Things to do in Robe, South Australia

The best things to do in Robe, South Australia, include swimming at Long Beach, tackling the Robe Coastal Walk and taking a 4WD tour.

Robe, South Australia, is a beach town on the Limestone Coast in the south of the state. The primary appeal of Robe comes from its long, white sand beaches. But there are enough cafés and galleries to give the town a bit of energy.

Robe accommodation

Robe accommodation options include the conveniently-located Robe Central Motel, the budget-friendly See Vu Caravan Park and the beachside Discovery Parks Robe.

Things to do in Robe, SA: Long Beach

Of the Robe Beaches, Long Beach is the most impressive. It stretches 11km north of the town, with the first kilometre reserved for people on foot. If you want to swim or spread out a beach towel, stick to this section. The rest of the beach, you’re allowed to drive on, and it’s popular with 4WD enthusiasts. The surf tends to be bigger from around the third ramp onwards, and there’s pretty good fishing between Long Beach and Robe Jetty.

There are several smaller beaches in this stretch, and this is also where the town centre lies. The jetty is at the western end, halfway up Cape Dombey. Other Robe attractions on Cape Dombey include the ruins of the old gaol and the Robe Obelisk. This red and white-striped landmark exists as a warning to ships approaching Guichen Bay.

Things to do in Robe, SA: Robe Coastal Walk

Many of these attractions can be combined in the 6.3km Robe Coastal Walk, which rounds Cape Dombey and finishes at Long Beach.

The town centre has an eye-pleasingly large collection of heritage buildings. One of these is the former Customs House, which now houses the Robe Customs House Maritime Museum.

The Karatta Wine Room and Gallery is also in the town centre. This acts as a tasting room for Karatta Wines, as well as an art gallery.

There’s more tasting to be had at the southern edge of Robe, SA. Here, you’ll find the Robe Town Brewery and Aunt Alice Wines.

What to do in Robe, SA: Little Dip Conservation Park

South of Robe are Lake Eliza and Little Dip Conservation Park. There are lots of Aboriginal middens here, but otherwise the shallow lakes of Little Dip Conservation Park are mainly good for birdwatching. The land is a mixture of coastal scrub, rushes, samphire flats and melaleuca trees.

Perhaps the top thing to do in Robe, however, is to take a 4WD tour that takes in the area’s highlights. Billy Bob’s Tours or Robe 4×4 Back Beach Adventures will take you out exploring.

Conquering the sand dunes in Robe, South Australia. Photo by Josh Geelen.

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