drivetime sponsored by
U
nlike our standard, rushed drives from point A to point B, this 1,360-kilometre road trip is the destination and it's one I've been
hankering after. While my husband acquaints himself with the Audi Q3's multimedia system and minute, modern Navman, I follow the road signs from Adelaide airport to the Clare Valley. It takes just over an hour, and as we amble through historical towns, past cellar doors, wheat farms and paddocks dotted with fat cattle and sheep, the city frenzy becomes a faint memory. One of Australia's most famous wine-producing
regions, the Clare Valley was settled by English, Irish and Polish migrants during the 1840s. They created an enduring, rich heritage of villages and architecture, with many buildings now operating as charming guesthouses, historical pubs, restaurants and art galleries. We visit Mintaro's Irongate Studio Gallery to see contemporary artist Jen Penglase-Prior's abstract pastels, which have earned her an international profile. We continue along one of the many trails to
Burra, where copper was discovered in 1845. Once a thriving mining area, Burra has been devotedly conserved. On the Burra Passport Key Trail we
"We amble through historical towns, past cellar doors, wheat farms and paddocks."
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