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Lorne: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Lorne is a holiday town of a thousand people that swells many times over in January. It sits on Louttit Bay, between the ocean and the forested Otway Ranges, with the Great Ocean Road as its main street. This walk follows the foreshore from the centre to the pier and up to the lookout above. Two hours with a coffee; on summer weekends park early or walk from your hotel.

A short history of Lorne

Before the arrival of Europeans, the Gadubanud people lived along this coast. The town was given the name Lorne in 1871, after the Marquess of Lorne, son-in-law of Queen Victoria, and for decades it was a small holiday village that was hard to reach. In 1919 returned soldiers from the First World War began cutting the Great Ocean Road, and the section between Lorne and Apollo Bay was opened in 1932. The road, built as a memorial to those killed in the war, turned Lorne into a popular holiday town for Melburnians. In 1983, in the Ash Wednesday bushfires, dozens of houses in and around the town burned down.

The ten best sights in Lorne

  1. 1
    Qdos Arts

    Gallery and sculpture garden in the bush above town, with a café

  2. Lorne Historical Society
    2
    Lorne Historical Society

    Small local museum on the town, the road and the fires

  3. Memorial Arch, Eastern View
    3
    Memorial Arch, Eastern View

    The arch marks the road as a war memorial; everyone stops for the photo

  4. Split Point Lighthouse
    4
    Split Point Lighthouse

    The white lighthouse at Aireys Inlet; tours climb to the top

  5. Cape Otway Lightstation
    5
    Cape Otway Lightstation

    Old lighthouse on the far cape; a long detour west of Apollo Bay

  6. Australian National Surfing Museum
    6
    Australian National Surfing Museum

    Boards, films and surf history in Torquay

  7. Lorne Theatre
    7
    Lorne Theatre

    The town cinema on the main street, for a rainy night

  8. Lorne Beach
    8
    Lorne Beach

    Patrolled surf beach in front of town; swim between the flags

  9. Lorne Pier
    9
    Lorne Pier

    Walk out at sunset; people fish for squid from it at night

  10. Teddy's Lookout
    10
    Teddy's Lookout

    The famous view of the road curving along the cliffs; 5 minutes from the car

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What is an audio walk?

Tours in Lorne →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Lorne:

Lorne on foot

Free walking tours in Lorne

Lorne on foot

Lorne is a holiday town of a thousand people that swells many times over in January. It sits on Louttit Bay, between the ocean and the forested Otway Ranges, with the Great Ocean Road as its main street. This walk follows the foreshore from the centre to the pier and up to the lookout above. Two hours with a coffee; on summer weekends park early or walk from your hotel.

  1. Lorne Visitor Centre · The bay was named after Captain Louttit, who sheltered his ship here in 1841. The town took its name later from the Marquess of Lorne, who married Queen Victoria's daughter Louise in 1871.
  2. Lorne Historical Society · In February 1983 the Ash Wednesday fires swept through the hills behind Lorne and burned houses on the edge of town. The society keeps the town's records and photographs, from the first guest houses to the building of the road.
  3. Lorne Beach · Every January the Pier to Pub swim runs 1.2 km from the pier along this beach, and thousands of swimmers take part. It has grown into one of the largest open-water swims in the world.
  4. Lorne Pier · Before the Great Ocean Road reached Lorne in 1922, the easiest way in was by sea, and steamers tied up at a pier here. Today anglers fish from it for squid after dark under the lights.
  5. Grand Pacific Hotel · The hotel has stood above the pier since the 19th century, when guests came by coach and steamer for sea air. Its veranda bar has the best sunset view in Lorne.
  6. Teddy's Lookout · From the top you look down on the mouth of the St George River and the road winding along the cliffs. It is one of the most photographed views on the whole Great Ocean Road.

Waterfalls of the Otways

Behind Lorne the Otway Ranges rise steeply, and the rivers that drain them fall over sandstone ledges on the way to the sea. More than ten waterfalls lie within half an hour of town, in tall forest of mountain ash and tree ferns. This route links the best of them by car and short walks. Paths are steep and slippery after rain; good shoes.

  1. Erskine Falls · The Erskine River drops about 30 metres here into a fern gully. The falls have drawn visitors since Lorne's first holiday makers came, and the lookout at the top is a short walk from the car park.
  2. Phantom Falls · A longer walk of about two to three hours return leads up the St George River to these falls.
  3. Lower Kalimna Falls · The falls drop over a rock overhang, and you can walk behind the curtain of water. The walk in follows the line of an old timber tramway from the logging days of the Otways.
  4. Sheoak Falls · Sheoak Falls is one of the easiest to reach, a short walk from a car park on the coast road. It is named after the sheoak, a native tree with drooping needle-like branches.
  5. Mount Defiance Lookout · The lookout sits where the road clings to the cliff south of town, with views back to Lorne. The road builders cut much of this stretch by hand into the rock.
  6. Cumberland River · The river reaches the sea through a narrow gorge with tall cliffs, and a walking track runs up it from the campground.

