Our 5 day guided walking tour along the Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail offers a deeper, more immersive experience, blending unforgettable hiking with luxury accommodation and premium regional food and wine.
We take care of everything from pick up to drop off.
Highlights
- Explore the Clare Valley wine region with locals
- Enjoy 5 days hiking on the Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail
- Enjoy Clare Valley wine with lunch and dinner.
- Enjoy gourmet lunches at Skillogalee Restaurant & Pikes Slate Restaurant
- Enjoy exclusive use of the Clare Valley Wilderness Lodge for the duration of your stay.
- Kick back at the lodge and take a rest day if needed and catch up with the group for lunch.
- Travel in a small group (maximum group size 10 x guests)
Cost
$3750 Per Person Twin Share
$5625 Per Person Single (own room)
- If we receive a booking for 1 person in a Twin Share, we will attempt to match this person with another solo traveller of the same gender, if we are unable to do this we will contact guests 8 weeks prior to tour to discuss options.
- If we receive a booking for 2 people in a Twin Share, we will assume the room should be set up as Twin. If you want the room set up as a King please advise at the time of booking, or at least 2 weeks prior to the departure date
Locals Business
Our tour business is located in the Clare Valley. The owners of the business & the guides all live in The Clare Valley.
If travelling with a locally based business is important to you, you’ve come to the right place.
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 5 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 110km hiking trail meanders through the rural and wilderness landscapes of the Clare Valley, emerging to walk past 26 cellar doors, 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 are tackling Stage 3 of the CVWWT, this starts in the Clare Valley near the village of Leasingham and crosses the range into the neighbouring Skilly Valley.
The wooded hills and ridge line separating the valleys offers beautiful views of vineyards and glimpses through the Blue Gums of distant ranges, we have great spot on top of the ridge where we stop for morning tea and in conditions permit crank up a small campfire for the billy.
Following the Skilly Valley we make our way to a cluster of wineries who have located themselves in the upper more elevated parts of the valley. First is Kilikanoon Wines where we will stop for a break, for those keen there is time to do a tasting.
We then push on along the creek which gets narrower and narrower the higher we climb, to arrive at Skillogalee Wines where we'll set down for lunch in their Barrel Hall Restaurant.
Lunch at Skilly is always a hit, while the menu changes from time to time, we re normally treated to a shared set menu with a glass of wine.
After lunch there is an optional tasting at Mitchell Wines, if you are not into that its just short 5 minute drive back to the lodge.
Dinner tonight, which we deliver to the lodge is prepared by local Restaurant Antidote Kitchen.
Summary Day 2
- All Transport
- Skillogalee Wines Lunch with wine
- Walk Stage 3 of the CVWWT
- Optional Wine Tasting at Kilikanoon & Mitchells
- Antidote Kitchen Catered meal in the lodge with Clare Valley wine.
- Meals: BLD
- Walk Distance: 12km
Today’s walk begins at Pikes Winery, nestled on the banks of the Hill River in the picturesque Polish Hill River Valley, and finishes in the charming village of Watervale, set beside Eyre Creek.
For wine lovers—especially Riesling enthusiasts—both locations are iconic, widely regarded as two of the Clare Valley’s finest regions for producing award-winning Riesling.
The walk itself covers approximately 11.5km, taking us from one valley to the next. Along the way, we’ll pause for a relaxed, bush-themed morning tea by the campfire, with an optional wine tasting at Crabtree Wines.
We arrive in Watervale in time for lunch at the Watervale Hotel, where we’re typically treated to a generous shared meal paired with a glass of local wine.
After lunch, we return to the lodge—hopefully with a little room left—before enjoying tonight’s dinner, catered by Ragu & Co Italian Restaurant. Dinner is served at the lodge and accompanied, of course, by more excellent local wine.
Summary Day 3
- Transport the walk
- Watervale Hotel Lunch with wine
- Walk Stage 5 of the CVWWT
- Ragu & Co Catered meal in the lodge with Clare Valley wine.
- Meals: BLD
- Walk Distance: 11.5km
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 at the stunning Clare Valley Distillery (opened in early 2025) for a refreshing Gin.
Our first stop 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 have spent the past 3 day walking.
Once off the ridge we get into the bush and eventually emerge and join the Riesling Trail for. short distance before finishing at the Gin Distillery.
