Australia 17 - Adelaide & South Australia (Chapter)

Adel Aide & South Au

Str Ali A

LIMESTONE

COAST

Adel Aide & South Au

Str Ali A

SIGHTS

&ACTIVITIES

Adel Aide & South Au

Str Ali A

ROBE

beaches and lakes around town. Over Christ-
mas and Easter, Robe is packed to the heav-
ens − book waaay in advance.

1 ̈Sights ̈& ̈Activities
Heritage-listed buildings dating from the
late 1840s to 1870s litter the streets of Robe,
including the upstanding little 1863 Cus-
toms ̈House (www�nationaltrustsa�org �au; Royal
Circus; adult/child $2/50¢;h2-4pm Tue  & Sat
Feb-Dec, 2-4pm Mon-SatJan), now a nautical
museum.
Little ̈ Dip ̈ Conservation ̈ Park (www �en
vironment�sa �gov �au) runs along the coast for
about 13km south of town. It features a vari-
ety of habitats including lakes, wetlands and
dunes, and some beaut beaches, Aboriginal
middens, walks and camping spots (per per-
son/car $7/13). Access is via Nora Creina Rd.
The small town beach has safe swim-
ming, while Long ̈Beach (2km from town),
is good for surfing, sailboarding and lazy
days (safe swimming in some sections − ask
at the visitors centre). Steve’s ̈Place (%08-
8768  2094; stevesplace66@internode�on �net;  26
Victoria St; h9�30am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm
Sat,  10am-1pm Sun) rents out boards/body-
boards/wetsuits (per day $40/20/20), and
is also the best place for info on the annual
Robe ̈Easter ̈Classic in April, SA’s longest-
running surf comp (since 1968).

4 ̈Sleeping
Local rental agents with properties from as
low as $80 per night in the off season in-
clude Happyshack (%0403 578 382, 08-8768
2341; www �happyshack�com �au), SAL ̈Real ̈Es-
tate (%08-87682737; www �salrealestate�com �au;
25 VictoriaSt) and Robe ̈Lifestyle (%1300 760
629; www �robelifestyle�com �au).

Caledonian ̈Inn ̈ HOTEL$$
(%08-87682029;www �caledonian�net �au; 1Victo-
ria St; pub/cottage/villadfrom $85/185/500;W)
This historic inn has it all under one roof
(actually, several roofs). The half-dozen pub
rooms upstairs share bathroom facilities
but are bright and cosy, while the split-level,
self-contained units − all rattan and white-
painted wood − are sandwiched between the
pub and beach. The plush villa sleeps eight.
The pub grub is good, too (mains $18 to $36,
serving noon to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm).

Grey ̈Masts ̈ B&B $$$
(%0411 627 146; www �greymasts�com �au; cnr Victo-
ria &SmillieSts; dfrom $200) A lovely, L-shaped,
low-ceilinged 1850s stone cottage behind

the local bookshop. The two bedrooms sleep

four, and there’s a compact kitchen, welcom-

ing lounge and flower-filled garden. The

Savage family (Mr and Mrs Savage and their

12 sons!) once lived here.

Lakeside ̈Tourist ̈Park ̈ CARAVANPARK$

(%08-8768 2193;  www �lakesiderobe�com �au;  24

Main  Rd;  unpowered/powered sites  from  $32/34,

cabins/villasfrom $66/95;iW) Right on Lake

Fellmongery (a ‘fellmonger’ is a wool wash-

er, don’t you know), this abstractly laid-out,

rather boutique park has heritage-listed

pine trees, plenty of grass, basic cabins and

flashy villas.

Robe ̈Lakeview ̈

Motel ̈& ̈Apartments ̈ MOTEL$$

(%08-87682100;www �robelakeviewmotel�com �au;

2 LakesideTce;  d/2-bedroom apt  from  $110/225,

extra person$15; aW) Overlooking the water-

skiing mecca Lake Fellmongery, the keenly

managed Lake View is Robe’s best motel.

The decor is on the improve (slowly ban-

ishing the ’90s), the rooms are roomy and

immaculately clean, and the barbecue area

pumps during summer.

5 ̈Eating

Union ̈Cafe ̈ CAFE$

(%08-87682627; 4/17-19VictoriaSt; mains$9-19;

h8am-4pm;W) Robe’s best coffee is at this

curiously angled corner cafe with polished-

glass fragments in the floor and improvised

chandeliers on the ceiling. Unionise your

hangover with big breakfasts (berry pan-

cakes with bacon and maple syrup), stir-

fries, pastas and risottos.

Vic ̈Street ̈Pizzeria ̈ PIZZA$$

(%08-87682081; www �vicstreet�com �au; 6Victoria

St; mains$10-21;h11am-9pm) Vic Street is a

high-energy, all-day cafe, serving good coffee

and gourmet pizzas (we can recommend the

‘Humdinger’: ham, salami, chicken, red on-

ion, olives, capsicum and pineapple). Mod-

Asian interior touches, cool tunes on the

stereo and local wines, too.

Robe ̈Providore ̈ CAFE$

(%08-8768 2891;  4 Victoria St;  mains $13-18;

h8am-late) A bit of ‘big city’ comes to Robe

at this polished concrete-and-white eatery,

serving good coffee, big breakfasts (eggs

benedict, house-baked pastries), considered

lunches (calamari salad) and wood-oven piz-

zas at night (try the pork-and-fennel sausage

version). There are communal tables and

bench seats.