It may be the middle of winter, but the Limestone Coast becomes that little bit more enchanting in the cooler months.
With so many natural wonders to explore and cosy nooks to snuggle up in, prepare to have your soul warmed and your senses satisfied in the Limestone Coast, the ultimate winter destination.
Cosy Cellar Doors
& Pubs.
We all know winter is red wine territory, and when all you want is a roaring fire, a glass of top-notch vino and a shoulder to snuggle into, we’ve got you well and truly sorted. From Mount Gambier to the Coonawarra and Padthaway to Robe, here’s a few of our favourites to help you settle in…
If you find yourself chilling (literally) in ‘The Mount’, it’s well worth dropping into The Mount Gambier Hotel, where the fire is always raging.
Of course it’s not all about the wine. Nestled in the heart of the Coonawarra Wine Region is Ottelia Tasting Room + Restaurant, serving up delicious meals using locally sourced ingredients. Open for lunch Thursday to Monday the restaurant made the Gourmet Traveller top 82 restaurants in Australia list for 2023.
As those chilly southerlies blow across from Antarctica, you’ll find comfort at Woodsoak Wines in Robe’s main street, with a cosy combination of hot samosas and games of Connect 4 and giant Jenga to keep you and your compadres amused.
Just a short walk toward the beach, pull up a chair by the fire at The Caledonian Inn (a.k.a. ‘The Cally’ to locals) and you’ll not only score an atmospheric feast under low-slung ceilings, but also the vibes of Old England.
Further afield and reaping the rewards of its stunning Padthaway patch, you’ll find Farmer’s Leap Wines sitting pretty, with sweeping vineyard views and an open invitation to curl up by the log fire with a steaming hot wood-oven pizza and a glass of 'The Brave Shiraz'.
Of course, if you’re keen for a window seat without all the hassle, you can also grab a seat on one of many local winery tours right across the region, with Coonawarra Discovery Tours and Coonawarra Experiences the best options for great vino, good grub and behind the scenes access to some of the region’s best!
Hearty Winter Meals.
In Mount Gambier, The Barn Steakhouse delivers a menu of the finest aged steaks and over 700 different wines beside a crackling fireplace and loads of old wooden trimmings to really set the scene.
By the coast, Olive's in Robe is always a hit with locals and visitors alike. Pizza and pasta are the order of the day and you're spolit for choice with a wine list that’ll warm your woollen socks.
The legendary Mayura Station is home to the nation’s only full-blood Wagyu beef, and a genuine culinary celebrity in every sense. Feeding their highly prized cattle a high-fat diet of anything from chocolate and jellybeans to lollies and biscuits, the end result is a paddock-to-plate dining experience that’ll take you straight to carnivore heaven.
Oh, and we go much further, what’s not to love about steaming hot pizzas fresh from the oven? Bay Pizzaria in Port MacDonnell is about as close to the alps of Italy as you’ll get when those Antarctic winds blow through, and what better place to see the ocean rage as you’re tucking into a slice of gourmet goodness?
Glamp it by the Fire.
A number of caravan and holiday parks offer fire pits for campers, making a cosy night in with toasted marshmallows, hot chocolate, red wine and all-round winter warmers a perfect solution when the chill starts to bite.
Coonawarra’s Bellwether Wines offer a communal campfire for both glampers and campers, with individual fire pits at Pine Country Caravan Park in Mount Gambier.
Fire drums are also available for campers at Coonawarra Bush Holiday Park, while a communal fire pit at Kingston Foreshore Caravan Park is a perfect spot to strum a guitar, share stories and meet other travellers and their families.
Rugged Coastal Drives & Walks.
What’s better than leaning into that icy wind, launching one foot forward and pacing out some of the greatest short walks on earth?
Getting the blood pumping on one of our many walking trails is a sure-fire heart starter when the wilds start heaving – check out the Best short walks in the Limestone Coast article for some of the most popular.
If hitting the road is more your bag, grab some fish and chips or hot baked goodies in Kingston, Robe or Beachport and take a little drive to watch the waves roll in across the Southern Ocean.
There’s something pretty soothing about snuggling up and taking a drive to The Granites, the coastal esplanade, the spectacular Bowman Scenic Drive or even just strolling down the enormous Beachport Jetty, which at 772 metres is the second longest in the State.