After a well deserved refreshment we jump in the bus and drive short distance to Paulett Wines for lunch.
Pauletts operate the Bush Devine Cafe and is recognised as one of the best in the region. Wine drinkers can enjoy a glass with lunch.
After lunch it’s time to head back to Adelaide where we’ll drop you off at your accommodation or the airport.
Summary Day 4
- Transport the walk
- Pauletts 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 it’s time to head back to Adelaide where we’ll drop you off at your accommodation or the airport.
Summary Day 5
- All Transport
- Pikes Lunch with wine
- Walk Stage 6 of the CVWWT
- Optional Wine Tasting at Hill River Wine or Pikes
- Watervale Hotel Catered meal in the lodge with Clare Valley wine.
- Meals: BL
- Walk Distance: 12.5km
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 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. For more about the Lodge click: Clare Valley Accommodation
Bedrooms
The Lodge has 5 bedrooms, each bedroom can be set up as a King or Twin configuration
Bathrooms
All 5 bedrooms have their own bathroom, 4 bathrooms are ensuites and the 5th is accessed across a passage.
Solo Travellers
If you are travelling as a solo, you have 2 options for your accommodation.
- Share with another Solo
- Book a Single Room
Room Allocations
For groups where everyone knows each other, we do not allocate rooms, you can sort this out amoung yourselves on arrival.
For groups made up of guests who do not know each other, we allocate the rooms based on when the bookings are received, the rooms do vary slightly in size and location in the home, the first to book are allocated the larger rooms through to the last which is allocated the room withj the separate bathroom.
If room allocation is important to you, you are welcome to reach out to discuss which room you would be allocated to if / when you book.
Walking
Most of the walking Takes place on the Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail (CVWWT).
The CVWWT is a community project completed in 2025 and consists of approximately 105km of walking trail around the Clare Valley. The trail uses a mix of back roads, road reserves, a National Park and lots of private property, over 50 local landholders have opened up their properties to walkers.
Tim & Bianca, who own and operate The Clare Valley Walk, are also integrally involved in the trail, both serve on the committee and part of the trail passes through their property.
For more information about the CVWWT please visit cvwwt.com.au
Grading
The CVWWT is a Grade 3 hike
Grade 3: Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Tracks may have short steep hill sections, a rough surface and many steps. Walks up to 20 km
Reference: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/know-before-you-go/bushwalking#:~:text=walk%20classifications
Maps
Free maps of the trail are available to download from the CVWWT website, you can get them in PDF format, download a GPX file for your GPS device, and if you use the Avenza Mapping App, you can also access them there.
If you’d like to access any maps for your walking tour, you will need maps covering stage 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6.
Wine
The Clare Valley region produces 1% of Australia’s wine yet is responsible for over 5% of the awards, we are a Premium Region focussed on the highest quality wine.
Located 130km north of Adelaide, during the summer months we have a relatively warm continental climate. At night, however, temperatures can plummet, and this large diurnal variation, along with elevation and cooling afternoon breezes, results in a long ripening season and helps create excellent conditions for producing top quality wines.
Whilst famous for our Riesling, this is just one of the many varieties produced and high quality Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon rival the best from our close neighbours the Barossa and McLaren Vale.
With many wineries now experimenting with other varieties like Fiano, Nera De Vola, Dolchetta, Grenache & Viognier – just to name a few.
With around 35 wineries and 25 cellar doors we don’t get to sample it all on our walking tours, however we have selected some of the best wineries to visit and some of the best wine to enjoy with our Lodge meals.
Wine On Tour
Whilst wine can form an integral part of your experience in the Clare Valley, it is not for everyone and the region, the walking and the food is spectacular whether you sample the wine or not.
When wine is consumed, it is only consumed once the walking for the day is completed.
During our walking tours wine is offered with each restaurant lunch, plus we offer wine with our evening meals which are generally served in the lodge.
Whilst it can vary, normally we offer wine from;
- Eldredge Wines
- Jim Barry Wines
- Jeannerett Wines
- Mitchell Wines
- Skillogalee
- Penna Lane
- Pauletts
- Hill River Clare Estate
- Sussex Squire
- Sevenhill Cellars
- Pikes
Food
Food
