Things to do in Robe

Beauty Salon
Pamper yourself with a body massage, facial, spray on tan, manicure or pedicure at Robe Beauty. Other services include waxing, eyelash / eyebrow tinting and electrolysis permanent hair removal. Bookings can be made directly on 08 8768 2644.  
A range of natural health treatments can be booked with Dr Tamara Justus at Robe Natural Therapies. From theraputic and remedial massage, foot reflexology, myotherapy, craniosacral therapy to aromatic and herbal medicine. Whether you want to relieve your aches and pains or to simply relax and unwind, the choice is yours. A mobile service is also available on request however it is subject to workload. Prior bookings are advisable. Phone 08 8768 1932 or 0408 858 735.
Robe also has a massage therapist, Rose Perkins, who offers: sports, deep tissue, trigger point, myofascial release and relaxation massage and treatment. Phone 0428 681 810.

Bike Hire
Robe has some good tracks and roads to ride mountain bikes. Either bring your own or hire them from Dougal and Amanda at the Lake View Motel. Book them in advance in peak times. Call them directly on 08 8768 2100.

Books
As a visitor to Robe you can borrow books from the library. Their number is 08 8768 2465 and they are open 7 days each week.
Robe now has a wonderful book shop in the street beside Grey Masts. JJ, the proprietor, is a very enthusiastic reader and has some great books in stock.

Bridge
For those who enjoy this card game there is an active bridge group at Robe which welcomes visitors. Each week they play for an afternoon at the Robe Golf Club. They also have an annual tournament in June which is very popular, so please contact us immediately if you wish to enter.

Cinema Movies
Robe has a mini twin cinema complex. Pictures are generally only a few weeks behind the cities. Current movies and screenings times can be found by calling South Coast Cinema directly on 08 8768 2772.

Coffee Processing/Sales
Coffee is processed at Mahalia Coffee just off Robe Street in the Industrial Estate. Their award winning coffee is available in many of Robe’s eateries. They welcome visitors and have a factory door outlet.  This is the coffee we provide for you in our properties.  They can be contacted on 8768 2778.

Eating In
You can barbecue outside or cook in the fully equipped kitchen. For buying food please refer 'Shopping'.  For take away food, try fish and chips from Robe Seafood and Takeaway (phone 8768 2888). Some of the restaurants below will allow you to take their food home to eat.  There are no home delivery services for food.

Eating Out
Try the Wild Mulberry Cafe for a leisurely breakfast or lunch, The Gallerie Restaurant for a romantic dinner , The Providore for an alfresco lunch and coffee, or, take in the traditional atmosphere of the Caledonian Inn for a pub meal. We recommend you make a reservation well in advance if you plan on eating dinner out during a long week end, the Robe Village Fair or from Christmas to the end of January.  Also, pre order crayfish at the restaurant early in the day if you want to eat it that evening. (they don’t always keep extra crays in case someone orders one)

Fishing
There are lots of types of seafood to be caught off Robe. The following can be caught without needing a boat: mullet, King George whiting, garfish, salmon, mulloway, sweep, flat head and bream. If you have a boat the range of possible fish expands and includes crayfish. If you dive then you can add abalone. All professional and amateur fishing information can be obtained from the Kingston office of the Fisheries Department of Primary Industries SA, on 08 8767 2358. They are located in 17 James Street Kingston and visit Robe regularly.
Robe now has a fishing charter service run by John and Di Stuart who can be contacted directly on 08 8768 1807.

Gambling
Lottery products are available from the Newsagent, while poker machines and TAB betting are available at the Robe Hotel.

Golf
Does Robe’s Golf Course qualify to be called golf links? We are unsure of the true definition however you can see the bay and the ocean from the 12^th tee. Whether they are Links or not, it is a centrally located and picturesque course where visitors are welcome and equipment hire is available.  The main tournament is called Southern Ports and is held in March at the three Southern Ports of Robe, Kingston and Beachport.  The Golf Club number is 08 8768 2330.

History
Robe has many buildings preserved from the 1800s that give Robe a wonderfully historic atmosphere. In the 1800s Robe was the main port for the South East of South Australia. As a bustling commercial centre many buildings were constructed and by a quirk of fate, most are still standing today. This quirk was a decision before 1900 to run the railway line to Kingston instead of Robe and as a consequence Robe declined as a commercial centre. For most of the 1900s very little development took place and many of the buildings have been preserved because there was no reason to knock them down. There is a cute customs house sitting on a rise overlooking the port that checked in all foreigners including 16,500 Chinese on their way to the Victorian gold fields, who arrived at Robe to avoid a landing tax in Victoria. Records show that only one of these 16,500 was a woman! Today the customs house is a museum. There are some lovely old houses including Karratta, where the Governor holidayed, Lakeside where a former owner learnt to ride a pushbike in its very large hallway and Moorakyne on the harbour. The upstairs doors and door frames at the Caledonian Inn come from ships wrecked in the bay and are worth seeing. The library is the starting point for further information on the local history. You can hire a map and cassette tape for a tour of Robe. This takes about 1½ hours, or simply walk around the old sections of town.

