Local restaurants
On a hillside just south of Clare township, Artisan's Table, at Wendouree Road (+61 (0)8 8842 1796), at Wendouree Road, serves up sophisticated contemporary fare on a sunny deck. Kirrihill Wines’ (+61 (0)8 8842 4087) cellar door is also on site for sampling some riesling.
Local bars
Clare is a hard working country town, and when the blokes who’ve been doing the work get a thirst for beer they head to Clare Hotel, at 244 Main North Road (+61 (0)8 8842 2816). Expect an authentic country atmosphere, with lots of loud talk, TV screens showing the racing and hearty pub meals (heavy on the meat).
Local cafés
Cafe Cygnets (+61 (0)8 8849 2030) at Main Road North whips up the best coffee in Auburn, or hit the providore counter for gourmet delights.
Worth getting out of bed for
Wander the property at dusk to spot mobs of resident roos – there’s nothing quite like seeing a dozen big boomers bounding across an open field. Climb up to Maslin’ Look-out for sublime sunset views (and a bottle of bubbles) or stroll among ancient pines in nearby North Bundaleer Forest (both the Heysen and Mawson Trails pass through here). If you don’t fancy trekking, the Clare Valley boasts around 35 winery cellar doors for chilled-out tastings.
Diary
March The Bundaleer Forest Weekend (www.bundaleerweekend.com) is an opera-and-symphony spectacular in the Bundaleer Forest near Jamestown. May The annual Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend (www.southaustralia.com) is a fab festival of wine, food and song. Highlights include educational tastings degustation dinners, a black-tie ball and plenty of jazz. September The Clare Valley of the Vines Race Day (www.racingandsports.com.au) is a horse racing meet with all the usual thrills and pitfalls (sometimes Champagne just goes down too easily…). It’s a family vibe, with kids’ activities, live bands and competitions. October The annual Clare Show (www.sacountryshows.com) is the largest one-day agricultural show in Australia. Expect much mooing of cows, chopping of wood, horse jumping and kids chewing dagwood dogs (for the uninitiated, a sausage on a skewer, battered, deep-fried and dunked in ketchup). Further north, Jamestown Cup Day (www.racingsa.com.au) is also worth a look.
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Smith extra at North Bundaleer
A two-litre cask of North Bundaleer olive oil
