Travel query on Adelaide's Limestone Coast

[QF WP]

After ozfest (finishes Monday, 31st May); I am taking a weeks' holiday and taking the Wilson clan on a trip down the Limestone Coast. We've never been down south of Adelaide before (well, past Hahndorf) and after much checking, decided that hire car + B&B's were just better (for a number of reasons) than campervan (Maui, Britz etc) and van parks. Note that we have a 3 y.o. daughter and 6 month old son who need constant stops (toilet, feeding etc) so our expectation of driving distance has been curtailed (which will give us more time to see things).

At this early stage, our current Itinerary reads (distance and expected travel times in parentheses, things that we want to stop and see in italics, accom in bold):

Day 1 Monday
Adelaide to Mt Barker (35km / 30mins)

Attractions: Mt Barker Summit, Steamranger, Laratinga Wetlands

Mt Barker Summit to Murray Bridge (45km / 45mins)

Attractions: Murray River (mouth)?,

Murray Bridge to Meningie (77km / 1.5hr)

Attractions: Meningie Cheese Factory Museum

Accom: Coolabah Cabin, Campbell Park Road, Meningie West.


Day 2 Tuesday
Meningie to Robe (187km / 2.5hr)

Attractions: Coorong National Park

Accom: Robe's Number 13 on the Beach, Robe.


Day 3 Wednesday
Robe to Mt Gambier (129km / 2hr)

Attractions: Robe Lighthouse and obelisk, Old Goal

Accom: Clarendon Chalets


Day 4 Thursday
Mt Gambier to Naracoorte (101km / 1.5hr)

Attractions: The Crater Lakes - Blue Lake and Wildlife Park and Boardwalk (Valley Lake Crater), Umpherston Sinkhole, Cave Gardens, Glenelg River Cruise, Aquifer Tour, Engelbrecht Cave Tour

Accom: Carolynne's Cottages, 6 Young Drive, Natacoorte



Day 5 Friday
Naracoorte to Murray Bridge (263km / 3hrs)

Attractions: Naracoorte Caves



Day 6 Saturday
Murray Bridge to Adelaide Airport (82km / 1.5hr)

Flight home: 3.25pm



We are still to find accom in Murray Bridge but that shouldn't be a problem, like the look of this one.

Can anyone suggest other things to see along the way, tips, etc.

 

[tuapekastar]

Looks like a terriffic trip Lindsay! I haven't been down that way much since I was a kid, but if you're not all 'wined out' from Ozfest, you do travel through Coonawarra on the way from Mt Gambier to Naracoorte. Lovely Cabernet from that area!

 

[QF WP]

Ah, tuapekastar, if (and a big if) I've been a really good boy, I should have no trouble doing one or two wine tastings, time allowing. I'll have to select them and just drop the hint as we travel.

I'll have already bought my red wine fill at Penfolds and had it shipped back (the joys of being a member of their Cellar Door Club), so I probably will just have to sample the freebies.

 

[medhead]

I not sure you can see the murray mouth at murray bridge. save that for meningie. There is a paddle steamer at murray bridge but your kids are probably a bit young. So unles your into that type of thing could be skip. To me there is stuff all to see at murray bridge. Unless your on the back roads and not the highway, you should make the trip from mt barker to murray bridge a bit quicker than 45 minutes.

Google is telling me only 260 km from naracoorte to murray bridge if you use the riddoch and dukes highway. But you may be avoiding the dukes highway, i guess. Otherwise if you go back to kingston and then along the coast it is 315 km (again according to google). I know it is hard with kids but I'd suggest more time down south and then straight back to the airport.

If you need to store any wine you can't get back I willing to help out.

 

[QF WP]

medhead, thanks for the local perspective - I was hoping someone from ADL was going to provide.

Wasn't sure exactly where the river mouth actually was, so good to know where it's best to see. Just want to see the Murray for myself. One of those lifetime things.

Will have to do some more research on the river cruises, particularly with the kids being so young - but doubt that is something we will do given the risks. Love your comment regarding Murray Bridge - my sentiment exactly. We're definitely travelling on the A1, but with kids we always pad our times.

We used Whereis for the distances, so not sure exacly how accurate. Have to agree with the amount of things to do in Mt Gambier, so will give this info to SWMBO and see what she says. I'll be doing all of the driving, so it doesn't worry me too much.

Now to get the car hire organised with 2 kid seats. At least RACQ (RAA in SA?) deal gives me one free seat.

Well, if we have any spare wine that we can't fit in our luggage or onboard, what's your address so we can drop it on our way to the airport?

 

[PaulC83]

Being from Adelaide I can't really understand why you would choose Murray Bridge for anything As far as I am concerned the most exciting place in Murray Bridge is the "Minge Chapel" and even that got old the 10th time I drove past it. If you are driving back to Murray Bridge you might as well go the extra 45 mins down the freeway and return to Adelaide proper.

Having said that, returning to Adelaide through Birdwood (National Motor Museum), chocolate factory and the like isn't a bad lark.

If I am doing a "scenic" tour for people, I try and cross the Murray at the Wellington cable ferry, arriving there via Strathalbyn (nice little town with a few monuments and good bakeries) and langhorne creek (more of those wine freebies, recommend bleasdale bremerton for some nice dessert wines/stickies). You still get to where you need to go, the route isn't that much longer, and there are a lot more little towns for stops etc. You will rejoin the highway to get to where you want to go, and avoid the boredom of the traffic intersections and slow speed limits through tailem bend.

 

[QF WP]

We only chose Murray Bridge because it's on the map, on the main road and all the others seemed smaller and with even less on offer for tourists :shock:. At least if I've done it once, I don't need to go back.

