The Great Ocean Road is one the most iconic strips of Australian coast line. The landscape is wild and rugged, spanning national parks, waterfalls, mountains and white sand beaches with crystal clear water. While there are plenty of tourist spots along the way, the same goes for the beautiful untouched parts of the region. Upon reaching the seaside town of Lorne, we immediately noticed a laid-back, welcoming vibe.

Unlike its neighbouring towns, Lorne is a place that’s inherently varied—on the coast, it’s all about surf and seafood but venture slightly inland, and you’ll find mountains, Erskine falls, and adventure. In partnership with a splendid airbnb, we set off to explore the best places to eat and drink in the region, just a couple of hours drive from Melbourne!

STAY:

Lorne has an abundance of beach and hillside accommodation. The holiday homes are nestled amongst the gumtrees and are mostly a stones throw away from town. We stayed at an amazing split level airbnb with beautiful views of the ocean. We enjoyed a brisk walk over to the famous Erskine Falls trail in the morning followed by a coffee at Moons cafe.

The home perched on a hill was perfect for a larger group with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 5 outdoor/indoor living areas. While we only stayed a couple of nights, the house would be perfect for an extended summer stay with amenities such as Netflix, Stan, and a fully stocked 'beach closet' with surf boards, boogie boards, wetsuits and beach toys! While sitting out on the deck, reading a book, you might even see little koalas in the surrounding trees!

EAT & DRINK:

Post surf, we had our fastest ever burger & coffee combo at the Bottle of Milk. As a vegetarian I’d recommend the cheese & salad burger. Sounds underwhelming but it was far from it friends! Bottle of Milk also run an amazing ice cream and smoothie joint two doors up which is highly recommended!

If you’re up for something a little swankier than pub grub, then MoVida at the Lorne Hotel is delicious and has amazing views of the main beach. The menu is big on seafoods, small bites, spanish wines and funky cocktails! If takeaway is your vibe, then it also has some ready-to-eat meals, small goods and drinks to take back to your airbnb!

DO:

1. Erksine Falls is a quick drive or walk from the main drag with plenty of walking/hiking tracks for the adventurous.

2. Surfers rejoice - Cathedral’s is a 5 minute drive out of town and is your best spot for gnarly barrels.

3. The Great Ocean Road, itself is an Australian National Heritage listed, 243 kilometres long road between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. Fun fact - the Road was built by returning WW1 soldiers. On your way there (or home), stop off The Memorial Arch (the iconic wooden-log arch way) and take a pic! Venture inland and, stop by Brae restaurant for an upscale dining experience.

4. Walk along one of the many beautiful beaches surrounding Lorne! Main beach has something for everyone - especially on a warm day. Some parts are calm enough to SUP (boards available for hire on the main strip) with other parts with enough swell for beginner surfers!

Lorne is an amazing town all year round, but I can’t wait to get back there for summer! The floor plan of Lorne Lodge is big enough to bring a group of mates down for a festival, but affords guests complete privacy with a multi-level living layout. Warm in winter and cool in summer, Lorne Lodge is the perfect base for exploring nearby waterfalls or heading down to the beach for a surf.

As always, all opinions and ideas are our own, however in the interests of disclosure this post was partly sponsored.