Riesling Trail
Encyclopedia
The Riesling Trail is a 35 kilometre walking and cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...

 track located in the Clare Valley
Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is one of Australia's oldest wine regions, best known for Riesling wines. It lies in the Mid North of South Australia, approximately 120 km north of Adelaide. The valley runs north-south, with Main North Road as the main thoroughfare....

, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...

. It runs between Auburn
Auburn, South Australia
Auburn is the name of a small town in the southern edge of the Clare Valley, in the Mid North of South Australia.-History:Often considered the Gateway to the Clare Valley, Auburn was originally settled by William Tateham, who lived in a dugout along the Wakefield River and was first named...

 and Clare
Clare, South Australia
The town of Clare is located in South Australia in the Mid North region, 136 km north of Adelaide. It gives its name to the Clare Valley wine and tourist region.-History:One of the first settlers in the area was John Horrocks, in 1839...

, passing through several towns and villages along the way, including Leasingham
Leasingham, South Australia
Leasingham is the name of a hamlet on the southern edge of the Clare Valley, in the Mid North of South Australia. It is approximately 117 kilometres from the state's capital, Adelaide and 17 kilometres south of the town of Clare. The town is located at the intersection of Main North Road and the...

, Watervale
Watervale, South Australia
Watervale is a town located in the Clare Valley, South Australia, approximately 9 kilometres north of Auburn and 15 kilometres south of Clare. It is surrounded by a number of small wineries and several B&Bs. The Riesling Trail runs past the town to the west, between the Main North Road and the...

, Penwortham
Penwortham, South Australia
Penwortham is a small town in the Clare Valley, South Australia, along the Main North Road, approximately 10 kilometres south of Clare and 14 kilometres north of Auburn...

 and Sevenhill
Sevenhill, South Australia
The town of Sevenhill is in the Clare Valley region of South Australia, approximately 130 km north of Adelaide. It was settled by the Austrian Jesuit Fathers and Brothers in 1848...

. A recent extension now extends 8km north of Clare to the area known as Barinia
Barinia, South Australia
The locality of Barinia is situated in South Australia in the Mid North region, approximately 10 km north of Clare. In November 2009 it became the northern terminus of the Riesling Trail.-Governance:...

. Interpretative signage exists at many spots along the trail, and at Watervale a small shelter and rainwater tank provides for the needs for trail users.

Originally part of the railway branch line which ran between Riverton
Riverton, South Australia
Riverton is a small town of distinctive character and interest to travellers in the Mid North of South Australia, in the Gilbert Valley. It is situated on the Gilbert River, from which the town derives its name...

 in the south to Spalding
Spalding, South Australia
Spalding is a town located north of the Clare Valley in South Australia, Australia at . At the 2006 census, Spalding had a population of 212.It is mainly a farming community and also is home to a slate quarry....

 in the north, it was abandoned after the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires
Ash Wednesday fires
The Ash Wednesday bushfires, known in South Australia as Ash Wednesday II, were a series of bushfires that occurred in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983. Within twelve hours, more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110 km per hour caused widespread destruction across the states...

 which burnt through the valley and damaged a lot of the trackwork. It was decided that the old railway lines would be removed and in 1993, this part of the route was converted into its present use as a walking and cycle trail.

Today the Riesling Trail is recognised as one of the premier scenic walking/cycling trails in Australia, passing through beautiful vineyard and farming country. There are various side loops as well as access to delightful coffee shops and quaint pubs. Bike hire is available at several locations including Auburn, Clare and the Clare Caravan Park, with quality bikes and tandems available to suit all sizes and ages. It is possible to hire bikes and ride one-way with pick-up at the other end. The trail has a gentle up-grade from Auburn to Sevenhill, where it gradually descends into Clare. The Riesling Trail is the perfect way to experience the best of the Clare Valley. Many B&B's are available to accommodate trail users in close proximity to the trail.

The Rattler Rail Trail, currently being developed to the same standard as the Riesling Trail, extends a further 23 km south of Auburn to Riverton, creating further opportunity for cycling and walking in the Region.
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