Robe
Town
Population 1249
Guichen Bay and Robe's coastline would have been a welcome sight to the Chinese immigrants arriving in the mid-1800s. During the Victorian gold rush, around 16 500 Chinese disembarked here and travelled overland to the goldfields to avoid the Poll Tax enforced at Victorian ports. Robe had a thriving export trade before rail was introduced, which has left a legacy of historic buildings, from quaint stone cottages to the Caledonian Inn, with internal doors salvaged from shipwrecks. Today Robe is one of the state's most significant historic towns, but also a fishing port and holiday centre, famous for its crayfish and its secluded beaches.
Visitor Information
The Robe Institute, Mundy Tce; (08) 8768 2465 or 1300 367 144
Nearby national parks
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Coorong National Park
Coorong National Park is a long, narrow ribbon of saline wetlands, saltpans, coastal dunes and wild ocean beaches stretching for 150...more -
Little Desert National Park
The soil is poor, there is little water and low rainfall, yet Little Desert National Park supports a surprising wealth and diversity of...more -
Lower Glenelg National Park
The tranquil waters of the Glenelg River provide fantastic canoeing conditions, and there are bushwalking trails and many peaceful picnic...more
Nearby towns
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Kingston S.E.
Known as the 'Gateway to the South East', Kingston S.E. is at the southern end of Coorong National Park on Lacepede Bay. The area was once...more -
Beachport
Beachport started out as a whaling port. Today the crayfish industry has taken over and the town has South Australia's second-longest...more -
Millicent
Millicent, a prosperous, friendly and vibrant community located in the heart of the Limestone Coast region, is named after Millecent Glen,...more
In Town
The Robe Institute: incorporates the visitor centre, library and Historic Interpretation Centre with photographic and audiovisual displays on Robe's history; Mundy Tce. Robe Customs House: historic 1863 building, once the hub of Robe's export trade, now a museum featuring Chinese artefacts and displays; open 2–4pm Tues, Sat and daily in Jan; Royal Circus. Art and craft galleries: throughout town, especially in Smillie and Victoria sts. Deep Sea Fishing charter: sightseeing cruise also on offer; bookings (08) 8768 1807. Crayfish fleet: anchors in Lake Butler (Robe's harbour); sells fresh crayfish and fish Oct–Apr. Walk and scenic drive tours: self-guide tours available. Take the town walk past 81 historic buildings and sites; brochures from visitor centre.
Nearby
Mount Benson wine region Mount Benson is the only sub-wine region actually located on the coast. The first vines were planted less than two decades ago, and the region is still revealing its true colours. The large venture of Norfolk Rise, established by an international company, indicates the area’s promise. Make sure to try its shiraz. Other wineries to visit are Wehl’s Mt Benson Vineyard, Cape Jaffa Wines and Ralph Fowler Wines, which is also the cellar door for Frog Island, inland from Robe.
Lake Fellmongery: popular spot for waterskiing; 1 km SE. Long Beach: 17 km pristine beach for surfing and swimming. Cars are allowed on the sand; 2 km N. Little Dip Conservation Park: features a complex, moving sand-dune system, salt lakes, freshwater lakes and abundant wildlife. Drive or walk through native bush to beaches for surfing and beach-fishing; some areas 4WD only; 2 km S. Beacon Hill: panoramic views of Robe, lakes and coast from lookout tower; Beacon Hill Rd; 2 km SE. The Obelisk: navigational marker at Cape Dombey. Scenic access via cliff walk from the Old Gaol at Robe; 2 km W.