Love your suggestion PaulC83, regarding Wellington cable ferry and Strathalbyn. Sounds perfect. Are you trying to get me into trouble :shock: - more suggested wineries . We'd even thought of Tailem Bend for a night stay, but quickly realised it was even more difficult than Murray Bridge.

 

[KitKat]

+1 re not staying in Murray Bridge. If you would like to see the Murray river mouth, a trip down to Goolwa and across to Hindmarsh Island would get you to the "mouth". Have usually only done this trip as part of numerous trips to Victor Harbour from Adelaide. Some nice lunch spots in Goolwa/Port Elliott? Flying Fish Cafe

 

[PaulC83]

Are you trying to get me into trouble :shock: - more suggested wineries .

I only suggested a road to drive down It is mere coincidence that there happens to be a lot of nice wineries there too.......

 

[ColinP]

Rather than return to ADL via Murray Bridge, consider crossing the river at Wellington as suggested above, then go via Langhorne creek and Strathalbyn to Goolwa. There is accommodation in Strath and Goolwa and you'll be able to see the Murray Mouth. The only place to see the mouth from (without a boat or 4wd) is sugars beach on Hindmarsh Island. Easily accessible via bridge from Goolwa (10 min drive).

It's about a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Goolwa to ADL.

Everyone has written off Murray Bridge and I tend to agree but your three year old will love (or be scared coughless by) the 'Bunyip'.

 

[QF WP]

Rather than return to ADL via Murray Bridge, consider crossing the river at Wellington as suggested above, then go via Langhorne creek and Strathalbyn to Goolwa. There is accommodation in Strath and Goolwa and you'll be able to see the Murray Mouth. The only place to see the mouth from (without a boat or 4wd) is sugars beach on Hindmarsh Island. Easily accessible via bridge from Goolwa (10 min drive).

It's about a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Goolwa to ADL.

Okay, that is a viable option - thanks ColinP. Anything to miss the exciting Murray Bridge

Everyone has written off Murray Bridge and I tend to agree but your three year old will love (or be scared coughless by) the 'Bunyip'.

Hmmm, more the latter than the former is my thinking :shock: - don't need any midnight terror wake ups . Mrs LW loved the thought of the ferry, Strathalbyn and the bakeries, so might be a better option :idea:.

 

[serfty]

Fully agree with the Goolwa Idea.

The Coorong is a fascinating area; you can easily head back to the Airport via Victor Harbour and McLaren vale.

I'd try to spend more time in that region in fact.

It's a decent drive from Naracoorte to Goolwa:

Adelaide SA to Adelaide Airport SA - Google Maps

Maybe do Naracoorte as a side trip from Robe.

Adelaide SA to Adelaide Airport SA - Google Maps

 

[QF WP]

Thanks for the confirmation about taking the road less travelled, serfty and kitkat. Checked out the maps and maybe Wellington > Strathalbyn > Goolwa > Victor Harbour > Adelaide might be better. Now to discuss with SWMBO, alter the Itinerary and check the distances & driving times (because I'm the lucky one).

 

[AngieP]

You Wilsons are heading down my way! Suggest that you stop in at Beachport (on the coast) on your way from Robe to Mt Gambier - lovely little seaside town with a nice pier to walk out - Bompas has a nice glass atrium to sit and have a coffee whilst looking at the sea. Take the scenic drive out and around the cliffs and marvel at the Pool of Silom which is saltier than the Dead Sea! You are guaranteed to float but given the weather at the moment it will be way too cold to swim. From Mt Gambier its a very brief 20 minute drive to Nelson (you cross the border into Victoria) which is on the Glenelg River. Boats for hire to putt around on the river if you like. Nice pub for a cleansing ale and a parma. Princess Margaret Rose tourist caves are nearby - good set up with ranger tours etc and you can have a nice picnic in the grounds - tables and benches provided. Make sure you try some southern rock lobster in Robe if the season is still open. You definitely need to call into Coonawarra - my favs are Majella for the sparkling shiraz which is awesome, Rymill for the magnificent reds and Balnaves for another sparkling red. Lots of little shops for the wife to have a wander. Have a great time but remember - its all about layered clothing in this part of the world - jumpers and coats! Angie P

 

[QF WP]

Another mine of information AngieP. Stops are definitely part of our agenda considering our kids, so Beachport will get a visit and if Bompas has either tea or chai latte. Yes, floating at the Pool of Silom may get things really floating.

Whether we go to Nelson might be questionable, but I've never crossed the border from SA to Vic, or vv, so I'll see if Mrs LW wants to as well, will depend on time.

Lobster in Robe - yum, hope the prices are reasonable...I'm in :!:

Sparkling red at Balnaves, well you'll have my wife sampling that in a heartbeat. Lucky I'm driving, or we might need to stay the night...

Layered clothing is the rage in Brisbane tonight. Given my 2 trips to ADL in the past 4 weeks, no illusions about how cool it is gettting down there. Mrs LW has been doing some good buying on eBay for mini#2

 

[PaulC83]

Princess Margaret Rose tourist caves are nearby - good set up with ranger tours etc and you can have a nice picnic in the grounds - tables and benches provided.

+1 on the caves, however if your going to Naracoorte, you will get good cave exposure too. I agree with getting down to Goolwa, however with the number of things one can do its hard to strike a balance. Also agree visiting Rymill I don't particularly "love" the wines, but the grounds and building are quite a thing....

 

[richardn23]

Am wondering how the trip went!

Richard

 

[QF WP]

Really well thanks richardn23, hmmm, might get around to a TR on it (as I'm sure I kept everything).