Things to do around Mintaro in South Australia’s Clare Valley are unlimited. The town is so unique in character, history, and abundant natural beauty that activities are endless, really. While the Clare Valley is best known for its Riesling Trail (with more than 50 cellar doors between the towns of Auburn and Clare along a 40-km corridor), it’s the town of Mintaro, east of the Clare Valley, that draws tourists with its heritage and scenic attractions. Discover many hidden gems and out-of-the-way places in Mintaro to explore.
The famous ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ 1975 film featured the Georgian-style 1879 mansion, Martindale Hall of Mintaro, which today lures visitors from the area’s vineyards with its intriguing history, ever present whispers of the past and stories from behind sandstone walls.
But it’s not the only unexpected feature of the Mintaro landscape, as visitors gaze in awe at the most Instagrammable salt lake and Bumbunga Lake half an hour west to Lochiel. This lake becomes a chameleon of colour from bubble gum pink to iced blue and an equally impressive Loch Ness Monster sculpture.
It’s in and around Mintaro that you’ll also discover craft breweries, wineries, galleries, foodie hubs and other historic towns nearby among the vineyards while you traverse the landscapes.
Mintaro is about two hours’ north of Adelaide.
Wellness & Pampering
- Mintaro Massage & Wellness: A therapeutic massage service that provides relief from stress and muscle tension. They offer various massage styles, including relaxation and deep tissue massages. Lot 1 King St, Mintaro, SA. Contact: Tamara on 0415 867 903
- Clare Valley Day Spa at the Clare Valley Heritage Centre: Pampering treatments like facials, body wraps, and full body massages, along with spa experiences for groups.
- The Beautique Beauty and Massage: 242a Main North Road Clare. Contact Care on 0487 787 902
- The Epicurean Bar: Though more of a wine and food experience, some Clare Valley wineries (like this one) offer “wellness” experiences paired with tastings, such as guided meditation and spa treatments.
- Teresa Burner Massage: maintaining a healthier you through remedial massage.
- Allana Kate Hair Studio – Main North Road, Watervale, SA. Allana offers luxury colour sessions – balayage, highlights + lived in. Brow bar – lamination, tint + shaping.
- Longview Day Spa – provides a unique wellness experience in a stunning vineyard setting, offering a variety of relaxing body and facial treatments with a focus on pampering, calming, and nourishing your body.

Explore & Discover
- Martindale Hall: A stunning Georgian mansion open for tours. Explore the grand house and beautiful gardens, open 10 am to 4 pm, Wednesday to Monday.
- Mintaro Maze: Have fun getting lost navigating the hedge maze – great fun for all ages and originally planted on land once used by bullock teams traveling between Burra and Port Wakefield.
- Pioneer Park: Visit the Burke and Wills Memorial Tree, where the ill fated explorers rested during their 1860s perilous journey into the Australian interior.
- Historic Mintaro Walk: Take your sensible shoes and walk the self guided historic trail including 27 stops of all the important landmarks and historic outbuildings and you won’t starve because it includes a famous pub and drinking hole, the Magpie and Stump Hotel.
Experience Mintaro and Clare Valley Wine Region
The world of wine according to Mintaro and Clare Valley is not to be sniffed at(pun intended)! A league of passionate winemakers, rows of vines – old and new – consistently produce great wines that are recognised nationally and internationally year upon year, such as winemaking with a surprising range of varieties for a small vineyard; Riesling. Shiraz. Cabernet Sauvignon. Tempranillo. Zinfandel. Merlot.
- Mintaro Wines: A small, boutique winery producing 3-4 thousand cases per year and established by Peter Houldsworth in 1984. The vineyards were originally planted in 1962 and consistently produce award winning wines.
- Reillys Wines and Restaurant: Famous for its “long lunch” experience, enjoy premium wines paired with exquisite cuisine at this local gem.