Fishing spots near town
Nelson 147 km
The Glenelg River is situated at Nelson near the border with SA. The long river is one of the state’s premier fisheries for bream to 1.8 kg, estuary perch and mulloway to about 20 kg. Victoria has some excellent... Find out moreKonong Wootong Reservoir 172 km
Coleraine in the Western District is in the heart of prime wool- growing country. The small town is famous for its chocolate factory, but less well known is the trout fishery in the picturesque 60 ha impoundment just out... Find out morePortland 209 km
‘I reckon Portland is Victoria’s best kept angling secret,’ local angler Bob McPherson told me in 2004. At the time, I believed he was right. Within two years Portland was no longer a secret, becoming... Find out moreDimboola 217 km
At first sight the Wimmera River didn’t look special. Barely flowing, it consisted of sandbars and fallen trees interspersed with shallows and a few deeper holes below the timber. I was fishing with local anglers... Find out moreLake Wartook 239 km
Drought and changes to irrigation have left dry many of Victoria’s former favourite fishing lakes. Drive through the cropping plains of the Wimmera and you come across once-famous lakes, including Toolondo,... Find out moreEco-friendly activities around town
Picnicking around Mount Gambier 116 km
Mount Gambier has some extraordinary picnic spots around collapsed caves that are now beautiful sinkhole gardens. Try Cave Gardens or the stunning Umpherston Sinkhole, which has free barbecues and good facilities.... Find out moreLittle Desert National Park 173 km
This park contains one-fifth of all flowering plant species in Victoria. The elusive mallee fowl and rare scrub robin live amid the 600 kilometres of tracks that go out to remote sections of the park near the South... Find out moreBirdwatching around the Fleurieu Peninsula 204 km
Abutting the Coorong, and with wetlands, beaches and a wide variety of terrain, the Fleurieu Peninsula is a top spot for birdwatching. There is a hide off Barrage Road at Goolwa, and the Goolwa Effluent Ponds can have... Find out moreWhale-watching on the Fleurieu Peninsula 206 km
Between May and October, southern right whales often cruise right next to the shore of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Popular viewing spots include Port Elliot, Goolwa, Middleton and Victor Harbor, but your best starting point... Find out moreSwimming along the Fleurieu Peninsula 206 km
There are plenty of great swimming beaches along the peninsula. Victor Harbor has a plethora to choose from – including Kent Reserve and Dump Beach – but there is also Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot, and the... Find out moreMount Eccles National Park 217 km
At Mount Eccles you can walk for 2 kilometres around the rim of a volcanic crater then descend for a swim in the lake at its heart. It is a great spot for a picnic, with koalas and kangaroos, and the camping facilities... Find out moreDiving and snorkelling off the Fleurieu Peninsula 230 km
Some of the state’s best diving – particularly in-shore and around jetties – is on the Fleurieu Peninsula, with leafy sea dragons, shipwrecks, dolphins and myriad fish species. Second Valley is great... Find out moreGrampians National Park 233 km
There are many, many reasons to go to this remarkable 1680-square-kilometre national park: its spectacular spring wildflowers, its dramatic cliffs and sandstone features, its bushwalking, the stunning views from its... Find out moreIndigenous tours, Grampians National Park 246 km
Brambuk, the Grampians National Park and Cultural Centre, houses an Aboriginal cultural centre explaining much of the history and stories associated with the area. There is also a bushfoods cafe, where you can try emu,... Find out moreGolf courses around town
Links Lady Bay Resort 229 km
‘A pleasurable golf course,’ Dr Alister MacKenzie once wrote, ‘is not necessarily one that appeals at first sight, but rather one that grows on a player like good music, good painting, or good... Find out moreCafes & restaurants around town
The Gallerie Restaurant & Wine Bar
Commanding one of the best perches in town, this stylish venue caters for casual grazing on its spacious deck and more refined à la carte dining indoors. Seafood is the inevitable highlight here, with classics... Find out moreNearby breweries
