Day one travels from Adelaide to Robe

Treat the first day as a travel day with a pleasant destination, not a challenge to fit in every roadside stop. The regional tourism organisation identifies a coastal approach through the Kingston SE area towards Robe and Beachport, offering an alternative to the inland journey through Naracoorte and Coonawarra.

Map your route before leaving and choose sensible rest stops. A realistic arrival time includes breaks and lunch, not simply the driving estimate on your phone. Aim to reach Robe with enough daylight to settle in and explore a little on foot rather than arriving tired with another activity still to complete.

Spend your first evening getting a feel for the town. A meal and a short coastal walk can provide a satisfying end to the drive. Staying two nights in Robe makes the following day easier, because you can leave your main luggage in place and enjoy a day without checking out or changing accommodation.

Day two leaves time to enjoy Robe

Robe deserves more than a quick photograph on the way somewhere else. Use your second day for its town centre, coastal scenery and local food, choosing activities according to the weather. If you have booked a particular experience, leave space around it rather than filling every hour with another destination.

A relaxed beach visit is one option, but it should begin with checking access and conditions. Use public parking and explore on foot. Do not take a rental vehicle onto beach sand or tracks simply because a local attraction description mentions vehicle access. Your rental agreement determines where the car may be driven.

This is also a useful day to adjust the rest of your trip. If your group prefers shorter walks or slower mornings, simplify tomorrow's stops now. A five-day holiday becomes more enjoyable when the itinerary reflects the people travelling, rather than forcing everyone to maintain the same pace from breakfast until dinner.

Day three continues through Beachport to Mount Gambier

Make Beachport a possible stop on the journey towards Mount Gambier. Choose a manageable break for a walk or lunch, then continue with time to reach your accommodation comfortably. You do not need to investigate every side road to appreciate the coastal part of the region.

Mount Gambier makes a useful base for exploring the area's volcanic and limestone landscapes. Start with the Blue Lake if the timing suits. Its colour changes through the year, with Tourism Australia noting that its vivid blue appearance is generally strongest between November and March. Visit for the landscape itself rather than expecting every season to match a summer photograph.

Keep the first afternoon here modest. A lookout stop followed by dinner can be enough after the drive. Booking your next morning's main attraction before settling in can help you avoid last-minute decisions, but allow some flexibility if weather or access notices change your plans.

Day four combines a sunken garden with an inland journey

Umpherston Sinkhole, also known as Balumbul, offers a different perspective on Mount Gambier's landscape. A garden occupies the collapsed limestone feature, with viewpoints above and access down into it where available. Check current access information, especially if steps or uneven surfaces could affect someone in your group.

From Mount Gambier, continue inland towards Penola and Coonawarra before making your way to Naracoorte for the night. Coonawarra is particularly associated with cabernet sauvignon, but you can appreciate a regional lunch or the changing scenery without making wine tasting the centre of the afternoon.

If you do include a cellar door, book where required and have a driver who does not drink. Avoid an itinerary that relies on several tastings followed by a long drive. Staying near your next morning's activity is often more valuable than adding one more stop late in the day.

Day five explores Naracoorte before returning to Adelaide

Naracoorte Caves National Park provides a memorable final focus for the trip. The World Heritage site is recognised for its fossil record, offering a chance to connect the landscapes you have travelled through with a much longer story of Australian life.

Choose a cave experience that suits your group and book ahead where required. Check the tour's duration, steps and access requirements rather than assuming every cave visit involves the same level of activity. Allow time for the experience itself, then start the return to Adelaide with sufficient room for breaks.

The inland route makes this a loop rather than a repeat of the coastal drive. If a cave tour and the return journey make the final day feel too full, add another night. An itinerary is a planning tool, and extending it is preferable to rushing or driving when fatigued.

Plan the rental around the whole journey

Before booking, map all five days, including local sightseeing and the return to Adelaide. Check the selected vehicle's kilometre allowance, excess-kilometre charges, luggage space and permitted travel areas. Arrange accommodation and any timed tours first enough to understand the route you actually intend to drive.

Sai Car Rentals offers pickup in Kilkenny, Adelaide, with vehicles subject to availability. Call 08 8445 0999 if you need help matching the rental period to your plans. Office hours are Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with Sunday closed and outside-hours arrangements subject to availability. Leave time for refuelling and return so your last day ends as comfortably as the trip began.

Visitor information and sources

Destination information checked on 26 October 2026. Check official opening hours, bookings, access notices and local conditions before travelling. The itinerary is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your group.

Limestone Coast Tourism | Getting here
https://visitlimestonecoast.com.au/plan/getting-here/

Tourism Australia | Limestone Coast
https://www.australia.com/en/places/adelaide-and-surrounds/guide-to-limestone-coast.html

South Australian Tourism Commission | Robe
https://southaustralia.com/destinations/limestone-coast/places/robe

Naracoorte Caves National Park
https://www.naracoortecaves.sa.gov.au/