Further south, Canunda National Park is ripe for 4WD adventurers, having been blessed with Mother Nature’s full bag of tricks. Ringed by dramatic cliffs and shimmering white beaches, this wild and windswept wonderland is peppered with stunning limestone stacks and offshore reefs, with its dense bushland and dunes having been visited by the Boandik Peoples for thousands of years. Revered by off-roaders, anglers and campers, it’s a prime spot to ditch the bitumen and follow the markers through the dunes if you’re really looking to get off-track.
The land Down Under.
Life underground is, well… more predictable really! If you’re up to channeling your inner cave man or woman, you’ll be glad to know that under the earth’s crust you’ll find temperatures that are pretty much the same year-round.
The World Heritage-Listed Naracoorte Caves are a prime spot to start, with tours of Alexandra Cave and Victoria Cave both excellent options to see spectacular stalactites and stalagmites along with ancient skeletons of 500,000 year-old megafauna.
Get your blood Pumping.
Tracx Robe Adventure Tours offer customised guided MTB tours for all fitness levels across the area’s spectacular coastline and bush land, with 1.5-2hr tours that are long enough to take in some of the most iconic beaches and landmarks, but short enough to make room for all those winery visits later in the day. Expect knowledgeable guides, quality bikes and all the trimmings.
If you’re here with the kidlets, it’s really hard to go past The Domain in Millicent, which is home to a killer skate park, made even cooler with fresh paint decking it out as a giant squid! It’s also conveniently plonked next door to Millicent’s huge Nature Play Space and Mega Playground that’ll keep the kids occupied for hours. After all, they don’t feel the cold, right?!
Go to our Galleries.
Along with being the State’s foremost regional gallery, The Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre offers changing exhibitions of local artists as well as exhibitions of national importance - along with a daily screening of the movie 'Craitbul & Volcano', the story of Earth, Fire and Water. Beginning with an Aboriginal Dreamtime story, this awesome big screen adventure weaves its way through the eight major volcanic eruptions that created Mount Gambier and the Kanawinka region.
The Millicent Civic and Arts Centre is a genuine country gem, with a strong showcase of local photographers and artists, and always something new to discover. With an ever-changing display of well-known and up and coming creatives (even local school students), there’s plenty to set your mind wandering as the rain patters on the roof.
At Karatta Wines in Robe, you’ll find more than a cheeky glass of red when the clouds start to gather! This place is a year-round showcase for local artists, from textiles, metal, glass and ceramics to paint and sculpture.
Keep an eye out for curator, Terry Johnson’s pieces which are usually served with a side of fantasy and a cheeky sense of humour.
Stay in a Historic Homestead.
There’s something warming about those old world charms, and if you’ve got a taste for yesteryear (and a roaring fireplace), how about popping those snug little Ugg boots up at a grand country manor?
Mount Gambier’s super-refined and ultra-luxurious Delgattie Estate delivers a boutique elegance that few other places can match. With cushy cribs and stellar city views, you’ll also score a private dining hall and billiard lounge just to dial up the decadence.
Not far away, the gracious Colhurst House (built in 1878) is also plonked right in the beating heart of Mount Gambier, with four rooms that whisper the tale of years gone by with all the new-age mod-cons. Think: white, black, tartan and well.. just all sorts of homely - and if you can dig yourself out of that amazing claw bath long enough, you’ll also find comfort in a big old armchair by the fire.
Not far down the road in the seaside town of Port MacDonnell you'll be taken back to the 1800s at the Customs House. Steeped in maritime history, this grand establishment takes in views of the southern ocean and offers self-contained accommodation and custom events.
In wine country, the historic old Padthaway Homestead offers accommodation in an original 1901 Shearers Quarters and 1847 Cottage, with the main homestead currently undergoing restoration. Both dwellings combine age-old elegance with all the modern comforts slap-bang in the middle of vino utopia. In fact, you really won’t need to go too far for a tipple at all, with Landaire Wines housed in the historic old stables. Retreating inside to the fire when the crisp air turns to a chill is as close to royalty as many of us will ever get!
The history continues in the Wrattonbully Wine Region with the Narracoorte Homestead, situated just 15 minutes from the World Heritage listed Naracoorte Caves. This impressive 3 acre landscaped property boasts three dwellings, all beautifully preserved and all available to book for accommodation and events.
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