escape
Head to LORNE THIS WEEKEND FOR AN IDYLLIC WEEKEND GETAWAY AT THE BEACH AND THE BUSH, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN LORNE IN VICTORIA. CAT WOODS
Getting to Lorne
A two-hour drive from Melbourne, the trip to Lorne can be direct and easy via the M1 freeway, or you can take a more scenic, lengthy trip with ample opportunity for sightseeing and stopovers. I combined both to visit Ceres and Dean’s Marsh, both small townships where you can find “fresh eggs $5”, according to hand-scrawled signs in driveways.
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A place to rest
Upon crossing the bridge into Lorne, the Mantra Hotel beckons, directly at the entrance to the town. This is a favourite for weddings, couples, families and business travellers for its variety of buildings and accommodation options (apartments and motel rooms, modern or classic). Mantra also offers conference areas, a heritage building dedicated to events along with on-site restaurant, pool, spa and gym facilities. I stayed in the heritage building and indulged in the buffet breakfast on Sunday morning. Looking out at the beach while stacking my fork with fresh rockmelon can’t be beat. After breakfast I walked the trail to Lorne Pier via the main beach. This is an easy 20-minute walk where locals and visitors alike stroll with their dogs, jog by or simply stand spellbound, staring into the waves. The pier is a great viewing point for the entire coast and if you’re so inclined, there’s a cafe to satiate any caffeine cravings.
EMBRACING NATURE
High-flying adventure
Mid-morning I meet my friend at Live Wire Adventure Park, a mere 4-minute drive from central Lorne. While eateries, a cinema, beach walks and shops are an easy walk or bike ride within central Lorne, most of the longer walks are only accessible by driving 10 to 15 minutes out of the township. While my little Hyundai hatchback survived the steep, twisting gravel roads, if you have access to a 4WD, this is your safest choice for getting around. Live Wire opened in March and has proven a huge hit and drawcard for Lorne. From the moment you park, the trails through the canopies overhead and people whizzing
The writer was supported by Visit Great Ocean Road. For more info on Lorne attractions, head to visitgreatoceanroad.org.au
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he Great Ocean Road beckons for a beachside weekend in Victoria. With some planning, you can indulge in good food, hit the surf, forest walk through gumtrees to waterfalls and entertain the kids with movies, hired bikes, adventure parks and ice cream, all in just two days. But if you’ve got more than a weekend to spare, even better.
Depending on the time you have, plan to do some of the 3-4km walks to really immerse yourself in the bushland down wires through the treetops is evidence of what’s to come. I’m hardly a daredevil – I’ve never been brave enough to bungee jump or scale great heights. Neither is my friend, so rest assured that Live Wire has options for everyone. We begin with the Shockwave – a zipline that travels just over 500m through the treetops, giving a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the
surrounding parkland. Donning a comfortable harness and helmet, I was hooked to the zipline, told to cross my legs at the ankles and simply enjoy the ride. I did. We also walked along the canopy trail, an easy 10-minute return walk, witnessing many of the visitors climbing up giant nets and walls, and dedicating several hours of their day to adventure. With lunch in mind, we headed back to Lorne central to check out HAH on the beach. This cosy beach shack-inspired cafe looks directly onto the shoreline, so you can watch the waves roll in and the amblers along the boardwalk while you dine. We had the sweet potato buddha bowl (roast chickpeas, delicious!) and a jaffle. The matcha smoothie comes highly recommended for those with a sweet tooth.
After lunch we drove 10 minutes to Allenvale Mill campground and followed the signs to Phantom Falls. This trail took us through bushland and fields, past horses and blossom trees to the serene falls. While the walk to Erskine Falls and Cora Lynne can attract plenty of foot traffic, some of the lesser-known walks – like this one – are beautiful. Depending on the time you have available, plan to do some of the 3-4km walks to really immerse yourself in the bushland. The local information centre has maps and expert guidance. Lorne is situated within the Otway National Park, where the forest genuinely meets the sea. So if the bush isn’t your thing, hit the waves, hire a board (of the boogie or surf variety) and get out there!
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