Top Towns for 2022: Where to eat, stay and play in Lorne

Eating there

Savour views of Louttit Bay and the hinterland from the beer garden at the Lorne Hotel , the beloved 146-year-old pub on the high corner of town. Order a satisfying steak or fish and chips, or dial it up a notch with a spiced lamb shank.

Enjoy seasonal Cantonese and Thai flavours at Coda upstairs . Sydney-based Merivale group has just bought the pub, so foodies have some new restaurants to look forward to. Cafes line the main street to fuel Melburnian coffee addicts.

People sitting on benches drinking at a pub in Lorne.

Not a bad spot for a refreshing drink. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Summer days are made even sweeter with handcrafted ice-creams and sorbets from Gelato Gelato . Feast on local calamari with beetroot tzatziki or a slow-cooked lamb shoulder with garlic labneh at Greek restaurant Ipsos . Save space for the patsavoura, a dessert of orange custard encased in flaky filo pastry served with masticha ice cream.

Ipsos is a dining institution along the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Staying there

From backpackers, riverside campgrounds and caravan parks, to tiny eco houses, Airbnbs, standard motel accommodation, luxury apartments, tranquil cottages among the gum trees with a peek of an ocean view, and boutique five-star accommodation, Lorne has something for every style of traveller, and every budget.

The Lorne Mantra is the only beachfront property in town. With a gym, swimming pool, tennis courts and an Endota day spa, it’s great for conferences, weddings and larger gatherings.

Stay overlooking the ocean in Lorne. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Playing there

You can immerse yourself in nature in Lorne, which is surrounded by the Otways National Park. When not swimming, surfing or fishing, walk to either Sheoak Falls or Erskine Falls. Tall ferns shade paths that lead through gullies and past cascading waterfalls.

Also tucked away in the hinterland is the Qdos fine art gallery , which hosts a rotation of curated exhibitions. The tranquil on-site cafe is bathed in light and looks out onto the forest.

Each year in January, the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club holds the pier to pub ocean swimming race, the largest event of its kind in the world. The 145-kilometre Great Ocean & Otway Classic Ride also passes through the town.

The vintage Lorne Theatre plays a combination of blockbuster and arthouse films. Kids will love the town’s imaginative playground, skate park and grassy foreshore area for picnics and playtime. Don’t miss Live Wire Park , home of Australia’s most extreme zipline, high ropes courses and rock-climbing walls.

People walking along ocean pools by Lorne Pier

Lorne Pier is a local attraction. (Image: Visit Victoria)

There’s no shortage of exceptional eateries in regional Victoria. From casual classics to finely tuned fine diners, here’s our pick of the plentiful bunch.

Le Foyer Brasserie, Bendigo

French plate at Le Foyer Brassiere, Bendigo — Le Foyer serves upscale French fare.

From the owners behind Bendigo’s beloved The Woodhouse comes this newly opened elegant French bistro. It’s all about welcoming warmth at this city fine diner, after all Le Foyer , translates to ‘the hearth’ in French. A place to linger in the chic, Parisian-style salon, the menu unfurls in the classics, from beef bourguignon to steak frites and mille-feuille.

Riverbank Moama, Murray River

If you’re journeying on or beside the Murray, it’s only fitting that you dine by its banks. This nature-nestled restaurant by the river is idyllic for a long, sun-filled lunch. The menu is an unfussy playlist of the hits served with a seasonal spin – and the mood is as gently flowing as the nearby water.

Felix, Geelong

Soft brown banquettes, walnut hues and a terrazzo bar welcomes with relaxed French bistro vibes at Geelong’s Felix . But really, it’s the collage of simple, seasonal flavours that make this restaurant an easy-going favourite. Come for brunch or dinner; vegans are welcomed with a dedicated menu.

The Perch, Lavers Hill

A laid-back classic of the Great Ocean Road, The Perch at Lavers Hill welcomes those taking a pause from the serpentine drive. Lunch in the warm-wood dining room is accompanied by vineyard vistas and fleeting cameos from native birds.

The Shared Table, Ballarat

If you go for the ‘Dine without Decision’ option at this beloved eatery , you’re free from the tyranny of food envy with a chef-selected procession of dishes that highlight the bounty of the Midwest region. Think mochi gnocchi with pumpkin and XO or Western Plains pork cotoletta.

Barragunda Dining, Mornington Peninsula

This fine diner , which opened in early 2025, has been lauded as one of the region’s most ambitious and significant openings in recent years. Set on a 400-hectare, cliffside Cape Schanck property that delivers the kitchen with a cornucopia of produce, it’s elegant and honest paddock-to-plate dining at its most refined.

Mount William Station, Grampians

Whether you’re staying at this luxe historic station or just swinging in for dinner with friends, the shared table vibe here is country hospitality at its most welcoming and elevated. Seasonal and local produce guides chef Dean Sibthorp’s hand for plates finessed with the mountain-fresh flavour of the Grampians.

Emerald City, Yarra Valley

You’re certainly not in Kansas anymore when you slip behind the emerald curtain from Cavanagh’s Whiskey and Alehouse to the diminutive Emerald City . Allusions to the fraudulent wizard and Dorothy aside, this acutely intimate four-seat diner is a curated experience worthy of a road trip. As you may imagine, bookings are essential.

du Fermier, Trentham

Annie Smithers’ intimate, farmhouse-y French fine diner is not at all new, but it is every bit iconic. It’s long attracted food-lovers to its charming dining room for a set menu that undulates with the seasons. If you’re a gourmand to your core, book into one of Annie’s delightfully informal masterclasses.

Messmates Dining, Gippsland

This Warragul diner’s menu is a well-arranged collection of delicious, farm-forward morsels crafted, quite simply, to delight. Dishes such as French onion dip scooped onto nigella seed crackers and fresh-made pasta tossed with a black pepper and butter emulsion are all about balanced, enjoyable flavours paired with good wine.

Top Towns for 2022: Where to eat, stay and play in Lorne

With its laid-back vibe and location along one of Australia’s iconic coastal roads, there are many reasons that Lorne remains a perennial favourite. It’s not hard to see why it came in at no.30 on your list of Top 50 Aussie Towns.