Broken Hill to Clare Valley

There’s not much else to see along the way except sandy plains and mallee scrubland. The next outpost of civilisation is Peterborough, a small town just off the highway that was once one of the nation’s major railway hubs.

More than 100 trains passed through here each day in the 1950s and 60s, transporting ore from Broken Hill to be processed at Port Pirie. Learn more about it at the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre. Book in to see the mesmerising sound and light show at Steamtown, followed by some much-needed rest at the Peterborough Motel.

It may have a global reputation, but the Clare Valley is one of the state’s smallest wine regions, covering less than 700 square kilometres. It sits high in the Mount Lofty Ranges, making for hot summer days tempered with cool afternoon breezes and the potential for frosty-cold winter nights.

Riesling is the real star here – the Clare’s signature drop, a light, fresh and citrusy sip. Many of the Valley’s wineries are small and family-owned, meaning you could very well end up chatting to the winemaker over a glass.

Must visit cellar doors include Pikes Wines (which also has a brewery on-site), Mr. Mick, Jim Barry, O’Leary Walker, Shut the Gate and Sevenhill Cellars, which has been producing wine since 1858.

The town of Clare is in the centre of the Clare Valley Wine Region and the Mill St. Retreat is the coolest place to stay.

Its four luxurious one-bedroom apartments are all California Palm Spring chic, complete with cacti, Mid-century modern lines and a pastel colour scheme. The property is run by Jim Barry Wines, so you can also expect a couple of complimentary bottles in the mini bar.

There’s time for one more Clare Valley adventure along the Riesling and Rattler Trail. This 33km trail follows the route of the historic 1860 Barinia Railway between the Auburn railway station (now home to Mount Horrocks Wines) and Barinia station. 

Grab your bike and set off, stopping in at some of the cellar doors along the way. Drink responsibly and don't cycle when intoxicated.