Region

Yorke Peninsula and Clare Valley

Base in Clare for wine, Kadina or Moonta for the coast; drive the peninsula as a 2–3 day loop from Adelaide.

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Key facts · Australia

Best months: Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD, A$)
Language: English
Plugs: I · 230 V
Time zone: UTC+10 east

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 7

Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Two regions that sit either side of the same drive north from Adelaide. Clare Valley is a compact strip of cellar doors along a 40 km road, best done as one or two nights in Clare or Auburn. Yorke Peninsula is a 700 km coastline shaped like a leg, with the Copper Coast towns 90 minutes from Adelaide and the Bottom End another two hours past them. Pick one as your base and day-trip the other only if you have four nights or more.

Where to sleep

10 places in this region

Sleep base

ClareCity guide
Cellar doors, restaurants, the Riesling Trail; the valley's main town.
Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
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Open Clare →
MoontaCity guide
Copper Coast heritage, Cornish pasties, closest base to Moonta Mines.
Best Sep–May
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Open Moonta →
WallarooCity guide
Ferry to the Eyre Peninsula, hospital, coach depot.
Best Feb–May, Sep–Dec
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Open Wallaroo →

Day trip

EdithburghCity guide
Dive and snorkel base on the southern coast; jetty and tidal pool.
Best Oct–Apr
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Marion BayCity guide
Gateway to Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park; fishing charters.
Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
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ArdrossanCity guide
First Copper Coast town from Adelaide; jetty and cliff lookouts.
Best Oct–Apr
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StansburyCity guide
Quiet gulf-side town with a small museum and oyster sheds nearby.
Best Oct–Apr
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Port BroughtonCity guide
Northern end of the peninsula; jetty fishing and calm shallows.
Open Port Broughton →
BurraCity guide
Copper-mining heritage town, 40 minutes east of Clare.
Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
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Transit

Port WakefieldCity guide
Highway junction where the peninsula and Clare drives split.
Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Port Wakefield →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

2 nights: Clare 2 nights; cellar doors and the Riesling Trail on foot or by bike
3 nights: Clare 1 + Moonta or Wallaroo 2; coast on day two, Innes on day three if you push south
4 nights: Clare 2 + Copper Coast 2, or Copper Coast 2 + Marion Bay 2 for the national park

Adelaide to the Bottom End is 3 hours or more one way; do not plan Innes as a day trip from the Copper Coast.
Mobile coverage is patchy away from the highway and larger towns; Telstra and Optus are the better networks.
Strong offshore winds make the southern coast hazardous for swimming and small boats, especially in winter and spring.
Farm machinery and stock move on peninsula roads; slow down and expect gravel sections.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Moonta Mines	Moonta	10 min	unknown	State heritage area with museum, tourist railway and sweets shop; check opening days before you go.
Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park	Marion Bay	15 min	unknown	Park entry fee applies; most campgrounds are first-come, first-served except Casuarina.
Burra	Clare	45 min	unknown	Copper-mining heritage and the same National Trust world heritage bid as Moonta Mines.
Edithburgh	Moonta	90 min	unknown	Long drive; only worth it if you are diving or snorkelling. Wetsuit needed even in summer.

Bags between cities

No luggage forwarding on the peninsula; you drive your own bags. Coaches run to most towns but not every day, so a car is the practical option.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Clare	×	×	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	ok
Moonta	go	go	go	go	go	×	×	×	go	go	go	go
Wallaroo	ok	go	go	go	go	×	×	×	go	go	go	go
Edithburgh	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go
Marion Bay	×	×	go	go	go	×	×	×	go	go	go	×
Ardrossan	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go
Stansbury	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go
Burra	×	×	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	ok
Port Wakefield	×	×	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	×
Australia (country-wide)	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Yorke PeninsulaCoastal peninsula, Gulf St Vincent to Spencer Gulf	best	best	best	ok	wet	wet	wet	wet	ok	best	best	best
Clare ValleyInland valley north of Adelaide	hot	hot	best	best	ok	wet	wet	wet	ok	best	best	hot

best: dry, mildok: workablehot: short walking windowswet: daily rain

Yorke Peninsula: Mild maritime climate; winter minima average around 4 °C (39 °F) and summer can reach 40 °C (104 °F). Rainfall is about 350 mm a year, wettest May–September. Winds are strong along the southern coast.Mild maritime climate; winter minima average around 39 °F (4 °C) and summer can reach 104 °F (40 °C). Rainfall is about 350 mm a year, wettest May–September. Winds are strong along the southern coast.
Clare Valley: Warmer and drier than the coast; summer days push past 35 °C (95 °F). Vintage and harvest activity runs through the summer months.Warmer and drier than the coast; summer days push past 95 °F (35 °C). Vintage and harvest activity runs through the summer months.

