Enjoy a girls weekend in the Clare Valley

So gather your friends, pack your bags, and get ready for an unforgettable weekend of fun, laughter, and relaxation.

Start your day with breakfast and coffee, the essentials.

It’s hard to start the day without breakfast and caffeine, and whilst you’re kid and husband free on a girl’s weekend, treat yourself to brunch at one of these enticing cafes.

The Watervale General Store is a delight, with a breakfast menu ranging from bowls of granola to the classic bacon and eggs or breakfast tacos. Browse the eclectic vintage wares and grab a cake for the road (trust us on this one, they’re incredible). If you’re after a big bacon and egg brekky (think hollandaise sauce, hash browns, mushrooms, & avocado), you can’t go past Zest Cafe or Just Julie’s Cafe both in the Clare Main Street.

If basing your stay near Riverton the Emporium Bakehouse has you covered. Similarly, if you’re staying in Burra head over to St Just Cafe and make sure you check out their beautiful homewares store next door when you’ve finished eating.

Ham and cheese croissants and toasties (oh my goodness the toasties) are local favourites on the menu at Cafe 1871 as are the bagels across the road at Daily Grind Coffee on Main (both coffees are the best in town!!). And, if you’re starting your day early, grab a takeaway pastry at the Little Red Grape Sevenhill. If you’re dining in at your B&B for breakfast we suggest you head to Mathies Meat Shoppe for their delicious bacon, and then cross the road to The Corner Patch to pick up your bread, eggs, halloumi, mushrooms and spinach All bases are covered

Hit the shops

Now that you're nourished, it’s time to shop up a storm and you're spoilt for choice in the Clare Valley.

The Clare Main Street has gorgeous boutiques offering the latest in ladies' fashion and homewares, plus irresistible pieces for the kids. The owners of Anneva Boutique have impeccable taste, so it’s hard to walk out of their door without a new piece for your home or wardrobe. If you're in Auburn don't miss out on A Joyful Bunch. This gorgeously quaint store provides delightful floral arrangements, gifts, clothing and art that will brighten up your day. It's the perfect place to pick up a special souvenir or surprise for your loved ones, to remember your girls' trip to the Clare Valley.

For something quite unique, book in for a personalised shopping experience at Sassy Lass in Riverton where the ‘Lass at Sassy’ herself, Bronwyn, will help you find the perfect outfit with all the goodies (think a bottle of bubbly with nibbles). Just north of Clare you will find Mickelloo’s Farmhouse Studio. Nicky invites you to browse recognised brands and her own range of jewellery & accessories with a coffee or glass of bubbly private appointments are welcome. In the historic town of Burra, you’ll find the much-lauded Iris and Wool, along with the country favourite, Bullrush Clothing.  Finally, you absolutely can’t leave Burra without visiting That Country Store. It looks like your typical newsagent, but we promise you’ll be happily surprised by what else Jodie has on offer.

Long Lunching

It wouldn’t be a visit to a wine region without taking the time to sit and enjoy a long lunch while working your way through the wine list. One place that has it all is Pikes, with its Tasting Room, Brewery and Slate Restaurant. Lunch (or dinner on Saturday nights) is best enjoyed on the deck, overlooking their estate vineyards whilst enjoying a glass of wine grown from the vines directly in front of you.

Sit back and relax, soaking it all up under the olive tree at Skillogalee Winery & Restaurant.  Nestled amidst the rolling hills of Spring Gully, Skillogalee Restaurant offers more than a simple meal and a glass of wine — it’s an experience that embodies the essence of the Clare Valley. Overlooking sweeping vineyards and towering gums, it's one not to be missed. 

If lunch with a view is on your bucket list, you can’t go past the native-inspired flavours of Paulett Wines Bush DeVine Restaurant. Overlooking the Polish Hill River Valley, the restaurant deck is the perfect spot to indulge in a 5-course degustation, which can be digitally interactive for those that want to learn the stories behind the wine and food pairings.

Vineyard views sweeping the hills of Leasingham are what you’ll be rewarded with at O’Leary Walker Wines. Whether you’re under the veranda or inside the modern stone restaurant, enjoying the most delicious repast from the kitchen or making your way through a gourmet platter, your tastebuds will love this experience.

Closer to Clare, Mr Micks Cellar Door and Restaurant, located in the original 1895 Stanley Wines Company building, will have you enjoying a range of tapas with plenty of options to take you through the afternoon.

Take the time to experience our wines

Hosted Wine flights are all the rage and here in the Clare Valley you can go that one step further. Tim Adams Wines have curated a Wine & Cheese Flight matching 5 of their wines with 5 kinds of cheese that bring out the flavours of each to complement each other. 

If you’re a sweet tooth, head down to Taylors' Wines in Auburn and indulge in their Wine & Chocolate Flight, best enjoyed under the veranda overlooking the estate.

Though Cheese & Chocolate are one of our go-to’s we love to indulge in the Pauletts Wine & Canape Flight. The head chef and head winemaker have worked together pairing up a total of 14 wines and 14 canapes for you to choose a selection of 5 that most appeal to your taste buds, then sit back and let the explosion of flavour take you through the afternoon.

If you’re serious about your red wine then we highly suggest the Kilikanoon Revelation Tasting, where you taste your way through the best of the best, including two ‘Best Shiraz in the Word’ Wines and the pinnacle of their collection, the Revelation Shiraz.

If fortified wines are more your thing, a trip to Mr Nobody Cellardoorway in Auburn must be on the list, and makes a great pre-dinner tipple before going next door for dinner at Terroir Auburn.

Tee-off for a round of Golf

Ladies, get ready to swing into some serious fun! Is it really a girl’s getaway if you don’t hit the green? The Clare Golf Club’s rolling hills, velvety greens and tree-lined fairways will make you feel like you've stepped into a golfer's paradise. The course offers 18 challenging holes suitable for all skill levels, making it the perfect place to putt around with your best gal pals.

Stretch your legs

After indulging in all the best bits of the Clare Valley, it might be time to stretch your legs and go for a walk. Neagles Rock Lookout and the Cascades Hike at Spring Gully Conservation Park are both around 1km in total, therefore, short and sweet. It’s a choice of either sweeping views of the plains or the vineyards.  

The Clare Valley Wine and Wilderness Trail is designed for those who want a little more, with 6 stages over 100km winding its way through private property, road reserves and backyards, highlighting some of the best views the Valley has to offer. It will pass by almost every Cellar Door in the region so there are plenty of options to grab a bite for those up to a more leisurely stroll. Guided hikes (with new business The Clare Valley Walk) are available with one of the people who brought the trail to life, pick up and drop off to your accommodation included. 

Finish your day off with dinner

If you really want to know where the food you’re eating comes from, a tour of Penobscot Farm followed by a 6-course degustation dinner is waiting for you at the Watervale Hotel. If you’re a serious foodie, experience a full-day Cooking Masterclass with Head Chef Nicola.

Terroir Auburn offers a carefully curated, set four-course dinner with a strong locavore theme throughout the menu and wine list.

Instead of jumping on a plane and flying overseas, here in Clare, you can try the culinary delights of Ragu & Co (Italian) and Indii of Clare (Indian), where the food is authentic and as delicious as you would find in their country of origin.