South Australia | Adelaide to Clare Road Trip Itinerary

Combining South Australia's gorgeous scenery and beautiful cellar doors, discover the best of South Australia's wine region in this 5 day itinerary.

Day 1: Adelaide to Hahndorf (Adelaide Hills)

Distance: 35km

Travel time: 45 minutes

Pick up your Apollo campervan from Adelaide and ease out of the city towards cool-climate wine country. Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement (est. 1839) and a perfect first base; the town feels like a little postcard with elm-lined streets, stone shopfronts, German bakeries, and verandahs draped in ivy. 

On the way (optional detours)

• Mount Lofty Summit for a first “wow” moment across Adelaide and the plains. It’s a a sweep of plains, skyline and gulf that frames the whole week ahead. Arrive early for soft light or late for golden hour; either way, you’ll step out of the campervan and instantly feel the pace drop. 

• Cleland Wildlife Park: Stretch your legs among roos and koalas before rolling on. It’s hands-on without being hectic, and the shady paths make it a great reset after the city drive.

Things to do in/around Hahndorf

• Wander the Hahndorf main street for German-heritage façades, delis and smallgoods. After taking in the sights and grabbing a bite, head on over to the Hahndorf Academy, an art gallery and a museum in a historic building. 

• Book The Lane Vineyard – Gathering Experience: a curated, seated tasting with exquisite seasonal snacks that pairs kitchen and cellar. You can also consider their Cellar Experience, which also includes a winemaking crash course! 

Most seated tastings with food pairings like The Lane are known to book out, especially on weekends, so make sure to plan ahead.

Where to stay

Mount Barker Caravan & Tourist Park - Base yourself Mount Barker, a holiday park located 10–15 minutes from Hahndorf with powered sites. Its location makes the park an easy base to explore the Hills.

Day 2: Hahndorf to Tanunda (Barossa)

Distance: 75km

Travel time: 1 hour 10 minutes

The Hills ease into wide valley floors and Barossa’s big skies. Historic bluestone rises like châteaux, and the air smells faintly of warm straw and barrel rooms. It’s an easy hop today — perfect for a mini walk and a long lunch.

On the way

• Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park: Consider stopping at the park to stretch your legs and choose an easy loop walk for panoramic Barossa views. It’s five-star scenery for a 45-minute effort, where the scale of Barossa hits you, and it’s a great mid-drive break before rolling into Tanunda.

Things to do 

• Park up and stroll into Murray Street Vineyards, a boutique winery, offering handcrafted, estate-grown wines. 

• Drop into Z WINE — a central cellar door and wine bar run by the Zerk family; ideal if you prefer not to move the camper between tastings.

• Head to the Artisans of Barossa precinct for a flight from several small-batch makers under one roof, then lunch or early dinner at Essen (book ahead on weekends). It’s a curated Barossa experience in one, elegant stop.

Where to stay

Discovery Parks, Barossa Valley — Central, friendly and campervan-easy. Stroll at dusk to watch the sun glaze the rows, then settle in under tall gums.

Pace tip: aim for 1–3 cellar doors maximum in a day, and nominate a designated driver. Many Barossa tastings are walkable from central Tanunda, so basing yourself in a holiday park nearby (like the Tanunda Discovery Parks) would be the best option, so you can make the most of your tastings by leaving the campervan there and not having to worry about driving.

Day 3: Tanunda to Clare (Clare Valley)

Distance: 100km

Travel time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Country roads and small stories from South Australia’s past. Today the landscape shifts again - paler hills, big skies, and stone towns that still wear their 19th-century bones.

On the way (choose to do one, or both)

• Kapunda Heritage: SA’s first, and oldest commercial copper mining town, Kapunda exudes an appeal that emanates from its well-preserved historic buildings and vibrant history. Take a walk along the heritage trail that goes along the old copper mines, or grab a coffee and visit the Kapunda Museum.

• Martindale Hall in Mintaro: A stately 1880s mansion set among sweeping grounds. Think cool stone corridors, creaking stairs and perfectly framed windows. It’s five minutes off route and feels like stepping onto a period film set.

Things to do in Clare

• Sevenhill Cellars (1851):  Jesuit-founded and heavy with history. Walk the grounds, visit the old crypt, then taste in a space that feels more like a library than a bar. The stillness is part of the experience; it invites you to linger.

• Roll onto an easy section of the Riesling Trail:  A wide, well-kept gravel path linking towns and cellar doors. Ride out for an hour and back, or choose a town-to-town section with an easy café finish (check current trail advisories; sections can temporarily close after weather or fire events).

