On the coast 70 km South West of Geelong. This seaside resort lies below the wooded mountains of the Otway Ranges. Lorne has long been popular with visitors from Melbourne. It retains a certain prewar elegance, as well as a pleasantly incongruous hippy element. There are good beaches, with excellent surfing, and nearby you can visit the Angahook-Lorne State Park. Here there are bushwalks of varying length and difficulty. Climb to Teddy’s Lookout for the best view of the coastline, or set out on a three-hour walk past waterfalls to the picturesque Erskine Falls. You can also drive to the Falls.
     

The big event here is the Pier to Pub Swimming Race, which takes place every January. The course is just over a kilometre long, and the event is open to all comers – it has now become the world’s largest organised swim with up to 5,000 entrants (www.visitmelbourne.com/Regions/Great-Ocean-Road/Events/Sports/Lorne-Pier-to-Pub.aspx). By the time the last of these gasp and stagger their way to the pub, the victors are sometimes in a similar state.