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Robe Information
(Things
to do in Robe)
Art
Robe has a number of great art retailers:
Wilson’s Gallery in
Victoria St (open November to April inclusive) features the works of Australian
artists.
Lapwing Gallery in Smillie
St (open year round) Local artists exhibit and sell works from the Institute
(Robe’s town hall).
Random Ally
Gallery and retail outlet.
Random
Ally is an emerging clothing label and retail
store from Robe, S.A., producing unique hand printed and ethical clothing, and
rather quirky jewellery for both men and women.
Fish called Rhonda
Gallery in Victoria St has contemporary pieces specialising in ceramics with
other mediums too.
Gallery 26 in Smillie St is the retail
section of Robe Art Apartments.
Beauty and Natural Therapies
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 therapeutic 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. Another choice is Kneady Therapies
with Elise Lehmann who specialises in foot refloxology, sports massage, Anma,
Japanese massage, Myofacial release and Cranio-Sacral Therapy. Phone Elise
directly on 0438 202 342.
Bike Hire
Robe has some good tracks and roads to ride
mountain bikes. Either bring your own or hire them from 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 Monday they play for an afternoon at the Robe
Bowling
Club on the foreshore. 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 or visiting their
web site:
www.yourmovies.com.au/cinemas/?venue_id=252509
Coffee
Roasting/Sales
Coffee is roasted at Mahalia Coffee
in Flint Street. Their
award winning coffee is available in many of Robe’s eateries. They welcome
visitors and have a factory outlet that also includes a cafe
serving their coffees and cakes. This is the coffee we provide for
you in our properties. They can be contacted on 08
8768 2778.
Eating In
You can barbecue outside or cook in the fully equipped kitchen. For buying food please
refer 'Shopping'. For great take away food, try fish and chips from Robe Seafood
and Takeaway (phone 08 8768 2888)
or Vic Street Pizzeria for the best pizza in town (phone 08 8768 2081). 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 Union Cafe , Wild Mulberry Cafe or the Robe Providore
for a leisurely coffee, breakfast or lunch. For a great dinner try Sails
where legendary chef, Adam Brookes and his delightful partner Anna Heffernan run
a great restaurant with delicious food and seafood a speciality. Vic Street
Pizzeria has the best pizza in town. For a
traditional pub meal try the Caledonian Inn. We recommend you
make a reservation in advance at Sails, or, if you plan on eating dinner out
anywhere during a
long week end 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) Ask us about the best places to eat on your arrival.
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Eatery
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Phone
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Brief
description
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Belgiorno’s
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08 8768 2256
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Budget Italian
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Butlers restaurant at Haven Motel
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08 8768 2588
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A la carte
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Caledonian Inn
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08 8768 2029
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Hotel with a la carte dining
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Dragon Village – Chinese + Malaysian
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08 8768 1888
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Chinese and Malaysian
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Guichen Bay Motel - Restaurant
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08 8768 2001
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A la carte
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Mahalia Coffee
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08 8768 2778
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Boutique coffee factory and cafe
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Robe Bakery and coffee lounge
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08 8768 2018
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Bakery
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Robe Boat Haven fish shop
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08 8768 2677
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Fish and chips at the wharf
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Robe Football Club
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08 8768 2127
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Bistro (limited nights)
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Robe Golf club
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08 8768 2330
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Bistro (limited nights summer only)
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Robe Hotel
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08 8768 2077
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Bistro
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Robe Ice creamery
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08 8768 1812
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Sweet treats and coffee
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Robe Mobil Petrol Inn
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08 8768 2400
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Fish and chips and takeaway
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Robe Providore
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08 8768 2119
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Cafe style dining
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Robe Seafood and Takeaway
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08 8768 2888
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Great fish and chips
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Sails
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08 8768 1954
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Robe's best restaurant
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Union Café
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08 8768 2627
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Cafe style dining
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Vic Street Pizzeria
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08 8768 2081
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Stylish pizzeria
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Wild Mulberry Cafe
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08 8768 2488
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Cafe style dining
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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.SA Fisheries web site is
www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries for all information on fishing except how
to catch them.
Robe now has a fishing charter service run by John and Di Stuart who can be
contacted directly on 08 8768 1807 or 0429 310 052.
Flying (Joy flights)
Robe looks like a tropical paradise from the air on a clear
summer day without wind. The water is super blue and the sand is white. Robe is
on a peninsula surrounded by bush and water. The best place to see this is from
the air.
Tiger moth flights can be booked through the pilot Ross
directly on 0419 009 442.
Helicopter flights can be booked through the pilot Christos
directly on 0488 226 288.
Gambling
Lottery products are available from the Newsagent, while poker machines and TAB
betting are available at the Robe Hotel.
Golf
Does Robes 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 12th tee. Whether they are Links or not, it is a centrally located and
picturesque course where visitors are welcome and equipment hire is available. They
have a resident pro for improving your game and a pro shop. 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
Robes 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 dont 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 Steve Woolston Road. 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, cook a meal,
watch a DVD, listen to a CD/ipod 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 dont miss any of the action.
Shopping
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.
Random ally is an emerging clothing label and retail store from Robe, S.A.,
producing unique hand printed and ethical clothing, and rather quirky jewellery
for both men and women.
Fish and Crayfish
You can buy professionally caught fish at Seafood Temptations at the end of
Flint Street. It is the main fresh seafood seller and can be contacted directly
on 08 8768 2634. The proprietors are local fisherman Noel Hayes and his wife
Jane. 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
Most
cafes 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 above.
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 (5:30pm Sunday) during non daylight
saving time. It has all
essentials including fruit and vegetables, however, it does not have the range
of city supermarkets.
The
Providore has some Gourmet foods. There is also a bakery and butcher shop in Robe.
Hairdressing
There are two hairdressing salons in Robe which also stock hair care products.
Kristina can be contacted on 0417 815 797.
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 or Sam Woolston at Steves Place Surf Shop about the
conditions and best locations. Steves 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 Steves 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 ‘free to air’ digital television however
reception is limited to:
SA Ten Mt Gambier
ONE ELEVEN
WIN SA Nine
GEM GO!
WIN SA Seven
7 MATE 7 TWO
SBS SBS HD
SBS 2 SBS 3
SBS 4 ABC 1
ABC
2/4 ABC 3
ABC News 24
SBS Radio 1 SBS Radio 2
ABC Digital Radio
ABC Digital Jazz Radio
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: Mobil service station 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.
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:
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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)
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a couple of
kilometres along Long Beach
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through the
historical parts of town
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along the cliff
track between Long Beach and Robe looking over the beautiful bay and crossing
the outlet on the footbridge
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along the old gaol
designated walk which has spectacular views and runs from the old jetty to the
Obelisk and past the blow hole
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around the bottom
of the cliffs betwen Robe and Long Beach at low tide
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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.
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