Cycle the Riesling Trail
A flat, traffic-free ride from Auburn to Clare, linking cellar doors, bakeries and old railway country.
The plan
The Riesling Trail is the Clare Valley's spine: a flat, sealed rail trail running roughly 35 kilometres from Auburn in the south to Clare in the north, free of traffic and shaded in parts by old gums. You can ride the whole thing one-way and arrange a shuttle back, or pick a shorter section and loop. Hire bikes are available in Auburn and Clare. Start early, carry water, and pace yourself - every tasting is a small detour worth taking.
Stops along the way
Begin in Auburn, the historic southern trailhead, then roll north toward Watervale, stopping at the village bakery for a pie before it gets busy. From there the trail threads past Penwortham - duck off to the little stone church - and on through Sevenhill's cluster of cellar doors. Finish in Clare with a cold beer at the brewery, or a long lunch in town. Ride one-way and let a shuttle carry you and the bikes home.
Tips
Allow a full day if you want to taste as you go, and remember that wine and cycling need to be managed sensibly - spit, share, or stick to a single glass and buy bottles for later. Weekends and the Gourmet Weekend in May are busy; midweek is blissfully quiet. Spring and autumn are the prettiest seasons to ride.
Day 1
6 stops-
1
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2Penwortham
Penwortham St Marks Church
A short detour to the valley's oldest settlement and a pioneer's grave.
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3Sevenhill
Sevenhill Cellars
The valley's oldest winery - Riesling beside a bluestone church.
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4
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5
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6Clare
Clare Valley Brewing Co
Finish with a well-earned craft beer near the end of the ride.
On the map
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Image credits
- Tandem bicycle near Sancerre, France.jpg by Cjp24 , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons