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There’s a pocket of the Clare Valley where vineyards spread over the Skilly Hills, cellar doors hide down country roads and some of the region’s best-known names sit surprisingly close together.
And this October, you can explore eight of them without getting behind the wheel once!
The Skilly Valley Way is back for a bigger and better second year, bringing eight local businesses across seven venues together for a seamless day of drinks, dining and discovery via an all-day bus loop.
This year’s line-up includes live music from The Liam and Dan Duo at Kilikanoon; exclusive tastings of award-winning Riesling at Penna Lane Wines; Feast and Fire with music from Joe Amputch at Mitchell Wines; freshly shucked oysters at Eldredge Wines; and gin cocktails and tasty bites at Sawmill Gin.
Skillogalee, Jeanneret Wines & Clare Valley Brewing Co and, joining the trail for the first time this year, Three Little Birds will also be taking part, with more experiences still to be revealed.
Think lunches in the sunshine, glasses poured among the vines, a gin stop here, a cold beer there and music drifting across the lawn. No need to rush and no need to plan.
Created by Kilikanoon Wines in 2025, the event was designed to give visitors an easy way to venture beyond Clare’s better-trodden routes and spend a day discovering the venues scattered throughout the Skilly Valley.
Marketing Manager Emilie Munther said the first Skilly Valley Way attracted 500 people, showing strong pull for a day that gave visitors the freedom to explore the region at their own pace.
“It’s basically your day, your way, which is something that we’re quite proud of,” Emilie said.
“If you find one venue and you’re happy there, you can enjoy that.”
Ride-all-day buses will leave central Clare from 9:45am before travelling continuously between the eight stops, with services arriving approximately every 30 minutes until the event wraps up at 5:30pm.
With a $60 bus pass, you can plan your way through all eight stops or simply see where the day takes you, with a wristband and complimentary keep cup included as a keepsake from the day.
And there will be plenty happening once you arrive. Participating venues are planning everything from live music, food trucks, special wine offers, extra seating and experiences created specifically for the day.
The event showcases the spirit of the Skilly Valley, bringing together a sense of adventure, good company and quality local pours.
“It’s giving the Skilly Valley a reason to shine and a reason to be the focus.”
It’s also an example of what can happen when neighbouring businesses work together, with the event receiving support from the South Australian Tourism Commission and State Government for a second year. The backing, combined with another venue joining the trail, has organisers hopeful The Skilly Valley Way will continue to grow into a fixture of the Clare Valley’s spring calendar.
More importantly, it gives visitors another reason to turn off the main road and discover a pocket of the region they may otherwise miss.
The Skilly Valley Way
Date: Saturday October 3
Time: 9:45am – 5:30pm
Where: Buses depart from central Clare and travel between eight participating Skilly Valley venues
Ride-all-day bus passes are available now through TryBooking.
