Yorke Peninsula & Clare Valley
The Yorke Peninsula's sparkling blue waters, white sandy beaches and spectacular coastline is just a 1.5 hour drive from Adelaide, it is the perfect getaway for caravaners and campers!
Here you will find the ruggedly beautiful Innes National Park which is a paradise for bushwalkers, surfers, birdwatchers and anglers alike; a fascinating history and some of the best fishing in South Australia.
North-east of Yorke Peninsula lies the picture-postcard Clare Valley region, renowned for its wine and pioneering heritage. Visit the picturesque townships of Auburn, Clare, Sevenhill and Mintaro or for a different perspective, climb onto a bike and cycle the Riesling Trail.
Read our guide below, or CLICK HERE to download the Almanac with a full guide for the Barossa Valley and other South Australian regions.
CLARE VALLEY PROPER
Lauded for its balanced Rieslings, cab savs and shiraz, the Clare Valley is a world-class wine growing region. With more than 50 wine-cellar doors between Auburn and Clare, a top sip is just a step away; but it’s not all cellar doors. Blessed with fertile soil, shielded by North Mount Lofty Ranges and subject to Yorke Peninsula winds, the temperate valley is prime farming land. You’ll find plenty of parkland within the historic, regional township of Clare, including the newly-established Gleeson Wetlands that passes a golf course and a mini rail at the Melrose Reserve.
EAST TO HISTORIC MINTARO AND BURRA
East of the Riesling Trail is the unmissable Mintaro, a heritage-listed town exuding 19th Century charm. Tour the stately Georgian-style Martindale Mansion with black and white marble floors that lead to a grand staircase, then find your way at the Mintaro Maze. Enjoying elevations and growing conditions similar to the valley, Mintaro has its fair share of award-winning cellar doors.
Journeying east beyond Mintaro past the Farrell Flats on the Bald Hills Range you’ll find Burra, another heritage-listed town. It’s ancient country here, and you can follow 65,000-year-old footsteps of a giant marsupial, the diprotodon, in the Landscapes of Change interpretive walking trail.
Favourite walking trails:
- Cascades Walk, Spring Gully Conservation Park (pictured) - 1.4km, 40 mins
Experience a short walk through Spring Gully Conservation Park on the Cascades Walk. The waterfall is seasonal. The park protects the only stand of red stringybarks in South Australia. - Wymans Hike, Spring Gully Conservation Park - 3.5km, 1 hour
Experience the natural landscape and flowers of Spring Gully Conservation Park on a hike that extends the Cascade Walk, by visiting the seasonal waterfall and following a loop back to the trailhead. The park protects the only stand of red stringybarks in South Australia. - Walk with history in Auburn - 3.5km, 1 hour
Auburn, the southern gateway to the Clare Valley, is rich in history and built heritage. As early as 1839, in South Australia’s infancy as a colony, pioneers grazed sheep and cattle in the district. When established in 1849, the township was named Tateham’s Waterhole, after the first settler, William ‘Billy’ Tateham, who, reputedly, lived in a dugout on the side of the River Wakefield. In 1856, it was renamed after the Irish town of Auburn.
For more Walking trails in the Clare Valley, click here to visit Walking SA's website.
YORKE PENINSULA CARAVAN & CAMPING
With 30 caravan parks throughout Yorke Peninsula, travellers are spoilt for choice. From absolute beachfront to bush camps, you’ll find your perfect holiday spot.
Caravan parks offer a range of facilities, sites and cabin accommodation from budget to luxury...camp kitchens with shiny stainless steel appliances to barbeque areas, kids playgrounds, equipment hire, games rooms, fish cleaning stations and much more.
Many parks cater for motorhomes and recreational vehicles with dump points available throughout the region.
There are many secluded spots to camp on Yorke Peninsula, with 19 sites designated as campgrounds by Yorke Peninsula Council. A permit is required to camp at these places, with the permit transferable between all 19 campgrounds. Camping is only permitted at these designated sites. Permits are available online at http://www.visityorkepeninsula.com.au/camping/purchase-a-permit or can be purchased from the Yorke Peninsula Information Centre or any Yorke Peninsula Council Office.
Need more information on Caravan Parks, Campsites, Attractions and Events
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