The Best Holiday Cottages to Rent in Clare, South Australia

Stay at a holiday cottage in Clare and you'll be at the heart of Australian riesling wine | © Hemis / Alamy Stock Photo

8 December 2021

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Clare may be the home of Australian riesling, but it offers so much more. There are vineyards as far as the eye can see, but also galleries filled with Aboriginal art and mountain trails to explore. Book into a cottage in Clare on Culture Trip and discover a land where good food and fresh air is plentiful. Knock on a few cellar doors, then discover the 18m (59ft) waterfall of Spring Gully Conservation Park, or the red cliffs and spring-fed waterholes of Red Banks Conservation Park. Foodies should put the Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend in their diary, where you may be one of the first to test the year’s vintage – cheers!

Clare Valley Heritage Retreat, for a splendid solo trip

The living area of Clare Valley Heritage Retreat, with two sofas, wooden furtniture and a wooden staircase

Courtesy of Clare Valley Heritage Retreat/ Expedia

Kick back on the plump sofas in the wooden-beamed lounge or enjoy a soak in the deep spa tub at this rental cottage in Clare. You’ll have the entire one-bedroom home to yourself, meaning you can enjoy complimentary breakfast in the dining room, garden or picnic area in peace. If you need some help booking an ecotour or getting your clothes dry cleaned, the Clare Valley Heritage Retreat team will happily oblige.

Clarevale Cottage, for Riesling Trail rambles

The living area at Clarevale Cottage, with two sofas and two soft armchairs facing a TV

Courtesy of Clarevale Cottage / Expedia

A tropical-coloured cottage decorated with the works of local artists. Wake up to a breakfast of gluten-free muesli, home-made jams, fresh bread and coffee from the French press. There’s also a fully functioning kitchen and a gas barbecue. The cottage includes a lounge, dining area and a leafy veranda, which provides a shady spot to cool off after a day of sightseeing. You’re walking distance from the Riesling Trail trailhead, where you can cycle, jog or trek along train tracks which have been converted into pathways.

Riesling Trail and Clare Valley Cottages, for rustic charm

The exterior of Riesling Trail and Clare Valley Cottages, with greenery and covered outdoor seating

Courtesy of Riesling Trail and Clare Valley Cottages / Expedia

These five cute-as-a-button holiday cottages in Clare are set in 2ha (five acres) of natural bushland between Hutt River and the Riesling Trail. Enjoy the queen-size bed decorated with a hand-made quilt, the wood fireplace, and hand-made soaps in your bathroom. Generous provisions are left for a continental or cooked breakfast, and if you need a coffee to start you up, there’s also a Nespresso machine. During the day, use the private access to the Riesling Trail to begin your trek; in the evening, pull out the board games or DVDs.

Donnybrook Cottages – Donnybrook Cottage, for heritage quirks

A living area at Donnybrook Cottages, with two sofas facing a fireplace

Courtesy of Donnybrook Cottages / Expedia

Take a stroll down a lavender-lined driveway to find this heritage brick cottage with a corrugated iron roof and dreamy veranda. Yet while this fairytale home looks as if it’s been trapped in time, it possesses a smart TV, free wifi in the communal areas and a rainfall shower in the bathroom. The three-bedroom cottage, which comes with double and queen-sized beds, includes a complimentary breakfast – though you might also want to have some fun with the waffle maker in the kitchen.

Donnybrook Cottages – Hutt River Cottage, for bucolic lazing

The exterior of Donnybrook Cottages - Hutt River Cottage, with bushes beside it

Courtesy of Donnybrook Cottages - Hutt River Cottage / Expedia

You’ll find this two-bedroom cottage surrounded by lush flower borders. Your stay includes complimentary breakfast and free wifi, while guest rooms contain a smart TV, and the bathroom has a rainfall shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer. In the evening, take a seat around the dining room table, or eat al fresco on the veranda or in your private garden. Want to know what to see and do in the area? The team have left guidebooks and maps to help you plan your itinerary.

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