We had a little road trip this weekend. Just a little drive of around 2000KMs over five days. Read all of our experiences in these posts, split over each day. Jump to the other days: Day 2, to Day 3, or Days 4 & 5.
Leaving Adelaide
We chose Bianca’s BMW for this trip because it has lower KMs and a digital key accessible on Christian’s phone. This allowed us to share the driving, and either of us could open and start the car at any time.
After mostly packing the night before, we woke at 5am to hit the road early, and cover some KMs before breakfast. It was a beautiful day and we watched the dawn break over the Adelaide Hills as we drove along the Princes Highway towards Victoria.
The open road beckoned us forward through the small towns of South Australia clinging to the highway, until we reached Tailem Bend. Following the mighty Murray River, we veered toward the Coonawarra region, hugging the coastline as we headed south.
Meningie
We arrived at the quaint hamlet of Meningie around 7am. Nestled on the banks of Lake Albert, the town offers a few services, including the necessary caffeine fix we craved in the post-dawn light. The lake shimmered with gentle ripples, interrupted only by a few water birds and a graceful flock of pelicans. We paused for some photos and hot coffee, mingling with the early morning tradies and truckers.
We stretched our legs, breathed in the crisp 5⁰ air, and quickly downed our coffee before heading to the next stop.
Kingston
Kingston sprawls out along the coast and features a few interesting sights, including a giant lobster. “Larry” the lobster stands proudly at 17m tall, a magnificent three story sculpture on the main road.
After soaking in the sights, we continued onto Robe for breakfast. The scenic drive was pleasant, though still just a single carriageway in both directions.
Robe
We aimed to have breakfast in beautiful Robe, and we arrived just after 9am. It’s a fantastic base for exploring the Limestone Coast.
Victoria Street, the main thoroughfare, buzzes with cosy cafes, bars and restaurants. The area offers plenty of accommodation and several camping parks. Visitors flock to Long Beach, a pristine stretch of beach where you can drive right on. Alternatively, Hooper Beach, Glass Beach and Town Beach lie walking distance from the main town. However, we weren’t here for beaches; after breakfast we hit the road again, eager to head further South.
Tantanoola
As we drove towards Mount Gambier, we spotted a sign for Tantanoola Caves. The car park and visitor centre sit just a few metres from the road, and entry to the cave costs $10 each.
The rear door of the visitor centre opens directly to a steel door in the cliff face, via a smooth and even concrete path. Once we opened the door, a stunning cave full of stalactites and stalagmites greeted us. It was easily accessible from the concrete path with steel handrails.
We joined an existing tour group, which meant we missed the first five minutes of introduction and history but were grateful that we did not have to wait half an hour for the next tour. You can feel the increased humidity inside and a there is a distinctive damp smell.
The cave consists of a single cavern showcasing magnificent geological features. It is easy to navigate the entire area, with ample lighting highlighting the cave’s best feature.
Of all the caves we’ve visited, this one was the easiest to access and undoubtedly one of the most stunning in such a compact space.
Afterwards we drove through Mount Gambier, pausing only for a quick refuel, and then headed on to Victoria.
We quickly noticed the road conditions changing as we crossed into our neighboring state. The large, repetitive potholes became a signature of our journey—some were extreme and always uncomfortable to hit! The driver had to stay focused to avoid as many as possible
Port Fairy
We had heard of the small town of Port Fairy Victoria, but had previously driven past it without visiting. Having now visited this beautiful town, we have vowed not to miss it again. Christian remarked that it looked like a place designed by Disney, with quaint cottages that were both unique and elegant.
The main street is broad and lined with magnificent old buildings, and at least four pubs that we counted. Coffee shops and boutiques add a lovely variety to the small town atmosphere.
We followed the signs to the Port, finding it just as picturesque and charming as the rest of the town. As we strolled around we excitedly pointed out stunning little cottages and cabins.
Warrnambool
The open road called us as we had a deadline to check in to Warrnambool. Grateful for the Satnav, we navigated past the light industrial and residential areas of the town to the sea front, dodging more potholes.
As we neared the ocean, the houses became more substantial and magnificent. We spotted a line of blue and white cottages that caught our eye and as we searched for a place to pull over, we realised that these charming cottages marked our destination!
Deep Blue Hotel
We arrived at our hotel in Warrnambool and checked in. Our corner room offered a lovely view of the sea. It featured a large bed and an unusual bathroom layout with a bi-fold door leading into the room, allowing us to watch each other while using the toilet or shower—definitely an interesting twist! With no bath available, there was no chance to soak in the bathroom and enjoy the view, making it a curious addition.
The hotel boasted a café that served both coffee and alcohol, along with a pool and sauna area for us to enjoy.
The Deep Blue Spa Hot Springs
Our main destination was the hot springs attached to the hotel. The nine pools, fed by a natural hot spring, ranged in temperature from 45 to 35 degrees, with one cold plunge pool included. The hot pools emitted a distinct smell of sulfur and appeared cloudy with a slight yellow tint. However, the water felt incredibly soft and soothing. We enjoyed a three-hour session, trying out every single pool.
One of the pools was chlorinated—the cold plunge pool. At 12 degrees, it wasn’t icy, but after lounging in the warm pools, it felt quite frigid. We both preferred the hotter pools, where many others enjoyed the waterfalls and the caves designed to create the ambiance of a hidden grotto. Despite the forty to fifty other people in the complex, we often found secluded spots, and many times, we had a pool all to ourselves.
We stayed for as long as we could – many other visitors did not stay as long as us so we gradually had more and more space to ourselves. We left at 9pm and that night we both remarked that our skin felt softer and smoother.
Read more of our trip for Day 2
