Enjoy the trendy beach town of Lorne on the Great Ocean Road for a fun-filled weekend away!
The town of Lorne is a popular seaside resort town on the Great Ocean Road. It is the perfect place to enjoy a weekend away from the city. There are some great attractions in town, including Lorne’s beach and the main street filled with boutique gift stores, cellars, eateries and galleries. It’s the perfect place to dine on freshly caught seafood, sit down at a cafe to watch the world go by, or grab some take-away food.
Here are some ideas of adventurous, relaxing and exciting activities to enjoy during a weekend in Lorne.
Erskine Falls
Just a short drive from the town centre of Lorne you can discover the lush rainforest and Erskine Falls. Just a short descent from the car park takes you through stunning scenery to the majestic waterfalls. Continue along the Erskine River Track to other nearby waterfalls including Straw Falls and Splitter Falls.
Lorne Beach
Lorne’s main beach is right by the town centre, with an excellent foreshore area in between. It is the only patrolled beach in town, and its the perfect place to take a dip or learn to surf. From the beach you can explore a little further. Walk to Shelley Beach to discover the rock pools, or take the coastal trail to the Pier to see people fishing. If you walk out to the pier, keep an eye out for migrating whales between May and September.
Lorne Sea Baths
Lorne Sea Baths are located on the beach foreshore and have been a popular attraction for many years. The facilities include a gym, pool, hydrobaths and steam room. Outside there are trampolines, which are a huge hit with the kids.
Adventure at Live Wire Park
Explore the bushland near Lorne from a whole new perspective. Live Wire Park is an experience that connects visitors to the local forest and wildlife. It is the home of the Shockwave Zip Coaster, Australia’s most extreme zip line, as well as a series of ropes courses and treetop canopy circuits.
Learn about the construction of the Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road was constructed between 1919 and 1932, after plans were confirmed in 1918. Return soldiers were employed to build the road along the rugged coastline. To learn more about the construction of the Great Ocean Road when you visit, stop in at the Memorial Arch, just a 10 minute drive from Lorne or visit the GOR museum in Lorne.
Grab a coffee and Brunch
There are many great cafes in Lorne, where you can enjoy breakfast with a view of the town and beach. Enjoy the buzzing atmosphere on the weekends as holiday makers wind down and enjoy all Lorne has to offer. Some cafes to try include HAH on the foreshore, the popular Bottle of Mylk and the Lorne Coffee Truck for a quick takeaway cuppa.
Learn to surf
Lorne’s main beach is a great place to learn to surf. The beach is protected from the swells by the headland, which means just smaller gentle waves roll in. There are a couple of surf schools in town, so book yourself a lesson and you’ll be riding the waves in no time.
Check out the view from Teddy’s Lookout
Teddy’s Lookout, just above the township of Lorne, has spectacular views of the Great Ocean Road, the coastline and the southern ocean. It’s a fantastic lookout point and one of the best things to do in Lorne. The lookout can be reached just a short walk from the carpark, or you can hike up the hill from town – but be warned, its very steep!
Spot wild Koalas
Spotting a koala in the wild is a great joy, and a must-do experience for overseas visitors in particular. Just 20 minutes drive west of Lorne is a small township of Kennett River. Here you can pull off the road and walk amongst the eucalyptus trees to spot some of these furry, iconic creatures .
Visit Split Point Lighthouse
Venture along the Great Ocean Road to the famous Split Point Lighthouse. Just 20 minutes’ drive from Lorne, the picturesque lighthouse is an icon of the road. It is also famous throughout Australia, because it was the location of a popular television series in the 90s – Round the Twist.
Take a tour instead – with Go West
If you don’t have time to spend a weekend in Lorne perhaps you’d like to explore the Great Ocean Road in a day trip instead. Take a one day tour of the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to discover nature, wildlife, rainforest and epic coastlines.
On our Day Tour you can spend the day touring the famous Great Ocean Road, with incredible views around every turn. Visit the Memorial Arch and learn about the history and construction of the Great Ocean Road. See koalas in their natural habitat in the eucalyptus forests of the Kennett River township. Take a walk through towering eucalyptus trees and lush ferns in the Otway Rainforest. Finish the day by exploring the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge.
Our Sunset Tour of the Great Ocean Road is great for anyone that has limited time or wants to avoid the crowds on the Great Ocean Road. Depart Melbourne later in the day and visit Memorial Arch to learn about the construction of the Great Ocean Road. See wild koalas in the eucalyptus forests of the Kennett River township. Drive through the Great Otway National Park then marvel at the natural beauty of Loch Ard Gorge. Finish the day at the 12 Apostles to watch the sunset.
Written by: Leah Furey – Digital Content Coordinator @gowest.com.au
