Families don’t normally put “wine region” and “kid-friendly weekend” in the same sentence, but the Clare Valley makes that combination work surprisingly well. Only two hours from Adelaide, this exquisite wine region is built for exploration, and the kids don’t need to be left out.
A Clare Valley Escape, but Make it Kid-Friendly
Most parents don’t look at a wine region and think, “Perfect, let’s bring the kids,” but Clare Valley somehow makes that choice feel clever instead of chaotic.
In Clare, there’s lots of space and plenty of opportunity for exploration everywhere you look. Kids can run around on big lawns, follow bush tracks, tackle minigolf, or hop on bikes all in the same weekend. Adults get the wine and the long lunches, sure, but they also get the kind of countryside calm that only happens when the kids are happily occupied.
And the best part is how close it is to Adelaide. You leave the city, blink a couple of times, and suddenly the scenery shifts into holiday mode. No long-haul meltdown required, with everyone crashing happily at the end of the day.
Choose your base well and the whole weekend levels up yet again. Peppers Clare Valley Country Club gives you wide-open grounds, views over the course and a pool that becomes the unofficial afternoon activity.
Kid-Friendly Things to Do in the Clare Valley
So before you write off Clare Valley for a family weekend away, and start planning a girls trip or an adults-only wine escape, take a look at what Clare offers the whole family, and think again.
Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission / Mr. Mick Cellar Door and Kitchen
Wineries with space for kids to run
There are wineries, and then there are kid-friendly wineries. Some are open to a little family fun and offer lawn space for children to run around. Those are the ones we mention below:
O’Leary Walker Wines
A big grassy lawn, lawn games, plenty of room to spread out and that famous Children’s Tasting Platter with natural cordials, that makes them feel like they’re part of the whole experience; all of this makes O’Leary Walker Wines a great choice for families. Grown-ups sip riesling, kids chase each other under the gum trees. Everyone wins.
Mr Mick Wines
Right in Clare, Mr Mick Wines has a relaxed lawn, roomy outdoor seating and kid-friendly bites from the restaurant. This is the perfect spot to grab a meal together without comprise on any side. Colouring sheets keep little hands busy, and the whole place has that easygoing “stay as long as you want” feel.
Credit: Vanessa Size / The Riesling Trail
Ride or walk a section of the Riesling Trail
The Riesling Trail works brilliantly for families because you don’t have to tackle the whole thing to enjoy it. Pick a short, flat stretch, hire a couple of bikes in Clare, and follow the old rail line as it slips past vineyards, gum trees and wide paddocks. Kids can set the pace, adults can enjoy the scenery and you can bail out whenever the snack requests get louder.
Remember, you also don’t have to bring bikes, walking is also a great idea to break up the day or get some fresh air.
If you want the prettiest slice, the Sevenhill to Watervale section is hard to beat. It’s shaded in parts, gently rolling, and close to spots where you can stop for a cold drink or maybe something sweet. Starting in Clare also works well if you want bike hire close by and an easy roll out of town.
Try minigolf at Rices Creek (Auburn)
Rices Creek sits in Auburn, wrapped in native gardens, rows of vines and an olive grove. Visit for a calm, country-garden feel, combined with an activity for the whole family.
The 18-hole minigolf course winds through the property with short, fun sections that keep kids entertained. There’s an enclosed courtyard that keeps younger kids safely within sight, plus a small playground tucked right beside the course for when the golf becomes old news. A big sheltered seating area runs alongside it, giving parents somewhere shaded to watch the chaos unfold.
Food comes out of a small kitchen that leans on local produce, and you can sit in the dining room with views across the course if you want a break from the sun.
Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission
Explore Spring Gully Conservation Park
A few minutes out of Clare, Spring Gully Conservation Park gives you a quick dose of nature without committing to a full hiking day. Trails weave through bushland and open patches of red earth, and kids can spot birds and kangaroos.
The Cascades Walk is the easiest option; a short, gentle track that winds through shady bushland and gives the kids plenty to look at along the way. If your group has a bit more energy, the Ridge Top Walk leads up to Blue Gum Lookout, where the land opens out into rolling hills and long stretches of gum trees.
Play at the Sevenhill Playspace
Tucked between the Riesling Trail and the township of Sevenhill, this wonderful playspace lands right where families naturally pause. Kids usually spot the bright equipment first, and within seconds they’re climbing, swinging or inventing their own games in the middle of the native vegetation that surrounds the area.
Walk a few steps and you’ll hit Richardson Park Oval, one of the prettiest ovals in the region. Wide, open space means footies and frisbees have room to do their thing, and parents get a moment to breathe while the kids burn off the last of their energy.
Hunger creeping in? Little Red Grape sits just up the road with pastries, pies and good coffee.
Credit: Josh Geelen
Ride the miniature trains at Lake Inchiquin
Over in Inchiquin Recreation Park, the local miniature railway club runs tiny train rides that kids treat like the highlight of the entire trip. Carriages putter around the lake, past trees and open lawns, and the whole thing feels charmingly old-school.
Services run on set days, so you’ll usually see families gathering as the engines warm up and volunteers in caps getting everything ready.
Tickets cost next to nothing, the loop is just long enough to feel like an adventure, and the kids hop off buzzing with energy.
Where to Stay in the Clare Valley
