12 Of The Best Robe Accommodations | Australian Traveller

Elegant boutique hotels, self-contained private properties and fun holiday parks; for the ultimate seaside stay, we’ve got the perfect Robe accommodation for you.

Let’s just put this out there: when it comes to finding the ultimate Robe accommodation – whether that be something built for romance, family or a solo getaway – you’re not going to struggle. Dotted across the spectacular South Australian seaside town, you’ll find all manner of accommodation, each one more beautiful than the last.

1. Church on the Hill

the exterior of Church on the Hill in Robe — Church on the Hill combines the charm and old-world character of the original 1869 sandstone church.

Getting swept up in the history of Robe is as simple as booking in for a stay at Church on the Hill , a property which combines the charm and old-world character of the original 1869 sandstone church, and all the modern amenities one would expect in a luxury home, the result of a significant 2022 renovation and extension.

Sleeping up to 12 guests in five bedrooms in a range of configurations, standout features include a four-sided Cheminees Phillipe fireplace in the centre of the chapel living room, a sprawling deck with sweeping ocean views, an outdoor spa, a parent retreat with a kitchenette, as well as a stunning open-plan kitchen teeming with European appliances.

The perfect space for entertaining, for travelling with groups, multi-gen holidays, or just when you each really need your own space.

Address: 1 Davenport Street, Robe

2. Robe House

an aerial view of the Robe House — The charming Robe House sits in a pretty garden.

Looking for a charming stay? Robe House has got it in spades – largely thanks to its 1847 vintage and its early years serving as the home of the Government Resident. Built out of locally quarried sandstone and featuring high vaulted ceilings, the property is now very much rooted in the future, offering five fully self-contained apartments classified as bed and breakfast (they’ll provide provisions).

Located a short stroll from the town centre (and right by a scenic coastal walk), Robe House – set in a pretty garden – offers wi-fi, laundry facilities, barbeques, and log fires in two of the apartments, making them the perfect spot for that romantic winter getaway.

Address: 1 Hagen Street, Robe

3. Dunes at Robe

the holiday cottages at Dunes at Robe — The holiday cottages are spacious enough for group travellers. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission/Adam Bruzzone)

For those who prefer a more contemporary holiday option, look no further than Dunes at Robe , a hotel located on a quiet street, albeit with spectacular views of West Beach.

Choose from one of two holiday cottages, each one featuring two bedrooms, an open-plan living area, a fully furnished kitchen, barbeque facilities and – mercifully – air conditioning, and make good use of the property’s proximity to the town centre and the local golf club.

Address: 20-22 Backler Street, Robe

4. Lakeview Motel & Apartments

Sometimes, all you need is the perfect motel holiday overlooking a large body of water to unwind and make the most of your destination. The appropriately titled Lakeview Motel & Apartments , located on the shores of Lake Fellmongery, comes to the party to provide a little something for every kind of traveller.

From luxury two-bedroom apartments and deluxe spa suites to standard rooms and self-contained apartments – each one offering a view of the lake – configurations vary, but all have wi-fi, access to barbeque facilities, plus a free guest laundry (perfect when you’re so close to the natural bushland and pristine beaches of the region).

Address: 2 Lakeside Terrace, Robe

5. Robe Hotel

the beachfront setting of Robe Hotel — Robe Hotel is just a stone’s throw away from the beach.

An iconic fixture of the local beachside community since 1947, there’s no doubt you’ll be dropping into the Robe Hotel for a meal or two, but why not book a stay and linger a little longer?

Offering the best of country and sea, the classically built hotel and pub – conveniently located within walking distance to the town centre – boasts 16 rooms across two floors, all with balconies making the most of those views and eight of which have ensuites.

A stone’s throw from the beach and just upstairs from some of the best pub grub you’re likely to experience anywhere, this is the ultimate beachside stay at an affordable price point.

Address: 6 Munday Terrace, Robe

6. Robe Holiday Park

a powered caravan site at Robe Holiday Park — You’ll find powered sites for camping and caravanning at Robe Holiday Park.

Welcome to a dazzling and oh-so-quiet bushland oasis located just five minutes either way from Robe’s town centre, as well as from Robe’s popular Long Beach.

Boasting just eight self-contained cabins, plus a host of powered sites for camping and caravanning, it would be easy to dismiss Robe Holiday Park as the perfect place for other families, until you consider how hard it punches for its size.