Where To Stay

• Discovery Parks – Clare: Close to the trail and town for a drive-free evening. With showers on-site and an easy amble to dinner, there’s no need to break camp. 

Insider tip: If you’re cycling, check e-bike hire and trail surface updates the night before. A small bell, a hat and a soft-shell layer make the trail more comfortable in changeable weather.

Image: SATC Media Gallery

Day 4: Clare Valley day to graze + ride

Keep the motorhome parked and let yourself enjoy another slow day with a leisurely trail spin, a long lunch, and a sunset tasting.

Ideas for an unrushed day:

• Riesling Trail (half-day): choose a short return between Auburn–Watervale–Sevenhill–Clare (you can start anywhere). The gradient is rail-trail gentle and the surface forgiving; you can ride in sandals. Stop wherever the view asks you to — a stone wall draped in lichen, a stand of gums humming with bees, a wide paddock sketched with hay bales.

• Mr Mick Cellar Door & Kitchen: Tapas-style plates beside the trail with warm olives, slow braises, bright rieslings. Book a late sitting and let lunch drift; there’s no rush to be anywhere.

• One last tasting or a nap under a tree: If you’ve kept the day light, you’ll have energy to stroll at dusk, when the hills look beautiful close to sunset.

Where To Stay

Second night at Discovery Parks Clare holiday park to avoid packing up and keep the day truly relaxed. 

Day 5: Clare to Adelaide (via Lake Bumbunga)

Distance: 130km

Travel time: 1 hourr 40 minutes

Turn south and add a splash of colour to your last day.

Stop on the way

Lake Bumbunga (Lochiel): When conditions line up, the “bubble-gum pink” colour of the lake you’ve seen on Instagram really does happen, but the colours shift with salinity, water level and light. Sometimes it’s vivid pink; other times it’s white or pale blue. Either way, the horizon looks stunning, and the ripples and reflections add to the magic of Lake Bumbunga. Make sure to wear old shoes for the salt crust and keep an eye on the wind and weather warnings.

Optional last night before drop-off:

Prefer a seaside finish? Book Discovery Parks – Adelaide Beachfront (Semaphore) for powered sites by the sand and a final sunset that folds the trip neatly closed: sea breeze, gulls tracing the shore, city lights twinkling to the south. If you’re dropping the campervan tomorrow, this gives you one last, gentle evening to savour it all.

Eat & drink ideas: fish and chips on the esplanade; a cone from the classic corner shop; a twilight stroll before turning in.

Insider tip: If you’re timing flights the next day, keep today’s stops short and stay beachside; morning drop-offs feel calmer when you’ve slept by the water.

Practical tips for wine country

• Book the big moments (The Lane, Artisans) on weekends and holidays; keep the rest spontaneous.

• Aim for 1–3 tastings per day, beautifully spaced; nominate a designated driver or keep most exploring on foot in Tanunda and Clare.

• On the Riesling Trail, share the path, ring your bell when passing, and stick to the formed surface; a soft brush makes quick work of dust on pedals and shoes.

• Packing refreshers: a light jacket for evening breezes, a reusable water bottle, a small picnic rug, and a soft cooler bag for cheese finds.

• Best time to go: Harvest buzz during February to April, mild spring (wildflowers and fresh greens), cosy cellaring in winter, long golden evenings in late summer. Lake Bumbunga’s colour varies with salinity, season, and light, so treat it as a fun bonus, not a guarantee.

FAQs and quick answers

1. Is this itinerary family-friendly?
   Yes. Cleland suits kids, the towns are walkable, and the Riesling Trail has a gentle gradient with hire options for e-bikes and trailers.

2. Do I need to pre-book tastings?
   For food pairings or premium sessions (e.g., The Lane’s Gathering Experience; Essen at Artisans), yes, especially Fridays to Sundays. For simple flights, many cellar doors accept walk-ins, but capacity is limited.

3. When is Lake Bumbunga pink?
   It varies with salinity, water level and light. Spring and sunny periods often look best, but it changes week to week; make sure to check recent photos before making the detour. 

Ready to plan your Barossa & Clare campervan getaway?

From koalas in the Adelaide Hills to long lunches and sunset spins on the Riesling Trail, this 5-day loop keeps the driving light and the experiences big. Hire your campervan with Apollo, collect in Adelaide, and follow your tastebuds north through cellar doors, heritage villages and easy scenic stops, then roll back to the beach for one last sunset. Adventure starts when you turn the key.