Lorne

Population - 2300

Lorne is situated on the Great Ocean Road 69km south west of Geelong in Victoria .

Wedged between the sea and the Otway Ranges Lorne is a fashionable and pleasant seaside resort town with a great atmosphere. Situated along the estuary of the Erskine River which flows into Louttit Bay gives visitors a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beautiful coastline. Being less than two hours drive from Melbourne makes Lorne very accessible for a quiet weekend or mid week escape or as a perfect overnight stop while travelling the Great Ocean Road.

The Hills behind Lorne are part of the Angahook Lorne State Park with ample walks, grand views, and waterfalls making it a nature lovers paradise. There are walking trails through the verdant rainforest, and with lots of great picnic spots at the parking areas.

For those with a penchant towards art there are wonderful Art Galleries with works by local artists. Antique Collectors are also catered for. With many boutique shops along Mountjoy Parade the avid shopper is well catered for with clothes, souvenirs and designer homewares in great supply.

Eating out in Lorne is easy, the only difficulty is choosing which one of the many great options to try. Its a place to come back to time and again to sample the variety of fine menus.

Accommodation

There are many places to stay in and around Lorne, all types of accommodation, from Bed & Breakfast, Resorts, Retreats, Hotels, Motels, Guesthouses, Self Catered, Camping, Cabins and Caravan Parks are available.

Whatever your style, you'll find a great place to stay at Lorne

Tours at and to Lorne

There are many Tours to the Lorne area, from both Melbourne and Adelaide.

Lorne also has it's own Tour Operators with a great knowledge of this wonderful locality, So why not experience it with people who know all the best spots.

Whatever your style, you'll find a great Tour to Lorne.

Things To See and Do

There are so many Things To See and Do in the Lorne area

Start with a visit to the Lorne Information Centre on Mountjoy Parade, Lorne. Phone 1300891152

www.visitlorne.org

orwww.visitsurfcoast.com

Around Lorne is the Angahook - Lorne State Park

There are plenty of things to do in this great park including walks, waterfalls, BBQ and Picnic areas and Great Views.

There are several Lookout points in the Lorne area.

• Teddy's Lookout - at the end of George St, on Lorne's southern outskirts was named after a ranger who rounded up stray cattle, there offers fine views over the town and coastline. There is a rotunda dating from the 1880s.

• Cinema Point Lookout is located about 10 km north east of Lorne. It is the highest point on the Great Ocean Road and it is arguably the finest view along the coast. The descent to Lorne begins from this point.

• Cathedral Rocks Lookout is about 6 km north east of Lorne.

• The Mt Defiance Lookout is 9 km south of Lorne.

Take a walk along The Shipwreck Walk which is an easy-going 1 hour stroll along the coastline, with a series of plaques about each of the shipwrecks which have occurred along the coast.

Take walk or have a BBQ or picnic in one of the sections of Angahook Lorne State Park .

Visit some of the local attractions and interesting tourist spots.

There is plenty of fishing to be had along both the coast and the estuary.

There are Antique shops for those who love to browse.

The Lorne Historical Society Museum is located at the corner of Otway St and the Great Ocean Road and is open regularly.

Dining Out

There are many Great Restaurants, Cafes, Hotels and other Dining Options in Lorne giving so many dining possibilities, often the hardest thing is deciding where to eat. Whatever your favourite foods, you'll find plenty of options at Lorne.

Angahook Lorne State Park

This park runs along the coast both north east and south west of Lorne. There are plenty of beautiful walks, of different grades, and facilities of BBQ and picnic areas with toilets.

The Picnic areas are at:

• Sheoak Picnic Area - 4 km along Allenvale Rd, has bbq facilities, toilets, picnic tables, fireplaces and drinking water.

• Blanket Leaf Picnic Ground - 7 km along Erskine Falls Rd which runs off of William St. There are fireplaces, picnic tables, toilets, drinking water and information boards.

Both have several walks starting from them.

• Cora Lynn Cascades Walk - 4 km return - starts at the Blanket Leaf Picnic Ground. This walk passes through fern gullies and rocky gorges to Cora Lynn Cascades.

• Cora Lynn Cascades Walk extension - 10 km return - starts at the Blanket Leaf Picnic Ground. This walk passes through fern gullies and rocky gorges to Cora Lynn Cascades. Beyond the Cascades to the Cora Lynn carpark is very difficult and only for experienced walkers. From the carpark the track continues on to Phantom Falls and intersects with Allenvale Road at the Allenvale Mill campsite. From here you can walk east along Allenvale Road then turn left onto the Green Break Track eventually joining up with Erskine Falls Road which leads back to the picnic area.

• Erskine Falls Walk - 50 metres to Erskine Falls from the Erskine Falls carpark. Erskine Falls tumble 30 metres into the tree fern gully below. There is a viewing platform at the top ofthe falls and steps lead down to the base of the falls. 500 metres walk further takes you to Straw Falls and a further 1.3 km walk to Splitters Falls. This section of the walk should not be attempted when water levels are high.

• Kalimna Falls Loop Walk - 8 km return - From the Sheoak Picnic Area follows the route of an old timber tramline west along Sheoak Creek to the Lower Kalimna Falls then on through dense tree ferns around the Upper Kalimna Falls. Return towards the Lower Falls taking the track to the right before reaching Lower Falls. This joins up with Garveys Track and returns you to the Picnic Area.

• Sheoak Falls Walk - 7 km return- From the Sheoak Picnic Area heads south-east along Sheoak Creek to Swallow Cave and on for another 400 metres to the 15 metre high Sheoak Falls, do not attempt this section of the walk when water levels are high. Return a short distance towards Swallow Cave and branch off to the left along the Sheoak/Castle Rock Track. About 1.3 km there is a track junction, turn left to Castle Rock where there is a lookout then return to the junction. Keep left, following the Sheoak Track north to Garveys Track and back to the Picnic Area.

• Phantom Falls Walk - 8.6 km return - From the Sheoak Picnic Area heads north-west to Won Wondah Falls then to Henderson Falls. From there return a short distance to the track junction, keep left as the track veers north, passes between the eight metre high walls of The Canyon and on to Phantom Falls. From Phantom falls follow the Saint George River to the Allenvale Mill site then walk along Allenvale Road back to the Picnic Area.

Sports

For the Sports person Lorne has a number of sporting clubs for those keen to participate. There is a Golf Course on Holiday Rd, a Lawn Bowls Club on Mountjoy Parade and a Swimming Pool on the Foreshore. Lorne Surf Life Saving Club is on the Foreshore and the northern end of the beach is a popular surfing spot. Surf fishing is also very popular along the coast.

Whatever your favourite sport, you'll find plenty of options in Lorne.

Lorne Events Calendar

Lorne Plays Host to Many Great Events during each Year.

Lorne Events Calendar for 2008