- Mr Micks Cellar Door and Kitchen: Named after the late K.H. (Mr. Mick) Knappstein, an Australian winemaking legend and Tim Adams’ mentor and friend. The winemaking team continue Mr. Mick’s philosophy of making “affordable wines for everyone to enjoy”, as well as crafting fine quality traditional wines. Tapas is on tap too daily.
- Stone Bridge Wines: just outside Clare, Stone Bridge is a popular spot for wine tasting in a scenic, tranquil environment.
- The Wilson Vineyard: in Polish Hill boasts small batchnown for small-batch, low-tech winemaking and a surprising range of varieties like Riesling, Tempranillo, and Zinfandel.
- Koerner Wines: Enjoy a private wine tasting at Gullyview Vineyards, a family-run estate in Leasingham, showcasing unique traditional and non-traditional grape varieties.
- Pikes Beer Company: If you’re in the mood for something different, enjoy a cold pint of craft beer – Pilsner, Pale Ale, IPA and Stout together with Limited Releases. Enjoy a spacious beer garden and delicious food from 12 pm to 3 pm daily.
- Knappstein Wines – Enterprise Cellar, Clare
- Hill River Clare Estate also in Polish Hill is a hidden gem and short drive from Clare. A family owned vineyard that’s set amidst 100 year old gum trees and rolling hills, the vineyard boasts fertile soils, a consistent climate and long ripening periods, ideal for grape growing.
- Jim Barry Wines: The Koerner’s make their wines from a unique mix of unique and traditional varieties from the Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills. Private tastings are held at the Koerner family ‘Gullyview vineyards’ (Mintaro Road, Leasingham).
- Shut the Gate Wines: a small wine producer and grape grower passionate about single site and best of region grape varieties. Awarded STAR Cellar Door & Best Large Cellar Door Clare Valley 2022 Australia’s Best Cellar Doors Gourmet WINE Magazine. While they have lots of different wine batches they’re all tiny quantities and they don’t put their label on a bottle if it doesn’t make the cut. They love classic varieties like dry Clare Rieslings, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet but they crave something a little off beat like Fiano, Sangiovese, Barbera, Negroamaro and Tempranillo.
- Paulette Wines: home to the best Riesling in the world and the most spectacular views in the Clare Valley. Our wines are a true expression of the full-bodied fruit from our vines and the unique characteristics of the Polish Hill River region.
Experience Mintaro and Clare Valley Wine Region
- Sawmill Gin: in Sevenhill SA, crafts small batch authentic Gin. Born on the banks of the Murray River, raised in Seven Hill. Try their Gypsy Gin – Silver Award, their Wriggles- Gold at Sydney Royal Spirits Show 2024, Clare Valley Gin or a gin cocktail called the Mucky Pup! They do bites and tasting with a variety of tonics and twists on GIN!

- Three Little Birds Distillery: Serving up our small batch, locally handcrafted gin, Three Little Birds Tasting Room is a unique cellar door experience in the Clare Valley, South Australia.
- Three Valleys Gin: In the historic Glenferrie House, 68 Torrens Rd, Riverton, SA, 5412. Open from 11am to 4pm on the last Sunday of each month and occasionally, other Sundays depending on local events. SMS: +61 (0) 438 637297.
- Three Valleys offers tasting flights of gins, individual drinks, or samples of “works in progress.” In winter, enjoy the cosy combustion heater; in summer, tastings are available on the veranda overlooking a beautiful garden with over 40 varieties of roses. The garden supplies many of the garnishes and botanicals used in their gin.
- Clare Valley Distillery: Opening soon! (2025)
Festivals and Events around Mintaro SA
- Festival of the Lamb: Held annually in September, this popular spring food festival supported by the Mintaro Progress Association and SA Tourism Events. Celebrates local produce, including premium lamb from Armagh’s Remarkable Meat Co. Book a seat at Paulette Wines for a long lunch with innovative dishes by Head Chef Erky in their Bush DeVine Restaurant.
- Paulett Wines Classic Weekend Festival – For a fun and relaxed atmosphere, join them for picnic-style food, live music, games, hit the barrel golf competition, and so much more. Contact Paulett Wines for current dates.