The Steam Exchange Company 204 km
South Australia seems to have more than its fair share of craft breweries in significant historical locations, and The Steam Exchange Brewery is no exception. It’s housed in a heritage-listed former railway goods... Find out moreCampsites around town
The Gums self-sufficient camping area is reached from The Gums Track, off the Eastern Boundary Track, 5 km south of Robe. Pick up a permit from self-registration stations in the park.... Find out more
Long Gully camping area 11 km
A popular coastal site with all-vehicle access, Long Gully is on the Long Gully Track. It’s off Nora Creina Dr, 10 km south of Robe. Bring wood and get a permit from self-registration stations in the park.... Find out moreOld Man Lake camping area 12 km
Sheltered spots are easily accessible from Nora Creina Dr, 14 km south of Robe. You need to be self-sufficient and pick up a permit from self-registration stations in the park.... Find out moreRooney Point camping area 37 km
A camping area for self-sufficient campers is found 7 km north of Beachport along Five Mile Drift Rd; the self-registration station for permits is on this road.... Find out moreThree Mile Bend camping area 38 km
The campsites here, tucked among the paperbarks on the edge of Lake George, are large, sheltered and well separated. The camping area is 5 km north of Beachport along Five Mile Drift Rd. Bring wood and water and pick... Find out moreKotgee camping area 57 km
There are 7 sites here for self-sufficient campers, 2.6 km south-east of Southend via Boozy Gully access road. The sites are 400 m along Bevilaqua Ford Track.... Find out moreNal-a-wort camping area 57 km
There is more self-sufficient camping around 100 m further along the Bevilaqua Ford Track, next door to the Kotgee camping area.... Find out moreFairview camping area (bush camping) 69 km
Remote wilderness camping for self-sufficient bushwalkers is situated 45 km north-west of Naracoorte, signposted from Wolumbool Rd. The NPWSA can provide further details and a permit.... Find out moreGeltwood Beach camping area 69 km
This campground for self-sufficient campers offers coastal access for conventional vehicles, accessed from Oil Rig Square Track off Canunda Causeway Rd, 14 km west of Millicent. The 4 sites are 700 m west of the... Find out moreCaravan parks around town
This spacious lakeside park is located about 1 km from the centre of the popular coastal town of Robe. There is plenty of green grass and good facilities at a reasonable price. Bookings are required in peak times and a... Find out more
Discovery Holiday Parks – Robe 2 km
This good quality park is an easy walk across the road from a popular beach, about 2 km from the centre of the coastal resort town. This is a great place to stay. Bookings are required at Christmas, Easter and long... Find out moreBeachport’s Southern Ocean Tourist Park 42 km
This large, spacious park in a popular resort town has very good amenities and sites are reasonably priced. It is situated in an area where fishing and recreational water activities are the main attractions. Bookings are... Find out moreMillicent Lakeside Caravan Park 70 km
This is a spacious, neat and tidy park with good basic facilities. A convenient, wellstocked shop is adjacent, at the town’s excellent swimming complex (an artificial lake). Bookings are required in peak periods,... Find out moreKalganyi Holiday Park 116 km
This is a very good park set in a quiet, treed area on the northern outskirts of Mount Gambier. It has extensive facilities including ensuite sites. This is a good base from which to explore the Mount Gambier region.... Find out moreBlue Lake Holiday Park 117 km
Located south of the city centre, this wellshaded quality park adjoins the golf course and is adjacent to Mount Gambier’s premier attraction, the spectacular Blue Lake. This is a fabulous base for exploring the... Find out morePort MacDonnell Foreshore Tourist Park 129 km
A good value, budget-priced park situated on the beachfront, about 1.5 km from the centre of Port MacDonnell, this place has good facilities and is an ideal location from which to explore the historic region. There is a... Find out moreBordertown Caravan Park 131 km