We’re talking firepits, jumping pillows, barbeque areas, an area reserved for mountain bike riding, birdwatching, a camp kitchen, and if that’s not enough, the holiday park is also home to a gin distillery. What more could anyone ask for?

Address: Corner Main Road and Nora Creina Road, Robe

7. Discovery Parks Robe

Behold the ultimate family getaway location, a lush (and rather gargantuan) world where kids can swim in the heated indoor swimming pool, play table tennis in the games room, hire a pedal bike to ride around onsite, jump on the all-important bouncing pillows and come the summertime, enjoy the kids’ club facilities.

If you’re thinking Discovery Parks Robe (formerly BIG4 Discovery Parks) has it all, you’d be right, with all cabins featuring a flat-screen TV, some offering an ensuite bathroom and most equipped with a kitchen. Camping or caravanning? All options, both powered and unpowered, are on the table.

Coin-operated laundry facilities, shared kitchen facilities and a kiosk are all available onsite, with the property located a five-minute drive from Robe’s town centre.

Address: 70 – 80 Esplanade, Robe

8. Robe Marina Apartments

Whether you’re after a three-bedroom marina-view apartment, a two-bedroom Waters Edge Apartment or a ground-floor one-bedroom deluxe suite, Robe Marina Apartments , a range of architecturally designed properties, has an offering for you.

All located within the town centre, the properties are a showcase of contemporary design, boasting modern furniture and appliances so you can truly unwind and take in the ocean views (with some only located just 50 metres from the water’s edge) without having to worry about a thing.

Address: Corner Beach Court & Lipson Terrace, Robe

9. Sea Vu Caravan Park

a beach shack with ocean view at the Sea Vu Caravan Park — Each accommodation opens up to sweeping ocean views.

Prefer your holiday parks to be a little more… boutique in flavour? Sea Vu Caravan Park might be considered compact when compared with the other parks in and around Robe, but this is the only one with direct access to the sandy beaches of Guichen Bay.

Accommodation options range from over 100 grassed sites and beach shacks to ocean view cabins (with four different layouts to suit everyone from groups of six to couples). Cosy Beach Shacks and Seaside Cabins sleep up to six, also.

There’s a fully fenced playground for the kids, paddleboards for hire, a large indoor communal dining and living area, a kiosk, a fully equipped camp kitchen, and of course, several barbeques to enjoy that meaty fare. Best of all, the park is pet-friendly.

Address: 1 Squires Drive, Robe

10. Harbour View Motel

Classic motel stays are having a resurgence and one look at Harbour View Motel explains the popularity behind the trend. Having enjoyed multiple upgrades and renovations in recent years, the property – delightfully decorated in soothing pastel hues – is set just 50 metres from the start of a cliff-top walking track and a five-minute walk from the town centre.

All rooms (air-conditioned) feature an open-plan living space, and ensuite bathroom, with some available with kitchenette, others offering a spa bath and a percentage with a balcony overlooking Robe Harbour or Guichen Bay.

All guests enjoy direct access to Robe Golf Course, with a barbeque area, guest laundry and children’s playground available onsite.

Address: 2 Sturt Street, Robe

11. BASK

sun loungers under a yellow umbrella at BASK, Robe — Bask in the sunshine on sun loungers outside your beautifully styled cottage.

A beautifully styled cottage which wouldn’t be out of place in the pages of an interiors glossy sounds good enough, but said beautifully styled cottage with the perfect location within 100 metres of Robe’s finest restaurants, boutiques and Town Beach? It’s fair to say, BASK is covering all bases beautifully.

The two-bedroom, adults-only home has everything you could need for that perfect beachside stay, including a relaxing spa bath, a private outdoor courtyard complete with Weber Q and sun lounges, and yes, a split system air conditioner, which means you’ll be comfortable in winter as well as in summer. Will it be a romantic getaway or a trip away with friends? Your choice; the property is suitable for both. Will it be a romantic getaway or a trip away with friends? Your choice; the property is suitable for both.

Address: Elizabeth Street, Robe

12. The Caledonian Inn

There’s little doubt you’ll be tempted to pop into The Caledonian Inn, a historic English-style pub built in 1858, for a bite to eat, but those on a budget (as well as those keen to make use of the property’s central location) should look no further than the accommodation options available upstairs.

The six rooms upstairs – both single and double rooms available – may share a bathroom, but they’re cosy and have quick access to the fireside pub downstairs as well as the beer garden, with prices starting from just $77 per night.