- Clare Uncorked Wine Tours: Ditch the car keys and join wine specialists on guided tour through the Clare Valley’s best wine regions. Options include private, shared, and exciting full-day tours that explore vineyards, cellar doors, and local highlights.
Outdoor Adventures and Scenic Hikes around Mintaro
- Clare Valley Riesling Trail: A 35-kilometre trail perfect for walking, cycling, or wheelchair access. Explore vineyards, small towns, and scenic landscapes while enjoying the fresh air.
- Lavender Federation Trail: For serious hikers, this 325-kilometre trail from Murray Bridge to Clare. Offers stunning views of the valley and surrounding landscapes. It’s an immersive experience to be sure.
Other Nearby Attractions
- Burra: Take a short drive to this historic mining town, which offers fascinating insights into South Australia’s early settlement and rich mining history.
- Barossa Valley: Known worldwide for its wines, the Barossa Valley is a short drive from Mintaro and a must-see for any wine lover.
- Yorke Peninsula and Copper Coast: Explore the stunning coastal regions and outdoor activities, all within easy reach of Mintaro.
Good Eats
- Magpie and Stump Hotel– kick back on the sprawling lawns or dine in one of the oldest (newly renovated) pubs in the Clare Valley.
- Skillogalee Estate, Sevenhill produces handcrafted acclaimed wines. with a unique terroir of our high-elevation, hillside vineyards. Guests can eat, drink, stay or get married on the family estate that offers the total wine weekend!

- Indie of Clare screams yummy Indian cuisine where multi-generational Head Chef Rupesh creates local award winning delicacies.
- Greg Cooley Wines, Clare is one of the Clare Valley’s smallest, more boutique wine producers. By choice their vintages are not available in bottle shops. A boutique producer, wines sold direct online, or at their popular wine lunch series Greg Cooley Wine Lunch Series.
- Pikes Beer Company stumps up casual nosh in their outdoor beer garden.
- The Rising Sun Hotel offers good old fashioned pub hospitality with local brews on tap and of course the obligatory Clare Valley local wines.
- Watervale Hotel and Penobscot Farm: Offering great pub food in a charming setting and a focus on local, seasonal ingredients. Its proximity to Penobscot Farm also adds a touch of farm-to-table appeal.
- Watervale General Store, Watervale offers gourmet produce on their ever changing cafe menu.
Foodies
- Slate Restaurant at Pikes Wines: Polish Hill. A serial winner of Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hats (2020-2023), Slate is a high-end culinary destination. Known for exceptional cuisine paired with award-winning wines. It’s an ideal venue for foodies seeking a top-tier dining experience in a winery setting.

- Reillys Wines and Restaurant in Mintaro is very local, very special. Dating back to 1856 the name arises from the Irish shoemaker Hugh Reilly who settled in the township of Mintaro, building his home ‘Reilly’s Cottage’ from the local slate. Today it’s an epicurean and wine hub that mops up awards and a reputation for its long lunches and a la carte seasonal menus.

- Ragu and Co is an authentic Italian restaurant and pizzeria. Awarded Ospitalita Italiana accreditation by the Italian Government and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in recognition of providing an authentic Italian dining experience.
- Paulette Wines and Bush DeVine Café, Polish Hill River. Excellent wines and stunning setting. The Bush DeVine Café is relaxed but a high-quality dining experience.
- The UPPside Restaurant, Wine Bar & Farm Shop: Penwortham. Known for a European-style menu with local, seasonal produce. Fresh, high-quality meals in a cozy, wine-centric setting, catering to foodies who appreciate farm-to-table dining.
- Seed, Clare Valley: Contemporary Australian cuisine with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Its reputation for quality food and its focus on using the best seasonal produce.
- The Bake and Brew Shop – 266 Main N Rd, Clare SA. Unique with a range of produce – home brewing, spirit making, baking, home preserving, cake decorating, tea and coffee brewing, sausage-making, chocolate making and more!
Retail Escapes
- Watervale Gallery and Clare Valley Wine, Food and Tourism Centre:- discover unique pieces by talented regional artists.
- Looking Good Clare – 278 Main N Rd
- Mintaro Maze Gift Gallery Store and Cafe – 27 Jacka Rd
- The Gift Horse Gallery Clare – 130 Main N Rd
- Velvet and Willow Wines: Cellar Door, Cafe and Pantry: 17 Main N Rd, Auburn SA
If you think Mintaro sounds like an amazing holiday destination, why not see our Stays with a WOW accommodation.
Need a roadtrip? Take a drive with several suggested Road trips around Mintaro, along the Clare Valleys winding roads and see stunning countryside – views are especially good during Autumn where the landscape is ablaze with colour and vineyards turn vibrant shades of red and gold.