16 unforgettable things to do in Robe

Dilvin Yasa Dilvin Yasa
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Planning to sit back and relax at this coastal holiday hotspot? Robe’s long list of attractions might have you thinking twice.

Whether you’re into hiking, viewing wildlife or something a little more adventurous, there are plenty of things to do in Robe – and we haven’t even touched on the R&R. Let our following recommendations get you started on making the most of this popular South Australian coastal getaway.

1. Take a walk to the Obelisk

an aerial view of The Obelisk at Cape Dombey
The 40-foot Obelisk stands majestically atop Cape Dombey. (Image: Benjamin Goode)

It’s hard to miss the brightly painted, 40-foot Obelisk , which stands on the point of Cape Dombey, but rather than viewing it from afar, why not commit to the 1.4-kilometre Obelisk to Lighthouse Robe Walking Trail?

The loop trail will take you past the famous red and white monument, built in 1855 to act as an easy-to-spot landmark for shipping, as well as the lighthouse.

2. Learn to surf at Long Beach

Surfer at beach in Robe, South Australia
Learn to surf in Robe. (Image: Jordan Kelly Studio)

There’s no shortage of spectacular beaches around Robe, but for those keen to learn to tackle the local surf, Charlies Surf School  at Long Beach has got you covered. Having grown up around the breaks of Robe and worked in surf camps across the globe, Charlie is keen to share his love for his backyard with visitors, offering group lessons for kids, those of a ‘finer vintage’ and just about everyone else in between.

3. Hit the beach

Long Beach might be Robe’s shining star, but the town is home to at least half a dozen other beaches you can enjoy if you’d like something a little quieter (or smaller). Town Beach, with its gentle surf, is considered a great beach for young families in particular, as is Hooper Beach, which has some great snorkelling to take advantage of. Meanwhile, Karatta Beach is home to the Robe Yacht Club , which makes it the best place to sail from.

4. Take a tour of Humpalicious Camel Farm

camels grazing in the field at Humpalicious Camel Farm
See camels grazing in the field at Humpalicious Camel Farm. (Image: Mish and Kirk)

A short drive away from the town centre, you’ll find Humpalicious Camel Farm , a small-scale, solar-powered establishment keen to showcase the wonder of camel milk. Sure, you can drop by to buy camel milk gelato, coffee, and milkshakes, but it’s hard to go past the morning milking tour where you can watch the Humpalicious camels being milked (before hand-feeding the babies yourself) or explore the property on a solar buggy camel safari. Just be sure to book before you turn up.

5. Shop for a good cause at Transmutation

Whether you’re in the market for a new salad bowl or not, it’s hard to walk away from Transmutation , located in the industrial centre of Robe, empty-handed. A recipient of the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards, the team behind the recycling and manufacturing business transform ‘rubbish’ such as plastic bread tags into something beautiful and user-friendly, such as the aforementioned salad bowls and serving platters. Don’t feel bad about loading up the suitcase; you’re shopping for a good cause.

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6. Relax with a round of golf at Robe Golf Club

The sign located directly outside Robe Golf Club says it all: ‘Play golf, have fun’. Located close to the centre of town, this must be one of the country’s most relaxed – if not scenic – courses, offering pros and the golf-curious three distinct loops of six holes. You can choose to play six, 12 or 18 holes depending on your time, fitness and skill level. Golf equipment is available for hire.

7. Enjoy a guided boat adventure with Limestone Coast Boat Tours

a father and son sitting by Lake Butler Marina
Jump on a cruise from Lake Butler Marina. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission/Adam Bruzzone)

Just off the coastline, scores of dolphins, Australian sea lions and long-nosed fur seals are waiting to meet your acquaintance. The best way of getting to know the locals (as well as seeing Robe Obelisk from the water)? A 90-minute cruise with Limestone Coast Boat Tours .

Setting sail from the Lake Butler Marina, the cruise (one of two options available from the operator) cruises along Long Beach’s shoreline, offering ample opportunity to meet and greet with the local wildlife.

8. Explore Little Dip Conservation Park

 

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Keen for the ultimate outdoorsy adventure? Located just two kilometres south of Robe, Little Dip Conservation Park is a rugged wilderness of unique coastal lakes, coastal dunes and thick groves of coastal mallee offering a wealth of four-wheel-driving, hiking, mountain bike riding, horse riding, bird watching and swimming opportunities. A quick visit will never do the park justice but the great news here is that Little Dip is also home to a variety of campsites, so why not stay and play awhile?