This is a very tidy park with good facilities, right in the heart of town. It is budget priced and easily accessible from the Western Highway.... Find out moreKywong Caravan Park 147 km
Located on the northern side of town, this large budget-priced park has good facilities. It is about 1.5 km from the centre of the small township. There is good value here. Bookings are required at Christmas, Easter and... Find out moreHotels, motels & B&Bs around town
Tucked away in a quiet cul de sac, this hideaway is both a change of pace and a surprise packet. You’re greeted by a traditional stone cottage and inside there’s a homely feel and two elegant bedrooms. Keep... Find out more
Whether you choose the Port or Starboard suites, or even the Captain’s Cottage, you’re under the roof of a local landmark. A strong nautical theme ebbs and flows through the building. This is apposite, given... Find out more
Honeyfield is an astonishing evocation of a village farmhouse in French Provincial style. Originally built in the 1850s from hand-hewn limestone and local timbers, its earthy air has been enlivened by details like window... Find out more
A glittering beachfront residence with swanky interior design and room for a tribe, The Shore has five bedrooms, expansive living areas, complete gourmet kitchen facilities and even a separate ground-floor studio... Find out more
Eco-friendly places to stay around town
Coorong Wilderness Lodge 146 km
Opened early in 2009, the five beautiful cabins here on a limestone cliff on Aboriginal lands have 180-degree views over the Coorong, with pelicans, ducks and other birds flying past at window height. The cabins have... Find out moreLittle Desert Nature Lodge, Nhill 187 km
Set on 117 hectares of bushland beside Little Desert National Park, the lodge has 24 rooms with ensuite bathrooms, or 16 bunkrooms with shared facilities. By staying here, you are helping support projects such as the... Find out moreAntechamber Bay Ecocabins 216 km
This low-key, out-of-the-way spot in the east of the island is next to a beautiful and isolated beach. There are two fairly basic self-contained and solar-powered cabins with room for up to eight people each, half a... Find out morePomponderoo Bush Retreat, Dimboola 216 km
With solar power, rainwater tanks and tree planting to offset carbon emissions, these three self-contained timber cabins are a great accommodation option near the north-eastern edge of Little Desert National Park.... Find out moreRidgetop Retreats 221 km
Three funky, architecturally designed cabins sit in quiet seclusion in Deep Creek Conservation Park at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula. They have solar hot water, composting toilets, two bedrooms, floor-to-ceiling... Find out moreNautilus Lodge 236 km
This solar-powered, four-bedroom house is surrounded by Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park and is situated right on the beach. It can sleep up to 12 people.... Find out moreGrampians Eco YHA 245 km
At this eco-hostel you sleep under roof tiles that are actually solar panels. Any extra power generated is fed back to the electricity grid. The passive solar building, featuring rammed earth walls, also has solar... Find out moreRest areas around town
Kingston South Rest Area 40 km
11 km E of Kingston (L) or 94 km N of Millicent (R) Small area just off the highway among the trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 51.01 E139 58.21 ... Find out moreClay Wells Rest Area 49 km
77 km S of Kingston (R) or 28 km N of Millicent (L) Large area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S37 23.36 E140 14.15 ... Find out moreCoorong Rest Area 61 km
120 km S of Meningie (R) or 24 km N of Kingston (L) Large area around a few trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 37.15 E139 52.36 ... Find out moreBool Lagoon Camp Area 85 km
T/O 18 km S of Naracoorte (R) or 33 km N of Penola (L) Large open grassed camp area located 7 kilometres west of the highway at the lagoon. GPS: S37 06.333 E140 43.217... Find out moreMorambro Creek Rest Area 90 km
83 km S of Keith (L) or 25 km N of Naracoorte (R) Large area just off the highway under some large trees at the junction with Bordertown Road. Good shade. GPS: S36 44.924 E140 37.724... Find out morePadthaway Park Area 90 km