Internet/Email
You can check your email or surf the net using broadband at the library for free. Hours are 9-5 Monday to Friday and 10-4 on week ends and public holidays. It is advisable to ring in advance to book on 8768 2465.

Lawn Bowls
Robe’s bowling green on town beach sits on one of the best pieces of real estate in Robe. They offer a warm country welcome to visiting bowlers.  In Summer there is also twilight social bowling for all ages without dress restrictions.  For further information on any bowling call the club on 08 8768 2022.

Little Dip Conservation Park
This park adjoins Robe on the south side. It stretches along the ocean beaches and is magnificent. You can get to various parts of the park on foot, by two wheel drive vehicle and four wheel drive vehicle. It was originally created to protect the dunes and lakes behind them. For thousands of years a large population of aborigines lived in this area and their staple diet was seafood. Their ‘rubbish tips’ (large piles of used shells) are everywhere and are called Middens. Most people visiting Robe are not even aware this Park exists. A Must See is the track to Stony Rise which is like a winding tunnel through the bush and finally the beautiful ocean beaches. This track is very close to Robe. For further information please see the ranger in the National Parks Office, Robe Street, Robe. Telephone 08 8768 2543.

Long Beach
Long Beach is approximately 12 km long.  Four wheel drive vehicles can generally drive on Long Beach without worrying at any time of year. If you have a two wheel drive, from roughly October to April the tide goes out and the sand is hard allowing you to drive on this beautiful beach. It really is great to park on your own piece of beach and have music from the car, cool drinks from the esky and everything within arms reach, however, even driving near the water sprays salt up under the car and can cause rust. Be warned! Many cars get caught by the tide. If in doubt don't drive on the beach. Care should also be taken to keep on firm sand. If you don’t want to drive on the beach, you can drive on the road to third ramp which is roughly a third of the way around the beach. Here you can park in the safety of the car park and walk to a lovely spot on the beach.  To get to Third Ramp head out of Robe and turn left onto the Kingston Road, follow this for 5km and turn left at the sign that says Long Beach – Surfing’, this takes you to third ramp.  Please note we do not drive our cars on the beach.

Relax without having to move
It can also be a joy to stay at home in any of our properties. Whether you want to catch up on sleep, read a book or the paper (which we deliver daily), cook a meal, watch a DVD, listen to a CD or watch the view, our places are an ideal spot to recharge your batteries. Naturally our properties include the modern comforts you would expect from a premium property and also plenty of space to spread out. In the case of Beachside and Shells the view includes watching the waves rolling onto long beach and following boats and windsurfers across the bay. From White Sails there is a working fishing wharf , a boat building yard, and a channel where fishermen seem to catch lots of fish all just across the harbour. Of course we provide binoculars in each property so you don’t miss any of the action.

Shopping
Art, Antiques and Second Hand Goods
Wilson’s Gallery features the works of regional artists and works that are reflective of the beautiful seaside environment of Robe. Local artists exhibit and sell works from the Institute (Robe’s town hall). Robe has limited Antique and collectible shops that have ever changing stocks and are an interesting browse in lovely old buildings. 
Clothing (casual) and water sports gear
The local surf shop, Steve’s Place is very reasonably priced and has all of the big name surfwear labels plus gear for water sports. Robe has a number of boutiques that sell clothing for most people.
Fish and Crayfish
You can buy professionally caught fish at the wharf or at Robe Seafood and Takeaway (phone 08 8768 2888) in the main street. Crayfish are generally available from 1 October to 31 May while scale fish and shark are generally available all year round.
Gifts and Homewares
Robe now has a range of shops selling these items.
Gourmet Food - Prepared
The Wild Mulberry and Gallerie allow people to buy their food and take it away to eat on a picnic or at home. Please refer to their contact numbers in Eating Out .
Groceries, Meat, Fruit and Veg
The local supermarket is clean and is open seven days per week. Hours are 7:30am to 7:30pm in daylight saving time and 7:30am to 6:30pm during non daylight saving time.  It has all essentials including fruit and vegetables, however, it does not have the range of city supermarkets. There is also a bakery and butcher shop in Robe.
Hairdressing
There are two hairdressing salons Robe which also stock hair care products. Kristina can be contacted on (08) 8768 2271.
Hardware/Nursery etc
There is a Hardware shop in the main street.
Newspapers, Magazines, Lotto etc
The newsagency is open 7 days per week
Petrol/Gas etc
Robe has two petrol stations. If you are planning on leaving early refuel early the day before as often they are closed by 5pm in winter and not much later in summer. 
Pharmaceutical Prescriptions
Robe’s Chemist is generally open five days per week plus Saturday morning. (phone 08 8768 2417) 
Stamps and other Postal Products
Robe’s post office sells all of these things and all postal services and are open five days per week. (phone 08 8768 2020)
Wine and Liquor
Each of the two hotels in town has a bottle shop with The Robe Hotel bottle shop being drive through. The Caledonian Inn bottle shop has a larger range of wines including local labels. There is a dedicated bottle shop two doors up from the supermarket which has the largest range in town. There are a number of Cellar Door sales at local wineries and Coonawarra.

