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Seaside cottages to vineyard retreats
The best stay in Mount Gambier
Bed down in a heritage Robe cottage, a Coonawarra vineyard guesthouse or a Mount Gambier motel within minutes of the Blue Lake. The region rewards an unhurried stay.
Where you stay on the Limestone Coast depends on the kind of trip you're after. Mount Gambier, the region's biggest centre, offers the widest choice of motels, apartments and hotels, and makes a handy base for exploring the Blue Lake, sinkholes and caves nearby.
For a wine escape, the heritage township of Penola and the Coonawarra vineyards have boutique cottages, B&Bs and winery stays within easy reach of the cellar doors. On the coast, Robe is the region's holiday darling - book well ahead for summer and long weekends, when its cottages, caravan parks and beach houses fill fast.
Smaller seaside towns like Beachport, Port MacDonnell and Kingston SE keep things relaxed with caravan parks, holiday rentals and foreshore camping. Naracoorte and Millicent round out the inland options for travellers following the caves and national parks. Across the region, accommodation stays comfortable and good value compared with the bigger destinations.
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Stay in Limestone Coast - frequently asked questions
What kinds of accommodation does the Limestone Coast offer?
The region spans heritage seaside cottages and beach houses in Robe, vineyard guesthouses and glamping among the vines in Coonawarra, and a full range of motels, apartments and hotels in Mount Gambier. Mount Gambier is the largest centre and makes a handy base for the Blue Lake, sinkholes and nearby caves, while smaller towns like Penola and Naracoorte add quiet country B&Bs and motels.
Where is the best place to stay for a Coonawarra wine escape?
Coonawarra and the gateway town of Penola are the natural bases for a wine trip, set among the famous strip of terra rossa (red soil) that makes the region one of Australia's great Cabernet Sauvignon districts. You can stay in vineyard guesthouses and self-contained units close to the cellar doors, with most of the wineries clustered along a compact strip just north of Penola so you can move between them easily.
Can you stay on a winery in Coonawarra?
Yes. Several Coonawarra producers offer on-site accommodation, and Bellwether Wines is one of the best known, with glamping bell tents and powered campsites set around its 1868 shearing-shed cellar door a few kilometres north of the Coonawarra township. Stays here often include a wine tasting, and there are shared camp-kitchen and bathroom facilities, so it pays to book ahead as tent and site numbers are limited.
Is there any unusual or unique accommodation in Mount Gambier?
The Old Mount Gambier Gaol is the standout - a former prison that operated from 1866 to 1994 and now offers boutique and backpacker-style accommodation, including converted cells, family rooms in old warden's quarters and a self-contained cottage. It sits within a short drive of the Blue Lake and the main street, and guests can wander the historic prison grounds, chapel and library.
Do I need to book Limestone Coast accommodation in advance?
For much of the year you can find rooms fairly easily, but coastal Robe books out well ahead over summer (December to February) and the Easter holidays, when it shifts from a quiet seaside village to a busy holiday town. Coonawarra also fills up around vintage and wine events, so if you are visiting in peak season or want a specific cottage or vineyard stay, reserve early to secure it.