Great Ocean Road To Robe: Seafood And Rugged Beaches
Touring along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria is always a pleasure for its spectacular coastal scenery and variety of great towns to stop in, but we always love to extend our trips just a little further over to South Australia's Limestone Coast.
Touring along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria is always a pleasure for its spectacular coastal scenery and variety of great towns to stop in, but we always love to extend our trips just a little further over South Australia to visit the Limestone Coast and particularly the town of Robe, famous for its crayfish.
Distance: 3 Stops, 517 km total drive distance, Medium
📍Stop 1: WYE RIVER
Where to stay in Wye River?
BIG4 Wye River Holiday Park is the ideal base to soak in the peaceful natural beauty of this town. Closely located to the beach and with a great range of Cabins, Sites and all the facilities that you need to make for a comfortable holiday. It’s a popular spot with families during holiday periods and a great place to travel with kids.
What to do, eat and drink in Wye River?
There’s a surf beach directly across the road from the park, great for swimming and surfing. It’s also a great area to explore on hikes and walks, a personal favourite is the Wye River to Jamieson Track, a 14.6 km return trip which you’ll need to put aside at least half a day for if you want to attempt the full route. On your drive from here to your next spot you will go past the famous Twelve Apostles, an iconic collection of limestone stacks sitting off the shore of Port Campbell which are a must-visit. Wye River is a quiet town, so we recommend coming well stocked with provisions and to take advantage of the Holiday Park’s cooking facilities. If you don’t arrive prepared, there is a great General Store nearby and we do love the Wye Beach Hotel. It’s a classic Australian coastal pub with an expansive deck looking out over the ocean. The perfect sport for cold beers and classic pub fare.
What’s the onward drive to Portland Bay?
You’ll cut inland to start with and then get back to the coast and in just under 4 hours arrive in Portland Bay. There’s a few great spots to spot along the way, and our favourites are Cobden and Port Fairy.
📍Stop 2: PORTLAND BAY
Where to stay in Portland Bay?
NRMA Portland Bay Holiday Park sports a brilliant cliff top location with great facilities and accommodation options both for Sites and Cabins making it a spot suitable for anyone wanting to visit this beautiful, historic coastal town.
What to do, eat and drink in Portland Bay?
If you’re here from May to October make sure that whale watching is at the top of your activity list as Portland is in a prime position to spot them during their migration season. We think one of the best places to do your whale-watching from is the Cape Nelson lighthouse area, located directly next to the park. If you’re here in the warmer months of course make your way down to one of the various local beaches for a dip. The closest to the park is Nun’s Beach which isn’t patrolled, however it is well protected and only has small and gentle waves. Some of the very best seafood in the country is caught in this area and you can get direct access to it from the team at Portland Seafoods where you’ll find the freshest crayfish, prawns, oysters and abalone you’re likely to come across. We highly recommend grabbing what takes your fancy and heading back to cook at the great facilities at the park.
What’s the onward drive to Robe?
The most direct route is just inland from the coast and will take you just under 3 hours, but if you’re willing to make a 20-30 minute detour you can head inland via Penola and the famed Coonawarra wine region.
📍Stop 3: ROBE
Where to stay in Robe?
Robe Holiday Park occupies a sprawling space with both spacious Sites available as well as modern roofed accommodation. This is a family run park that is always thinking creatively about what they offer their guests, there is even an in-house Gin Distillery on site which came about from one of the owners passions for distilling. The facilities are fantastic and whilst there isn’t a pool, both the beach and lake are just a short walk away for all your on and in water activities.
What to do, eat and drink Robe?
The Robe Obelisk is a must visit, a reed and white structure sitting out at the tip of the point of Cape Dombey. It was first built in 1855 and used as a landmark to assist ships in navigating the entrance into Guichen Bay. Lake Fellmongery is right next door to the park and isa popular place for those on Kayak or SUP as well as people getting out on their boats and even water skiing. Robe Long Beach is also a short walk away. This area is known for its incredible seafood and particularly Crayfish (also known as Southern Rock Lobster) so we recommend making a beeline for a venue where you can indulge in some. The Caledonian Inn is a favourite of ours both for food (including Crayfish) and enjoying a drink in this historically significant venue with great views. For something a bit more upmarket, head to Sails and be sure to make a note on your reservation that you want to order crayfish so they put some aside for you.
What’s the onward drive?
Our itinerary ends here.