Swimming, Surfing, Snorkelling, Kite Surfing, Sailing & Windsurfing
There are many safe beaches to swim from. The Iceberg Team swim every day of the year from town beach with only a bathing cap and Speedos. Contact the Post Master Peter De Laine at the Robe Post office (Phone 08 8768 2020) if you are keen to join them. Robe's sea water is quite cool, even in summer so if you plan on spending a lot of time in the water a wetsuit is recommended.
For surfing, as a general rule the surf is biggest half way along Long Beach and gets progressively smaller towards each end. There is a road access to this area called Third Ramp (for directions to Third Ramp see "Long Beach" on this page).  If you want bigger surf, go to the ocean beaches adjoining Little Dip Conservation Park. It is recommended you see Steve ro Sam Woolston at Steve’s Place Surf Shop about the conditions and best locations. Steve’s number at the shop is 08 8768 2094. Steve hires out boogie boards.
Robe has many reefs and beaches for snorkelling although the fine sand in the water around Robe can make visibility a problem except on days of a northerly or no wind and little swell. Gear is available for sale from Steve’s Place. 
Robe’s bay is great for Kite Surfing and there is a resident instructor, Anthony Moore. If you’ve wanted to try this exciting sport, call Anthony on 0419 821 409 to book your lesson. Equipment is supplied. BYO wetsuit or buy one at the surf shop.
Robe has a great bay for sailing and windsurfing. If you get the opportunity, Robe looks simply stunning from the water. The Robe Yacht Club runs races from Karratta Beach over summer from boxing day to the end of January. Please contact us for details. With windsurfing there are spots to suit beginners right through to advanced wave sailors. Please bring your own equipment as there is no equipment hire in Robe.

Television + DVD Movies
You can watch television however reception is limited to ABC, SBS,  WIN(mainly channel 9 content) and WIN 10 (mainly channel 10 content). You may want to watch a DVD during your stay. Each property has a DVD player. For DVD rental there are two places in town Imaj café and the Supermarket.

Tennis & Squash
Court hire is available and the courts are centrally located in the football oval precinct. Please bring your own racquets and balls.

Village Fair
The Robe Village Fair is held on the last week end in November. There is usually plenty of entertainment, art shows and the vignerons of Robe and Mt Benson offer their wines together with food. Contact us to find out what the main attractions are this year.

Walks & Bush Walks
Robe is surrounded by beaches and bush making it a fantastic place to go walking. Some suggestions include a jog, walk or leisurely stroll:
·        along West Beach (the first of the ocean beaches) watching the waves roll in, (West Beach has very soft sand making it harder to walk on than Long Beach)
·        a couple of kilometres along Long Beach
·        through the historical parts of town
·        along the cliff track between Long Beach and Robe looking over the beautiful bay and crossing the outlet on the footbridge
·        along the old gaol designated walk which has spectacular views and runs from the old jetty to the Obelisk and past the blow hole
·        around the bottom of the cliffs betwen Robe and Long Beach at low tide
·        to Stoney Rises beach (see the ranger or Steve Woolston at the surf shop for directions to the car park)
Meet some locals. On Saturday mornings there is an organised walk with friendly and informative locals with all visitors welcome. There is no charge however you may want to take some small change in case you return via a café for a coffee. The walk lasts approximately one or two hours and the meeting place is the Institute opposite the bowling green. There is no set route; they decide on the morning which way to go depending on the interests of the people going. For inquiries and to confirm the time please call Claire Domaschenz on 08 8768 2932 or just turn up and introduce yourself.

Worship
In Robe and Kingston worship choices include Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Uniting, Robe Christian Life and Assemblies of God.