12 Best Things to Do in Lorne, Great Ocean Road

Lorne is easily one of the prettiest towns in Victoria. It’s been a popular holiday destination for generations and has become an iconic stop on the famous Great Ocean Road. With a sweeping bay of rolling waves backed by dense rainforest and hidden waterfalls, its natural beauty shines through from the minute you arrive.

However, it’s also become a popular place to hang out with friends on a weekend, go for long beach walks or lengthy brunch dates, and soak up the coastal vibes of this chic, atmospheric town.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend by the sea or an adventure-filled day chasing waterfalls and riding waves, Lorne offers something for everyone. After several visits to this beach town, I’ve put together a complete guide of the best things to do in Lorne.

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How to Get to Lorne

Melbourne to Lorne: 140km or a 2 hour drive

Lorne is just a two hour drive from the city, making it possible to visit on a day trip or an extended weekend getaway. The quickest route will take you around Geelong on the M1 and then onto the Great Ocean Road just past Torquay.

If you don’t have your own vehicle and prefer to use public transport, it’s possible to get to Lorne from Melbourne using a combination of bus and train. You can take the V/line train to Geelong and then a bus to Lorne, check PTV to plan your trip. However, the journey will take about 3.5 hours one way, so it’s not ideal for a day trip.

You can also visit on an organised day tour from Melbourne, which will take in many of the sights on the Great Ocean Road all the way to the Twelve Apostles and back.

When to Visit Lorne

You can visit Lorne all year round, but the town is especially popular in summer when it’s heaving with people throughout the holiday period. I’d try and avoid this time if possible, because generally prices increase, the beach is crowded, and it’ll be hard to find a spot at a cafe.

My favourite seasons for exploring the Great Ocean Road are autumn and spring. These shoulders seasons offer more mild weather, fewer people, cheaper prices, but still clearer days for exploring the forest and the coast.

Winter is of course also a nice time to visit, but the coast does see a bit of rainfall during this time and it doesn’t make it ideal for long beach walks or chasing waterfalls through the forest.

Great Ocean Road near Lorne — Great Ocean Road just outside Lorne

Where to Stay in Lorne

You can book a B&B, stay at a caravan park, or opt for bush camping near Lorne for your stay on the Great Ocean Road. Here are my recommendations:

Lorne Accommodation

Being a popular weekend getaway, you can expect a range of accommodation in Lorne. From bush cottages to house rentals and foreshore caravan parks, there’s something to suit everyone. Here are my top picks:

Lorne Bush House Cottages | These self-contained bush cottages come in two and three bedroom options for families and groups. They also have a safari style glamping tent amongst the trees for a solo or couple getaway. Check prices here.

Surf Haven House | Rent this two bedroom house in Lorne for up to 6 of your friends. A beautifully decorated home with plenty of natural light from big windows and an outdoor deck for soaking up the sun. Check prices here.

Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park | If you prefer a caravan park, this place is right on the estuary in the middle of town. They have a variety of cabins available, as well as powered sites for caravans and safari style glamping tents. Check prices here.

Camping Near Lorne

If you prefer something more rustic, there are a couple of bush camps managed by Parks Vic that are close enough to Lorne. They have drop toilets but no other facilities. You must book and pay for these sites before arrival.

Jamieson Creek Campground | Just a 20min drive down the Great Ocean Road from Lorne is this hidden campground up in the bush above the road. It has 24 campsites, 10 of which are tent only while the rest are accessible to vans and caravans. The camp has an incredible view of the Great Ocean Road from the BBQ area. No phone reception. Find it here.

Big Hill Campground | Nearly a 20 minute drive up into the Otways north of Lorne, this bush camp has 13 campsites with half being tent-only. It’s a nice spot to switch off with no phone reception. You might also spot a koala in the tree. Find it here.

Best Things to Do in Lorne

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Lorne, I’m rounding up everything you need to tick off on a weekend in this surf town on the Great Ocean Road.