South side of town Parking area just off the highway via the service road. Good facilities. GPS: S36 36.152 E140 29.734 ... Find out moreBool Lagoon Turnoff Rest Area 92 km
18 km S of Naracoorte (L) or 33 km N of Penola (R) Small area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S37 06.163 E140 47.576... Find out moreWinavon Rest Area 92 km
48 km S of Keith (R) or 60 km N of Naracoorte (L) Large area just off the highway around a few trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 30.399 E140 23.619... Find out moreCoonawarra Rest Area 96 km
38 km S of Naracoorte (R) or 13 km N of Penola (L) Large area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S37 16.128 E140 50.215 ... Find out moreFather Woods Rest Area 96 km
31 km S of Naracoorte (L) or 20 km N of Penola (R) Large area just off the road. Good shade. GPS: S37 11.757 E140 50.645 ... Find out more42 Mile Crossing Camp Area 97 km
T/O 78 km S of Meningie (R) or 66 km N of Kingston (L) Secluded campground located 3 km west of the highway at a clearing behind the dunes in Coorong National Park. GPS: S36 17.15 E139 42.42 ... Find out moreGreenrise Lake Park Area 99 km
3 km S of Penola (R) or 48 km N of Mt Gambier (L) Large open grassed area around a few trees just off the highway on the shores of the lake. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S37 23.802 E140 50.194... Find out moreBlack Cockatoo Bush Camp 100 km
T/O at Naracoorte Large campground in a natural bush setting 14 kilometres north-east of Naracoorte via Cadgee Road and Chapples Road. Good facilities and shade. Some powered sites and other accommodation available.... Find out moreWillalooka Park Area 101 km
34 km S of Keith (R) or 74 km N of Naracoorte (L) Parking area adjacent to the highway opposite the roadhouse. Good facilities. GPS: S36 23.551 E140 21.032 ... Find out morePenola South Rest Area 101 km
12 km S of Penola (R) or 39 km N of Mt Gambier (L) Large area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S37 28.586 E140 49.717... Find out moreForestry Info Rest Area 101 km
16 km S of Penola (L) or 35 km N of Mt Gambier (R) Large area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 30.652 E140 49.105 ... Find out moreLoop Road Camp Area 115 km
T/O 61 km SE of Meningie (R) or 83 km NW of Kingston (L) Small secluded camp area located 1 kilometre off the highway opposite a lake on the Loop Road in Coorong National Park. Limited shade. GPS: S36 08.16 E139... Find out moreMount Gambier Park Area 117 km
North-east side of town Parking area at the Lady Nelson Visitor Information Centre. GPS: S37 49.570 E140 47.267... Find out moreKeith Park Area 130 km
South side of town Large parking area accessed via the service road. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S36 05.758 E140 21.172... Find out moreSouth Australian-Victorian Border Rest Area 130 km
18 km SE of Mt Gambier (L) or 70 km NW of Heywood (R) Small area just off the highway among some large trees. Good shade. GPS: S37 50.29 E140 58.42 ... Find out moreBordertown Park Area 131 km
Middle of town Small town park off the highway on the main road through town. Good shade and facilities. GPS: S36 18.30 E140 46.31... Find out moreVictorian-South Australian Border Rest Area 141 km
18 km E of Bordertown (R) or 25 km W of Kaniva (L) Large area just off the highway among the trees at the state border. Good shade and facilities. GPS: S36 20.40 E140 58.10... Find out morePrincess Margaret Rose Caves Camp Area 141 km
T/O 12 km SE of Mt Gambier (R) or 76 km NW of Heywood (L) Small area located in a pleasant natural bush setting near the river 19 kilometres south of the highway in Lower Glenelg National Park. Good facilities and... Find out moreParnka Point Camp Area 144 km
T/O 23 km S of Meningie (R) or 121 km NW of Kingston (L) Two small but open camp areas located 2 kilometres south of the highway on the foreshore in Coorong National Park. Toilets at nearby ‘day use only’... Find out moreTintinara Park Area 145 km
South end of town Parking area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S35 53.05 E140 03.25 ... Find out moreWhat's on around town
Robe Easter Surfing Classic: Easter.
Blessing of the Fleet: celebrates the role of Italians in establishing the local fishing industry; Sept.
Robe Village Fair: last full weekend in Nov.
