Clare Valley Cabins Stanley Flat review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

Clare Valley Cabins feel like you’re right in the bush while, in truth, Clare and all its charms are just down the road.

The magic of an idyllic bush getaway is that time stretches so that a peaceful couple of nights feels like nearly a week away. And the fortune of living in Adelaide is that so many getaways are within a quick and easy drive.

Oh, and it helps that they’re right in the middle of some of the most beautiful wine districts.

Throw in the chance to have mates staying at the same place and it’s like perfection.

Clare Valley Cabins feel like you’re right in the bush while, in truth, Clare and all its charms are just down the road.

They’re easily found just north of Clare – even in the dark – and my post-work late arrival quickly reveals one of the real beauties of the site. It’s silent – no traffic noise, no city noise and even the birds have fallen asleep.

We’re a group of eight spread across three of the two-bedroom cottages but there’s still room in one for us all to gather around a slow-combustion stove and enjoy the warmth – wood is provided in season – with a bottle or two of something picked up earlier.

The cabins are very comfortable, although the decor does hark back to an earlier era, with wood panelling, florals and some old-fashioned kitchens and bathrooms. But it doesn’t feel out of place in the rural setting and the good news is the linen on the beds is beautiful and these are very comfortable mattresses.

The Clare Valley Cabins decor doesn’t seem out of place.

We’ve left the children home this time but this is a perfect getaway spot for families. Some of the cabins are set up with queen beds in both bedrooms while others have a queen in one room and twin beds in the other. A sofa bed can stretch the sleeping accommodation to six. And to make it a truly family getaway, pets are welcome, too.

We’ve brought our own breakfast supplies but those can be provided by arrangement.

After breakfast, a few of us hit the track. If the 21ha of bush setting for the cabins is not enough, the good news is it’s positioned right next to the Clare Valley’s Riesling Trail, great for walking or you can grab a couple of the provided bikes.

One of the lures of the Clare Valley also provides a conundrum. We’re booked in for lunch at a nearby winery but it’s not close enough to walk to and nobody’s putting up their hand to be the designated driver. Thankfully, several small bus-type shuttle services are available in Clare and we’re soon on our way with a friendly host.

Our winery lunch turns into a very long one but once we’re back at our comfortable cabins, a combustion fire is quickly lit and we’re even able to have a small campfire outside.

We sit back in the warmth, drink in the stars and time stretches magically even further.

Reviews are unannounced and paid for by SAWeekend.

This review was first published in March 2016 and had details updated in March 2021.

• Hubbe Rd, Stanley Flat
• 8842 1155
• clarevalleycabins.com.au

• LOCATION Clare is about 148km north of Adelaide
• ACCOMMODATION There are eight two-bedroom cabins plus the White Hut Chapel (sleeps two)
• FACILITIES Well-equipped kitchens with full stove, microwave, TV, DVD player, slow-combustion fires, reverse-cycle airconditioning, tea and coffee provisions; breakfast provisions by arrangement, bikes to borrow
• PRICE From $99 a night/double for four-night midweek stay