Best months are October–April for the coast and March–May or September–November for the Clare Valley. Fire danger period runs November–April; total fire ban days close some parks and tracks.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Adelaide	Port Wakefield	A1 Port Wakefield Road, dual carriageway	~90 min	The junction where the peninsula and Clare drives split; both regions start about 90 minutes from Adelaide's CBD or airport.
Adelaide	Clare	A1 then A32 through the Barossa and Gawler	~2 h	The last stretch is 110 km/h (68 mph) zone; the valley road itself is slower.The last stretch is 68 mph (110 km/h) zone; the valley road itself is slower.
Adelaide	Kadina, Wallaroo, Moonta	A1 to Port Wakefield, then Copper Coast highway	~2 h	The Copper Coast is the closest peninsula base to Adelaide.
Adelaide Central Bus Station	Copper Coast and peninsula towns	Yorke Peninsula Coaches	check	Daily services to Kadina, Wallaroo, Moonta, Ardrossan, Stansbury, Edithburgh, Minlaton and Yorketown, but not every town every day. Depot in Wallaroo.
Wallaroo	Lucky Bay (Eyre Peninsula)	Sea SA car and passenger ferry	~2 h crossing	2026 estimate: car about A$140, adult about A$35, child about A$10. Check the current timetable and whether the service is running.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park entry

buy

Per-vehicle park entry fee; pay online or at the gate. Camping is charged separately.

Camping permits (council and park)

check

Some sites need a permit and a fee; buy from the District Council of Yorke Peninsula or online before you arrive.

Riesling Trail bike hire

check

Hire in Clare or Auburn if you want to taste without driving; prices vary by shop and day.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Cornish pasty	Moonta, Kadina, Wallaroo bakeries	A legacy of the Cornish miners; sold from cafes and bakeries across the Copper Coast.
Crayfish and crab	Copper Coast and southern coast towns	The peninsula's commercial fishery supplies local outlets; seasons and prices vary.
Oysters	Stansbury and the gulf side	Gulf oyster leases sit close to town; check which sheds sell direct.
Cellar-door platters	Clare Valley	Most wineries have cellar doors for tasting and purchase; many serve a cheese or produce plate at lunch.
Barley Stacks wines	South of Maitland, near Ardrossan	Harvests, processes and bottles on site; varieties include Shiraz, Cabernet, Chardonnay and Viognier.

Go next

South Australia

planned

Drive back to Adelaide in about 2 hours from Clare or the Copper Coast

Adelaide and Kangaroo Island are the natural next stop.

New South Wales

Fly Adelaide to Sydney, about 2 h

Or drive the inland route if you have a week.

Victoria

Fly Adelaide to Melbourne, about 1 h 20

Cheaper and faster than the drive.

Northern Territory

Fly Adelaide to Darwin or Alice Springs

Best May–September.

Queensland

Fly Adelaide to Brisbane or Cairns

Reef and tropics; June–October.

Western Australia

Fly Adelaide to Perth, about 3 h 30

Or cross the Eyre Highway from the Eyre Peninsula if you have the time.

Tasmania

Fly Adelaide to Hobart or Launceston

November–April.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 3 bases
Day trips: 4, 10 min to 1 h 30
Nights suggested: 2–4 nights
Ways in: 5 listed
Best months: Mar, Oct, Nov (all zones)

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Explore South Australia Up to Australia

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialYorke Peninsula Tourism
officialYorke Peninsula Council — camping permits and fees
officialSouth Australia National Parks — Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park
officialYorke Peninsula Coaches
officialSea SA Car & Passenger Ferries
officialVisit Copper Coast — Moonta Mines
secondaryWikivoyage: Yorke Peninsula and Clare Valley, revision 5320236 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about Yorke Peninsula and Clare Valley

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