9. Check out the Robe Gaol ruins

 

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True, at first glance, a series of stones out on Cape Dombey don’t look like anything special – until you consider that these partially restored stone ruins  are the remains of a prison built between 1860 and 1861 to accommodate local prisoners. Slowly eroding from sea and sun, it’s best to see the (free) attraction before it’s completely gone and gain an understanding of the somewhat disturbing history of the area.

10. Enjoy watersports at Lake Fellmongery

Crashing waves aren’t for everyone, and for those who like their watersports a little more tranquil, Lake Fellmongery  (occasionally called ‘Ski Lake’) is the place to be. Having taken its name from its history of fellmongery, options now extend far beyond washing wool, with water skiing and kayaking popular pastimes.

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11. Walk the Robe Coastal Trail

The Obelisk at Cape Dombey
Walk the Robe Coastal Trail to reach Cape Dombey Obelisk. (Image: Thomas Cowey)

One of the newest trails to be opened on the Limestone Coast, the 12-kilometre all-access Robe Coastal Trail is a fantastic way to get a feel for the rugged coves and bays of Robe, as well as its landmarks, beaches, maritime history and attractions. Cape Dombey Obelisk, Old Gaol Ruins and Doorway Rock are all covered along the walk, with many recommending putting aside a good six hours to do the experience justice. You can get started from the end of Long Beach or West Beach.

12. Get to know Robe’s history by tackling Robe’s Town Heritage Trail

Old police stables, wool stores, courthouses and historic pubs, just some of the 32 historic sites marked out on Robe’s Heritage Trail.  Marked with a blue, oval-shaped information plaque and located within a two-kilometre radius, the sites are easily found (maps are available online), but those with a particular interest in Robe’s intriguing history are welcome to pop in at Robe Tourist Information to speak with a member of staff or pick up a hard copy of a map.

13. Go birdwatching at Fox Lake Bird Hide

Consider yourself a bit of a birder? Even if you’re unsure if you fit that particular label, birdwatching opportunities abound at Fox Lake Bird Hide , which has been set up to make the most of the local bird life that drops into the area. Popular with those keen to observe wetland birds, including the migratory Latham’s Snipe and Red-necked Stint. It’s best you bring your own binoculars – and quite possibly, an endless supply of patience.

14. Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting

outdoor wine tasting at Cape Jaffa Wines
While away the afternoon sipping on wines at Cape Jaffa. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission/Adam Bruzzone)

No need to drive 70 minutes into Coonawarra for a taste of the region’s wines; the wineries of Cape Jaffa are only 15 minutes north of Robe.

Empty the car boot and earmark Mount Benson Estate , Wangolina Wine  and Cape Jaffa Wines in particular, offer a fun afternoon out, with local platters overlooking the vineyard and live music and regular events.

15. Lock in a 4×4 day tour

Kickstart your heart with a four-wheel drive around Robe’s rugged coastline, courtesy of Robe Tours . The perfect way to gain access to those spectacular, yet difficult-to-reach spots – whether it be caves, reef swimming pools or private beaches, a 4X4 Back Beach Adventure tour will give you a look behind the scenes of this spectacular seaside destination. Tour options include tag-along in your own vehicle or a guided tour in the driver’s own.

16. Enjoy a coffee overlooking Doorway Rock

You came, you conquered, you ate your body weight in fresh seafood, and now the time has come to grab a takeaway coffee and head over to watch the crashing waves surrounding Doorway Rock. A patch of sea cliff – complete with dramatic erosion, the rock not only adds a point of difference to the coastline, it is a great spot to also check out another angle of Robe’s famous obelisk.

Keep reading for more insider tips on visiting the idyllic Limestone Coast town of Robe.
Dilvin Yasa
Dilvin Yasa is a freelance journalist, author and TV presenter whose travels have taken her from the iceberg graveyards of Antarctica to the roaring rapids of Uganda. Always on the lookout for that next unforgettable meal, wildlife moment or 80s-themed nightclub, she is inexplicably drawn to polar destinations despite detesting the cold.
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Discovering East Arnhem: Australia’s most unique and rewarding corner

    Joanne Millares Joanne Millares
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    Hard to reach and harder to forget, East Arnhem offers something rare in modern travel: the chance to slow down and experience Country on its own terms.

    The sky feels bigger in East Arnhem . It stretches wide and uninterrupted above rouged earth, stringybark woodland and beaches so empty they seem to belong to another era. The coastline curves for kilometres without a footprint and the horizon runs on forever.

    For comedian Lou Wall, the scale of the place was the first thing that hit them.