1 Relax on Lorne Foreshore

The Lorne foreshore and Lorne main beach are some of the nicest along the Great Ocean Road. The sweeping bay has soft sand and gentle waves, with ample car parking behind it and some grass to enjoy a picnic.

Whether you’re watching the surfers or going for a long walk on the sand, the foreshore is a nice place to hang out. You can also follow the footpath around the bay from the beach for a longer walk, known as the Shipwreck Trail which I’ll outline more below.

2 Walk Along the Shipwreck Trail

The Shipwreck Trail is a beautiful walking path that travels along the foreshore and then ascends the stairs to the right side of the beach near the Surf Lifesaving Club. From there, it skirts through the trees around the headland offering beautiful views back over Lorne and further down the coast.

The trail continues all the way to the Lorne Pier, which is a good spot for a fish or to watch the sunset at the end of the day. The Shipwreck Trail is popular amongst walkers and runners, and it can be extended in both directions on other footpaths if you want a longer walk.

3 Learn to Surf at Lorne Beach

The main beach in Lorne is one of the best places to learn how to surf in Victoria. The wide bay offers a beach break with gentle waves that are ideal for learning. Plus, you’ll also find many other beginners and lessons taking place on weekends.

There are a couple of surf board hire places in Lorne, including HAH Cafe which is right on the beach and also home to some delicious, healthy food and coffee. If you’re a complete grom, then it’s best to take a surf lesson first before heading out alone.

To the right side of the bay, you’ll also find a point break along the rocks there where the more experienced surfers tend to congregate. You can watch them from up on the Shipwreck Trail for a closer view.

4 Soak up the View from Teddy’s Lookout

One of the best views on the entire Great Ocean Road, Teddy’s Lookout is located just above the town of Lorne overlooking the Saint George River. The carpark is just 2.5km from the Main Street with enough room for several cars.

From the carpark, you walk just 100m down to the first lookout platform, before continuing down the trail a little further for the second lookout, which offers a closer view of the Great Ocean Road and river.

While you can’t see the actual sunset from here, the late afternoon glow still offers a beautiful time to watch the river drain into the Southern Ocean and the cars following the road along the coast below.

5 Check out the Shops

Lorne is known for it’s main street filled with lovely boutique shops, surf stores, and buzzing cafes. I recommend wandering the street and checking out the surf wear, vintage clothes, and coastal homewares to pick up something to take home with you.

6 Have Brunch at Lorne Central or The Bottle of Milk

Two places that can be considered institutions of Lorne’s brunch scene are the Lorne Central and The Bottle of Milk. Located next to each other on the Main Street, they’re distinctive by the outdoor seating under bright umbrellas.

Both cafes are extremely popular so arrive early for a seat. Lorne Central has delicious toasties, cooked breakfasts, and fish and chips, while The Bottle of Milk serves up milkshakes, burgers, and great coffee.

7 Admire Erskine Falls

Easily the most popular waterfall on the Great Ocean Road, Erskine Falls is located just 10km from Lorne town in the Otways. The beautiful waterfall tumbles 30 metres down into a lush valley and is best seen after some rainfall as it can reduce significantly in summer.

The first viewpoint is just 100m from the car park, but I highly recommend taking the 250 steps down to the base of the falls. Here, you’ll find a much better viewing platform to see the falls in their full drop.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also cross the river carefully on the rocks and follow the Erksine River Walking Track. This actually heads all the way to Lorne on a slippery 7.5km trail along the river or you can just follow it for around 300m more to another set of cascades called Straw Falls.

8 Walk to Lower Kalimna Falls

Many of the best walks in Lorne start from Sheoak Picnic Area, just 4.5km away from Lorne. One of these trails leads you to Lower Kalimna Falls, a small but unique waterfall that tumbles over a cave in the forest.

