Bombora on the River

Bombora on the River sits on the Murray at 94 Barrage Road in Goolwa South, serving breakfast and lunch from 8:30am to 3:30pm most days (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). For dog owners the setup is simple: the covered outdoor dining area looking over the water takes dogs, and the river views make it one of the better places to linger on the Fleurieu with a dog at your feet.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the undercover riverside seating, which is open-air but sheltered, so a dog stays comfortable even when the weather turns. Staff have a solid reputation with pet owners, and visitors on local dog-owner groups report the kitchen will sometimes put out a treat or something for the dog. The dog-friendly tables are the ones people want, so booking and mentioning you are bringing a dog, or arriving early, is the reliable way to land a good spot on weekends and in holiday season.

On the plate

The menu leans hard on local produce and regional wines, with Goolwa pipis a signature and salt and pepper squid a consistent favourite. Breakfast runs to eggs benedict, lunch to clam chowder and duck spring rolls, and the coffee is Altura, poured alongside house-made cakes if you just want a morning stop after a walk.

Getting there and parking

The venue is at the end of Barrage Road, with parking on site. Goolwa's town centre is a few minutes away by car, and the riverside paths around the barrage make an easy leg-stretch before or after a meal.

Pair it with

The Goolwa Beach off-leash dog area is a short drive north, and Alexandrina Council allows dogs off-leash under effective control along the beach from May through November, with tighter on-leash hours in the summer months. In town, Cafe 52 Fourteen on Goolwa Terrace takes dogs at its outdoor tables, and Hector's is another sit-down option. See the full Goolwa listing or browse other South Australian restaurants.

Pepsi: Go mid-morning on a weekday. The deck fills fast on weekends and my humans eat faster when there is a queue behind us.

Best for a long lunch with a calm, water-loving dog. Check the venue's socials in peak season, when hours can extend.