Where:

Victoria, Australia

Situated along the Great Ocean Road between the Otway Ranges and Louttit Bay, only two hours drive from Melbourne, past Anglesea and Aireys Inlet.

Last Visited:

Last visited in September 2006

Why Go:

Lorne is an obvious stopover while taking tourists along the Great Ocean Road. The town has a cosmopolitan character and some nice shops to browse and cafes to stop in for a coffee. In summer it is a happening coastal town, overtaken by families on their annual beach holiday.

Highlights:

• Shopping: The main street is worth a stroll for some cosmopolitan shopping and eating.
• Beach: a nice relatively sheltered beach with views along the coast. It is patrolled by lifesavers in summer.
• Walking: there is an easy coastal walk and numerous excellent walks through the bushland behind the town (Angahook Lorne State Park, Otway Ranges).
• Waterfalls: The large Erskine Falls is approachable by car and bushwalk. Other falls include Henderson, Phantom, Upper and Lower Kalimna, Sheoak, Swallow Cave and the Cora Lynn Cascades.
• Art: Qdos is a very nice Gallery and Cafe in the bush behind town.
• Cinema: The run down art deco cinema shows mainstream movies all year round. The theatre was built in 1937.

Lowlights:

• in wintertime a few places around town close down and it can get pretty cold.

Eating & Drinking:

• Lorne Hotel is always good for food and drink while watching the surf. The Lorne Hotel was originally built in 1876. This building burnt down in 1919 and the one currently standing was built to replace it.
• As with all coastal towns there are plenty of takeaway food options including the obligatory Fish & Chips which you can enjoy with the seagulls on the grassy lands between the main street and the beach..

Other things you should know about:

• Lorne is situated along the Great Ocean Road.
• Each year thousands of people participate in the world famous Pier to Pub 1.2 km swim from the Lorne Pier to the beach, which is then a short stroll up to the pub.
• The Falls Festival is a large music festival held every new year's eve in the bushland behind the town.
• Tourist Information is available at the new info centre at the eastern end of town, a building which was originally the powerhouse with two large crude oil engines.
• Lorne (38° 33’ S, 143° 58’ E) is named after the Marquis of Lorne (a town in Argyllshire, Scotland) in 1869.

More information:

• see also photos from in and around Lorne
• read about the Great Ocean Road
• Great Ocean Walk - long distance walking trail

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