Holiday houses in Robe

South Australia’s scenic Limestone Coast stretches along the state’s southeastern extremes from the saltwater lagoons of Coorong National Park near the Victorian border, with plenty of sinkholes and azure lagoons among the geological wonders in between. The most northerly town is Robe, an international port busy since the mid-19th century, and one of the state’s oldest settlements. Today, the town’s handsome heritage-listed buildings are filled with craft breweries, distilleries, and restaurants. Set on the shores of Guichen Bay, Robe is also home to one of Australia’s few 4WD-friendly beaches, with more water available to the south thanks to small Lake Robe and enormous Lake Eliza.

Temperatures can sizzle in South Australia in summer (December through February), with Robe’s daytime highs regularly exceeding 86 degrees Fahrenheit in January. The saving grace is the cool ocean breeze, and the fact you can take a dip in the sea, or lake, when it heats up. While December experiences the year’s highest rainfalls, the rest of the season and most of fall (March through May) are relatively dry. As blissful as this peak period is, many opt to visit Robe during winter (June through August), to feel the full force of nature. Winds whip and howl along the coast, rains turn the countryside green, and the sea churns below you.

Cape Dombey Obelisk

The Southern Ocean off Robe’s west coast is fierce, and many ships have been battered by its unpredictable waves. Enter the pyramid-like Cape Dombey Obelisk, warning vessels off the town’s rocky reefs since 1852. The 40-foot structure, painted in candy-cane red-and-white stripes, sits atop a rocky cliff that also serves as the start of numerous walking trails, including one taking in the town’s old jail, jetty, and marina.

Long Beach

With more than ten miles of powdery white sand curving around Guichen Bay, Long Beach deserves its name. Swim, take a surfing lesson, or drive along the sand while watching the sunset. While 4WDs are recommended, they’re not necessary if you stick to the firm sand at low tide. For something more challenging, Little Dip Conservation Park to the south offers soft-sand and sand-dune drives.

Eat Rock Lobster

Robe owes its founding to the cool, marine-life-rich waters of the Southern Ocean off its shores. It’s here that fishermen, indigenous and otherwise, have been plucking rock lobsters, among other tasty seafood, for centuries. Taste this juicy delicacy fresh from the sea at restaurants across town, many of which are just a minute’s walk from Robe marina.