It’s just 6km return from the carpark along an old timber tramway, so it’s fairly flat and easy to follow. Once you arrive at the waterfall, you can actually you can actually walk behind the water curtain under the cave, which is a really cool vantage point, or sit under the ferns in front and enjoy the view.

9 Hike the Phantom Falls and Henderson Falls Via The Canyon Circuit

A more adventurous walk to a couple of waterfalls from Sheoak Picnic Area is this beautiful loop to three waterfalls via The Canyon. It’s definitely one of my favourite walks in the area, so I recommend allowing time for this one.

The 8.5km loop will take around 3 hours in total. First, it’s an easy ramble to Henderson Falls passing by Won Wondah Falls on the way. Henderson Falls is one of my favourite spots in the Otways, because it’s such an underrated spot hidden in the forest.

From there, you can continue on towards Phantom Falls through The Canyon. The Canyon is a fun section passing large rocks and boulders in the damp forest. It does require a bit of scrambling and climbing through narrow passages, but is certainly doable for kids and moderately fit people.

Once at Phantom Falls, you have to descend some stairs from a vehicle track to the bottom where you can enjoy a better view.

To make this hike a loop, follow the trail along St George River that descends down to Allenvale Road. From here, it’s a 2km walk along the road back to Sheoak Picnic Area (be careful of traffic).

10 Check Out Sheoak Falls

Sheoak Falls is another popular waterfall near Lorne to check out. There are a couple of different ways to reach this waterfall depending on your time and fitness level.

The easiest way is to drive to Sheoak Falls Carpark just off the Great Ocean Road about 5km from Lorne. From there, it’s only about 700m to the waterfall on a fairly easily and well-maintained trail.

There’s also the option of heading up some stairs to Swallow Cave, about 600m one way off the main trail. On this signposted track, you can get to see another smaller cascade and a cave that is home to nesting swallows.

For a longer and more adventurous option, you can actually begin the walk from Sheoak Picnic Area (where the above two walks also start from). From there, it’s a 9km loop that incorporates Sheoak Falls, Swallow Cave and Castle Rock Lookout.

From Sheoak Picnic Area, I followed the well-marked trail to Sheoak Falls via Swallow Cave, which is about 3.5km one way. You could return the same way, but I recommend taking the trail on your left which is a steep climb out of the valley towards Castle Rock. Castle Rock viewpoint is actually a side trip of about 700m from the main track, but it’s worth it. The view from the lookout overlooks the Great Ocean Road and Cumberland River where it meets the sea.

Once you return to the main trail, continue until the intersection with Garvey Track. Then turn right which will take you back to the picnic area and carpark.

Memorial Arch Great Ocean Road — Memorial Arch

11 Snap a Photo of the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch

Between Aireys Inlet and Lorne, you’ll pass under the famous Memorial Arch. The Arch is dedicated to the soldiers who built the road after WWI, but it has become an absolute must see photo spot for visitors.

There’s a dedicated parking area to the left of the wooden arch and plenty of room around it, but be careful when taking photos as the Great Ocean Road runs right under it with traffic passing all year round.

12 Take a Dip in Jebbs Pool

A bit of a hidden gem, this wild swimming spot is ideal for those visiting Lorne on a warm sunny day when the beach is too crowded. The walk to Jebbs Pool is about 3km return from Cumberland River Caravan Park, just outside of Lorne.

You have to walk through the camping area along the river first, until you find the bush trail at the end of the caravan park. The trail continues to follow the river, until a river crossing which should be shallow enough to cross on rocks.

After a few more hundred metres, you’ll see the swimming hole, which might remind you of something you’d find in the Top End of Northern Territory. However, it’s not overly big or deep, so it can get a little busy on weekends although not as crowded as other spots in Lorne.

If you have more time, you can continue on the walking trail to Cumberland Falls, which is a little more challenging and a further 1.5km. Return the same way to the carpark.

12 Best Things to Do in Lorne, Great Ocean Road

How to Get to Lorne

When to Visit Lorne