    “The sheer openness,” they say. “The sky feels infinite and the land stretches out endlessly. It’s pretty breathtaking visually.”

    But the physical landscape is only part of the story. The real reward isn’t only the scenery but the shift in perspective the journey brings. Visitors stop trying to tick off the destination and a real engagement takes over.

    “It made me never want to travel again,” Wall jokes. “In that I never wanted to leave East Arnhem.”

    Getting there

    Aerial shot of East Arnhem’s coastline as cars trace the curve of the shore.
    Sail along the remote coastline on an expedition cruise.

    Reaching East Arnhem is part of the adventure. Travellers typically fly into Gove Airport near Nhulunbuy via Darwin or Cairns, or arrive by expedition cruise along the remote coastline. Others make the journey overland along rutted dirt roads that cut through East Arnhem’s small pockets of monsoon forest.

    However you arrive, there’s a distinct feeling of crossing into somewhere different. Permits are required to visit the region, reflecting the fact that this is Yolŋu land where communities and traditional owners maintain deep cultural connections to Country.

    The extra planning becomes part of the experience. By the time visitors arrive, they understand they’re entering a place not just of respect, but also patience and curiosity.

    At one with nature

    East Arnhem’s  landscapes leave a strong imprint. For Wall, one place in particular still lingers in their memory: Ngalarrkpuy , also known as Lonely Beach, near Bawaka Homeland.

    “I genuinely felt like I was living inside an Instagram filter,” they say. “One of the most stunning feats of nature I’ve ever seen. The water was so clear I swear I could see even the fish smiling.”

    Across the region, natural experiences unfold at a slower pace. Fishing, beachcombing and island hopping reveal the rhythm of the coastline. The tides shape daily life and the vastness of the landscape makes even simple moments feel downright cinematic.

    For visitors with limited time, Wall says the Bawaka Homeland experience is unmissable.

    “I just left and I’m already planning when I can get back there.”

    The sense of remoteness is part of the appeal. In a country where many beaches are crowded and well-trodden, East Arnhem’s coastline still feels wonderfully wild.

    Immersing in local culture

    A visitor spends a meaningful moment alongside Yolŋu guides, gaining insight into their deep cultural knowledge and connection to the land.
    Experience authentic moments with the locals.

    Culture is woven through every experience in East Arnhem. Visitors have the opportunity to spend time on Country with Yolŋu guides and knowledge holders who share stories and traditions that have been passed down for generations.

    For Wall, one of the most powerful moments came during a conversation with a Yolŋu elder.

    “I got to meet a traditional elder, Mayalil, in Nhulunbuy,” they say. “Listening to her talk about her home made the land feel alive in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”

    The region is also home to internationally recognised Aboriginal art centres where artists shape works deeply connected to land and family knowledge.

    Music carries the same cultural energy. East Arnhem has produced globally recognised artists such as King Stingray and Baker Boy, blending Yolŋu language, storytelling and contemporary sound.

    Wall experienced this musical spirit first-hand.

    “A jam session around the fire was it for me,” they say. “Letting the deep joy and history of their music wash over me…  and meeting a few of the King Stingray musicians was unreal.”

    These moments of human connection often become the most memorable part of a visit.

    Spotting local wildlife

    An aerial view of the beach shows tiny figures lined up across the white sand, moving as if in a rhythmic dance.
    Step into a world where nature reigns.

    The wildlife of East Arnhem adds another layer to the experience. The region is home to an extraordinary range of animals, from waterbirds and turtles to dugongs, dolphins and the formidable saltwater crocodile.

    Wall admits they didn’t actually spot a croc during their visit.

    “Devastatingly, I didn’t see one,” they laugh. “But with all the stories from the locals I definitely gained a healthy respect for caution.”

    Some of the most memorable wildlife encounters can be surprisingly small., At Banubanu Beach Retreat on Bremer Island, Wall remembers walking along the beach one morning and watching it come alive.

    “As you walk through the sand you see hundreds of crabs scurrying into their holes as you pass by,” they say. “Such a small thing, but it was completely magical.”

    Moments like this reveal the quieter rhythms of East Arnhem, where even the smallest creatures seem to play a part in the landscape.

    Visitors who make the journey soon learn the most important travel tip of all.

    “Go in open-minded with a sense of curiosity,” Wall says. “Be prepared to ditch your plans. The land and the locals will guide you on an adventure no spreadsheets could ever compete with.”

    And most importantly, they add, don’t rush.

    “The land and people deserve your time and attention. You’ll be all the better for slowing down.”

    For more information on visiting East Arnhem, head to eastarnhem.com.au .