Address: 1 Victoria Street, Robe

Head here for more tried and tested experiences to have in Robe.

Victoria’s ‘mussel capital’ is the source of exceptional shellfish used by top chefs far and wide. Step aboard a beautifully refurbished trawler to see how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

A curtain is slowly winched from the placid, teal waters just off Portarlington , like a floating garland beside our boat. The ropes heave with blue mussels, the star attraction of our tour. But as we reach to pluck our own, it’s quickly clear they’re not alone; a mass of weird and wonderful creatures has colonised the ropes, turning them into a living tapestry. ‘Fairy’ oysters, jelly-like sea squirts, and tiny, wriggling skeleton shrimp all inhabit this underwater ecosystem.

We prize our bivalve bounty from the ropes, and minutes later the mussels arrive split on a platter. The plump orange morsels are served raw, ready to be spritzed with wedges of lemon and a lick of chilli as we gaze out over the bay. They’re briny, tender and faintly sweet. “This wasn’t originally part of the tour,” explains Connie Trathen, who doubles as the boat’s cook, deckhand and guide. “But a chef [who came onboard] wanted to taste the mussels raw first, and it’s now become one of the key features.”

A humble trawler turned Hamptons-style dreamboat

inspecting bivalve bounty from the ropes — Inspecting the bounty. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

It’s a crisp, calm winter’s day, and the sun is pouring down upon Valerie, a restored Huon pine workhorse that was first launched in January 1980. In a previous life she trawled the turbulent Bass Strait. These days she takes jaunts into Port Phillip Bay under the helm of Lance Wiffen, a fourth-generation Bellarine farmer, and the owner of Portarlington Mussel Tours . While Lance has been involved in the fishing industry for 30-plus years, the company’s tour boat only debuted in 2023.

holding Portarlington mussels — See how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

It took more than three years to transform the former shark trawler into a dreamy, Hamptons-esque vessel, with little expense spared. Think muted green suede banquettes, white-washed walls, Breton-striped bench cushions, hardwood tables, bouquets of homegrown dahlias, and woollen blankets sourced from Waverley Mills, Australia’s oldest working textile mill. It’s intimate, too, welcoming 12 guests at most. And yet there’s nothing pretentious about the experience – just warm, down-to-earth Aussie hospitality.

As we cruise out, we crack open a bottle of local bubbles and nibble on the most beautifully curated cheese platter, adorned with seashells and grey saltbush picked from the water’s edge that very morning. Australasian gannets soar overhead, and I’m told it’s not uncommon for guests to spot the odd seal, pod of dolphins, or even the occasional little penguin.

The sustainable secret behind Victoria’s best mussels

blue mussels off Portarlington — Blue mussels sourced just off Portarlington.

Connie and Lance both extol the virtues of mussels. They’re delicious. A lean source of protein and packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, and zinc. They’re cooked in a flash (Connie steams our fresh harvest with cider and onion jam). And they’re also widely regarded as one of the most sustainable foods in the world.

Portarlington mussels with lemon and chilli — Mussels served with lemon and chilli.

“Aquaculture is [often] seen as destructive, so a lot of our guests are really surprised about how environmentally friendly and sustainable our industry is,” Lance says. “[Our mussels] would filter 1.4 billion litres of water a day,” he adds, explaining how mussels remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. “And through biomineralisation, we lock carbon into mussel shells.”

a hand holding a Portarlington mussel — Mussels are a sustainable food.

Despite their glowing list of accolades, these molluscs have long been seen as the oysters’ poorer cousins. “It was a really slow start,” explains Lance, who says that in the early days of his career, “you could not sell mussels in Victoria”.

But word has slowly caught on. Chefs as globally acclaimed as Attica’s Ben Shewry and even René Redzepi of Noma, Denmark, have travelled to these very waters just to try the shellfish at the source, sharing only the highest praise, and using Lance’s mussels in their restaurants.

guests sampling Portarlington mussels onboard — Sampling the goods onboard. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

According to Lance there’s one obvious reason why the cool depths of Portarlington outshine other locations for mussel farming. “The water quality is second to none,” he says, noting how other regions are frequently rocked by harvest closures due to poor water quality. “We grow, without a doubt, some of the best shellfish in the world.” And with Lance’s bold claims backed up by some of the industry’s greatest names, perhaps it won’t be much longer until more Aussies uncover the appeal of Portarlington’s mussels.

12 dreamy accommodations to stay at in Robe