027
3 Day Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail Coming Soon
27 – 29 Apr 2027
Itinerary
The Clare Valley Wine Region lies just 1.5 hours drive North of Adelaide, located in in the northern reaches of the Mt Lofty Ranges, the Clare Valley is dotted with small boutique wineries, stunning rural landscapes, large tracts of native bush and some of the best food and wine on offer anywhere in the Country.
Our goal over the next 3 days is to sample it all by combining our love for all things Clare Valley with our love for hiking and walking.
After a quick stop in Clare for a local tea / coffee, we head straight for the start the Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail. This 100km hiking trail meanders through the rural and wilderness landscapes of the Clare Valley, emerging to walk past 26 cellar door, multiple restaurants, cafes and pubs.
Todays walk is about 12km in length and forms part of stage 2 of the trail, utilising backroads, private property and the Spring Gully Conservation Park, it’s a moderate grade with a few hills thrown in to test us out (and provide some great views).
After resting with a campfire & picnic lunch at a beautiful bush setting we arrive at Jeanneret Wines where, if you like you can do a wine tasting.
We’ll then make our way to our accommodation.
All our evening meals on this tour are served in the accommodation and prepared by local restaurants and caterers, and are served with a selection of Clare Valley Wine. Tonight’s meal is supplied by the award winning Watervale Hotel, who in 2023 were voted the best Hotel Restaurant in the world!
Summary Day 1
- Pick up from your Adelaide City Accommodation.
- Drive to the Clare Valley (approx 1.5 hours).
- Walk Stage 2 of the CVWWT.
- Campfire Picnic Lunch.
- Wine tasting at Jeanneret Wines.
- Check into our accommodation.
- Evening meal in the lodge supplied by the Watervale Hotel with local wine.
- Meals: LD.
- Walking Distance: 11.7km.
Today we tackle stage 1 of the CVWWT, we have a 10km trek starting on the exposed lofty heights of the Dunns Range and finishing on the floor of the Valley amoung giant gums on the banks of the Hutt River.
We finish the walk with a visit the stunning Clare Valley Distillery (opened in early 2025) for a refreshing Gin or Tim Adams Wines for a tasting. Note the Gin Distillery is not open 7 days.
Our first stop on the walk after about 3km is the CVWWT hikers hut perched on top of the range, this privately owned hut provides shelter from winter winds and summer sun and can be used by trail walkers as a rest stop. We’ll stop her for our morning tea break.
We then push southward and remain on the exposed ridge for another few km, this is one of the highest elevations we’ll reach over the 5 days at around 560 metres above sea level, the views are also some of the best we’ll get, with the Dunns range separating the Clare Valley from the Polish Hill River Valley we gain a great perspective of the whole region and can see most of the areas where we will spent our time exploring the Clare Valley.
Once off the ridge we get into the bush and eventually emerge and join the Riesling Trail for short distance before finishing at Tim Adams or the Gin Distillery.
After a well deserved refreshment we jump in the bus and drive short distance to Skillogalee Wines for lunch.
Skillogalee operate the Barrel Hall Restaurant and is recognised as one of the best in the region. Wine drinkers can enjoy a glass with lunch.
Tonight’s dinner is supplied by the award winning Ragu & Co Italian Restaurant.
Summary Day 2
- Transport the walk
- Skillogalee Lunch with wine
- Walk Stage 1 of the CVWWT
- Meals: BL
- Walk Distance: 10km
After a hearty breakfast and briefing from your guide, we drive a short distance to to the Visitors Centre for our 12.5km walk to the Polish Hill River Valley, where we lunch at Pikes Slate Restaurant, walking along stage 6 of the CVWWT.
Only a few hundred metres from the Visitors Centre, we cross a fence and start our challenging trek along the Gillentown Range, a spectacular walk along a heavily wooded ridge with views in every direction. After an hour or so we reach the charming Village of Sevenhill.
The walk continues onto the Historic Sevenhill Cellars, the Clare Valley’s first and oldest winery, established by Jesuits escaping religious persecution in Poland 1851, the property is full of history and we’ll we have plenty of time to check out the numerous buildings, including the vaulted ceiling cellar and church crypt, and of course we cannot leave without tasting a little of their produce, those into fortified wine will enjoy Sevenhill’s expertise in this area. We also stop at Sevenhill Cellars for morning tea on the lawn.
From Sevenhill Cellars we head up and over the Dunns range through beautiful farmland and into the Polish Hill River Valley where we locate our restaurant and sit down for well deserved lunch with wine.
Set on the banks of the Hill River, the Modern Pikes Slate Winery / Restaurant is one of Clare’s best and will not disappoint.
After lunch we head to our Lodge Accommodation which is just 10 minutes drive away. The lodge is very welcoming and you’ll love the huge windows and open fire. For those not quite ready to relax we also the option to swing past a winery for a tasting offer the option of heading to a winery for a tasting, both Hill River Wines & Pikes are great options close by.
Tonight’s dinner is supplied by the award winning Ragu & Co Italian Restaurant.
After lunch we make the trek back to Adelaide, normally arriving in the City and Airport precincts between 4.30pm and 5pm.
Summary Day 3
- All Transport
- Pikes Lunch with wine
- Walk Stage 6 of the CVWWT
- Optional Wine Tasting at Hill River Wine or Pikes
- Ragu & Co meal in the lodge with Clare Valley wine.
- Meals: BLD
- Walk Distance: 12.5km
About Your Guides
Your local Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail guides are Tim & Bianca Grigg.
Tim & Bianca have 2 decades of experience operating adventure tours all over Australia through their travel business, Travelwild Australia Pty Ltd, which operates tours from the Clare Valley to the Kimberley and everything in between.
Both Tim & Bianca have been heavily involved in Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail (CVWWT) Committee, the group responsible for setting up the trail which we use on the tours. Tim is Chairman and Bianca is on the committee, The Clare Valley Walk is also a corporate sponsor of the trail.
In addition to operating walking tours, Travelwild Australia also also operates Clare Valley Wine Tours, so we know a thing or two about the beautiful wine coming out of the Clare Valley as well. Importantly both Tim & Banca are a keen hikers and have lived in the Clare Valley for over 20 years.
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