Experience the local arts culture, delicious fresh seafood and majestic native forests in this humming seaside town where the bush meets the beach.
With great surf, a thriving cultural scene and the magnificent Great Otway National Park on the doorstep, Lorne has been one of the most enticing getaways on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road for more than a century. Visit Lorne to experience its magnificent Surf Coast beaches, forest-shrouded waterfalls and fern gullies, charming main street shopping district and excellent pier-side fishing.
Enjoy a day by the seaside at Lorne’s family-friendly main beach, patrolled by the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club. Pick a patch of sand and stretch out, or stroll along the beach’s expanse. Watch surfers tackling the waves or go for a swim in the clear waters. Grab a fishing rod and drop a line at Lorne Pier. Here, you might catch trevally, barracuda or whiting.
Stroll along Lorne’s main street to find boutique stores, surf shops, terrace cafés and restaurants serving fresh local seafood. Take a seat at a restaurant to enjoy expertly prepared regional produce, or simply grab some takeaway fish and chips and have a picnic on the sand.
Don’t miss a trip out to one of 10 waterfalls located within 10 kilometres (6 miles) of Lorne. Check out the thundering Erskine Falls that flow down to meet the Bass Strait at Lorne’s beach or enjoy a relaxed amble along Cumberland River. Stunning lookouts can be found at Louttit Bay and along the Surf Coast Walk, a hiking trail that leads past ochre cliffs and coastal vistas. Explore the trails that traverse the Great Otway National Park to see stunning eucalypt forest and spot koalas.
Lorne has a reputation for its thriving arts community. Visit over New Year’s for the fun-filled Falls Music & Arts Festival or in August for the diverse Lorne Performing Arts Festival. During March, you can see sculptures on the foreshore at the Lorne Sculpture Festival.
Lorne is located on the Great Ocean Road and is just over 2-hours’ drive from Melbourne, the state’s capital city. It is a great holiday destination year-round. Enjoy the town’s beautiful beaches in summer, hike lush nature trails in spring or spot migratory whales in winter.
