Download The Riesling Trail

The Riesling Trail
Traversing the picturesque Clare Valley wine region, the Riesling Trail was one of the first rail-trails to be developed in South
Australia. Developed by the Office for Recreation, Sport and the
Clare Valley community, the trail runs for 36 kilometres along
the old Riverton to Spalding railway line, The trail runs between
the towns of Auburn and Clare - approximately two hours drive
north of Adelaide, with a new section terminating 9km north of
Clare at Barinia Siding. It’s suitable for recreational walkers and
cyclists of all ages, as well as wheelchairs and pushers. Named
after the grape and wine variety that the region is famous for,
the Riesling Trail travels past many cellar doors and other visitor
attractions, making it ideal for those wanting a leisurely walk
with a distraction or two! There are numerous loop trails that
allow users to return to their starting point without travelling
over old ground.
When to use the trail
The trail is open all year round, although autumn (March-May)
and spring (September-November) are the ideal times to visit
the region. Summer (December-February) can be hot and dry
but visitors may be able to witness grape harvesting and the
start of vintage at the many wineries located throughout the
district.
Lengths of individual legs are as follows:
Barinia to Clare: 9km
Clare to Sevenhill: 7km
Sevenhill to Penwortham: 5km
Penwortham to Watervale: 5km
Watervale to Leasingham: 2km
Leasingham to Auburn: 8km
Parking
Parking is available at five locations along the trail - Barinia,
Clare, Sevenhill, Watervale and Auburn. Please ensure that
your parked vehicle is secure and does not block the trail. Valuables should be placed out of sight or carried with you.
Accommodation
The Riesling Trail passes through all the major towns of the
Clare Valley - Auburn, Leasingham, Watervale, Penwortham,
Sevenhill and Clare. The area provides a wide variety of accommodation ranging from caravan parks and bed & breakfasts to
hotels and motels. For details visit www.southaustralia.com
Cycle Hire
Users are encouraged to bring their own bikes, however cycle
hire is available in Clare - contact the Clare Valley Visitor Information Centre on +(61 8) 8842 2131 or visit
www.clarevalley.com.au for details. We recommend making a
booking, particularly during holiday periods and on long weekends.
Please help us protect the trails
Users of the Riesling Trail are asked to be considerate of the
Features of the Riesling Trail
flora and fauna, other trail users, property and residents. We
The Clare Valley is 400-metres above sea level and, therefore,
also ask that you:
enjoys cool breezes that surrounding regions to the north and
Carry all rubbish with you;
east miss out on. The Mediterranean climate of dry summers
Observe road signs;
and cool wet winters is ideal for the production of high quality
Walk on the left - allow cyclists to pass at a reduced
Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and
speed;
Merlot grapes. The towns of the Clare Valley are steeped in
Check bikes thoroughly prior to starting, carry a repair
history, and many are full of historic nineteenth century buildkit and wear an approved helmet.
ings. Clare itself was established in 1846 and has become the
regional centre for the district. Just south of Clare, the Sevenhill
Phylloxera - South Australia is a declared phylloxera-free state.
Jesuit Monastery and Winery was established in 1851 and conThe phylloxera louse is a significant threat to the health of the
tinues to make premium quality wines.
valley’s vineyards. Users are asked to observe signage at all
times and not enter vineyards without permission.
How to get there
The Clare Valley is situated approximately 130km or two hours
Further Information
drive north of Adelaide. To get there, travel north on Highway
Clare Valley Visitor Information Centre
1, turning onto the Northern Expressway, joining the Main
229 Main North Road Clare SA
North Rd just out of Gawler. Follow the signs to Auburn and the
Phone: (61 8) 8842 2131 Freecall: 1800 242 131
start of the Clare Valley.
www.clarevalley.com.au
South Australian Tourism Commission
Distances
1300 655 276
The total distance of the trail between Clare and Auburn is 36
www.southaustralia.com
km and can be cycled in approximately 21/2 hours.