ABOUT LORNE

The Mediterranean of Victoria, Lorne is a breathtaking seaside town, situated on the Great Ocean Road on Louttit Bay. With its jagged and winding coast line, and exquisite waters, Lorne is more than just a seaside town. The beaches are surrounded by the stunning Otway Mountain Ranges, Erskine Falls, the Cumberland River and more, and has been attracting holiday makers, day trippers, athletes, music and art lovers for over a century.

Just under 2 hours drive from Melbourne, and about 45 minutes from Geelong, Lorne makes the perfect weekend getaway. Especially since Lorne has a wide range of accommodation to suit every occasion and budget, including a number of destinations that are pet friendly. Lorne is also the halfway point between Melbourne and the world famous 12 Apostles.

The town's best-known event is the Pier to Pub, a 1.2km ocean swim from the Lorne Pier to the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club held each January. With more than 5,000 swimmers it is one of the largest ocean swims in the world, and it is run alongside the Mountain to Surf fun run over the same weekend. Every second March the Lorne Sculpture Biennale puts a free open-air exhibition along the foreshore. The Falls Music and Arts Festival was staged near Lorne from 1993, but the last one held at the Lorne site was in 2018 and the festival has not run since going on hiatus in 2023 — see what's on for the current calendar.

Lorne has a range of activities suited to people of all ages and interests. The vibrant art scene is represented by the Qdos Art Gallery, a contemporary art gallery set on 1 hectare of land, and includes a sculptured garden, studio and cafe. You can spend hours admiring the stunning views from a wide range of cafes and boutiques that line the pristine coastline. If you are a bit more adventurous you can do some hiking in the Otway Ranges or even catch a fish off the famous Lorne Pier.