The road the soldiers built

The Great Ocean Road was built by soldiers back from the First World War, and it is dedicated to the comrades who did not return. East of Lorne it runs past the memorial arch and the lighthouse to the surf coast of Anglesea, Bells Beach and Torquay. The drive is about 45 minutes each way without stops. Go east in the morning and come back along the coast as the light falls on the cliffs.

  1. Memorial Arch, Eastern View · About 3,000 returned servicemen built the road between 1919 and 1932, with picks, shovels and explosives. It is often called the world's largest war memorial, and the arch carries the dedication.
  2. Split Point Lighthouse · The lighthouse was first lit in 1891 and is known locally as the White Queen. Australian children know it from the TV series Round the Twist, which was filmed here.
  3. Point Roadknight · A long rocky point curls around this beach and breaks the swell, so the water stays calm when the open beaches are rough. It is the family beach of Anglesea.
  4. Anglesea · Anglesea's golf course is known for its mob of eastern grey kangaroos, which graze on the fairways among the players. It is the easiest place on the coast to see them in the wild.
  5. Bells Beach · Bells Beach hosts a professional surfing contest every Easter, often called the longest-running event of its kind in the world. Winners ring a bell trophy at the end.
  6. Australian National Surfing Museum · Torquay is where two of the world's big surf brands, Rip Curl and Quiksilver, were founded around 1970. The museum, in the town's surf city precinct, tells that story alongside a century of boards.
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Getting to Lorne and getting around

  • Geelong Station · Trains from Melbourne; V/Line coaches to Lorne and Apollo Bay leave from the interchange
  • Lorne Visitor Centre bus stop · Coach stop on the Great Ocean Road in the middle of town

Cheap eats in Lorne

Lorne eats on the beach: pies from the bakeries, fish and chips on the foreshore lawn, and coffee that is as serious as in Melbourne. Prices are resort prices, a little above the city. In summer every place is busy at lunch, so eat early or late. Watch the gulls and cockatoos, which will take food from your hand.

  • Grandma Shields Bakery · Meat pies and sausage rolls, a pie about AU$6-8
  • Louttit Bay Bakery · Pies, pastries and coffee on the main street, about AU$5-12
  • Moons Espresso & Juice Bar · Coffee, juices and breakfast, about AU$5-22
  • The Bottle of Milk · Burgers and shakes, about AU$15-25
  • Lorne Fish & Chips · Fish and chips to eat on the foreshore, about AU$15-22
  • The Salty Dog Fish & Chippery · Another fish-and-chip shop at the south end, about AU$15-22

Museums in Lorne

  • Lorne Historical Society · Town history, the road and the fires
  • Split Point Lighthouse · Guided climbs to the top
  • Cape Otway Lightstation · The oldest surviving lighthouse on the Australian mainland
  • Australian National Surfing Museum · Surf history in Torquay
  • Qdos Arts · Contemporary art in the forest

Nature and day trips near Lorne

  • Erskine Falls · Fern gully waterfall, 10 minutes from town
  • Teddy's Lookout · The river mouth and the coast road from above
  • Kennett River koalas · Wild koalas in the trees along Grey River Road
  • Sheoak Falls · Short walk to falls from the coast road
  • Wye River · Small beach and a village that rebuilt after fire
  • Point Roadknight · Calm beach and rock pools at Anglesea

Things to do in Lorne with kids

  • Lorne Beach · Patrolled beach with flags and lifeguards in summer
  • Lorne Pier · Watch the anglers and the fish below
  • Kennett River koalas · Koala spotting, 20 minutes west
  • Point Roadknight · Shallow, calm water for small children
  • Anglesea · Kangaroos on the golf course at dusk

Where to eat in Lorne

  • Ipsos · Popular dinner spot on the main street; book in summer
  • Lorne Beach Pavilion · Dinner right on the foreshore with the sea in front
  • Mexican Republic · Tacos and margaritas, casual
  • Saporitalia · Pizza and pasta near the river end of town
  • Movida Lorne · Spanish tapas from a well-known Melbourne kitchen
  • Chopstix Noodle Bar · Quick noodles and stir-fries
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Frequently asked questions about Lorne

What is there to see in Lorne?

The top sights in Lorne are Qdos Arts, Lorne Historical Society and Memorial Arch, Eastern View. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Lorne?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Lorne without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Lorne?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Lorne, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Lorne on foot.

How do you get to Lorne and get around?

The main ways are Geelong Station and Lorne Visitor Centre bus stop. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Lorne, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Lorne that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

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