Incredible Things To Do In Lorne | Australian Traveller

From zip-lining among gum trees to swimming laps at the historic sea baths, there are plenty of things to do in Lorne on your next trip to the Great Ocean Road.

Looking for things to do in Lorne? This seaside holiday hot spot offers slow-paced pursuits like perfecting your swing on a bush-fringed golfing green, yoga classes at beach baths or catching a flick at a cute, vintage cinema.

Prefer to get your heart rate up? Try a group surf lesson at Lorne Beach or go on a zip-lining adventure that’s guaranteed to get your blood pumping. However you choose to enjoy Lorne, be sure to start (or finish) your day with a wander along the scenic Lorne Pier – it’s the ideal activity to bookend your day.

1. Feel the rush at Live Wire Park

Home to what has been called ‘Australia’s most extreme zip line’, Lorne’s Live Wire Park has a range of electrifying experiences for all the family, including a wheelchair-accessible circuit. There are plenty of options to try here depending on your skill level and confidence.

the Live Wire Park signage — Live Wire Park has a range of electrifying experiences for all the family. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Choose to glide high among the blue gums on the 120-metre Canopy Circuit or challenge yourself on the 525-metre high-intensity, Shockwave Zip Coaster for a fast and furious experience.

wall climbing at Live Wire Park, Lorne — Conquer your fear of heights at the Live Wire Park. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Want to tire the kids out? Book in to traverse the Super Circuit where you’ll spend two hours scaling trees, crossing suspended bridges, flying through the air on Tarzan swings and other agile, aerial treetop adventures.

Brush up on local history at the Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre

Much more than a piece of soulless infrastructure designed to get drivers from A to B, the Great Ocean Road has a fascinating history behind it. Located at the Lorne Visitor Centre, the Great Ocean Road Heritage Centre shares the story of Australia’s most famous road. Constructed as a memorial to the Australian soldiers who lost their lives in World War One, this iconic road was built by returned soldiers from 1919 onwards and officially opened in 1932. The road is both a feat of engineering and a poignant monument to the many who made the ultimate sacrifice. Spend some time and you’ll view the Great Ocean Road in a whole new light.

Take a stroll along Lorne Pier

Lorne’s first pier was built back in 1879 to serve the logging industry. Over time that pier slowly degraded, but this new pier retains a small section of the old pier as a historical reminder of Lorne’s industrial past. Take a wander along the pier which quite a few people still use to fish for whiting, bream, flathead and mullet. By night, the pier is lit up so take a stroll after dinner to enjoy balmy breezes and a spot of stargazing.

walking at sunrise in Lorne Pier — Take in balmy breezes as you wander along the Lorne Pier. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Learn to surf at Lorne Beach

Since Lorne is one of the more sheltered beaches along the Great Ocean Road, it’s the ideal spot for beginners and kids to learn the basics without being wiped out by the big swells you see at places like Bells Beach.

a scenic landscape of the Lorne Beach — Lorne Beach offers an idyllic surfing spot. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’re a casual surfer looking to brush on your technique or a total newbie hoping to stand up on a board for the very first time, Go Ride A Wave has a lesson to suit you.

surfers at Lorne Beach — Newbies are welcome to book a private lesson. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Join a group class or book a private lesson for some one-on-one tuition; either way, you’ll have a classic Surf Coast experience that will put you in good stead for years to come.

Take a dip at Lorne Sea Baths

Want a break from the beach? Open seven days a week, these historic sea baths offer so much more than lap swimming. Here you can also stretch yourself in a seasonal poolside yoga class, revive your tired muscles with hydrotherapy or play a round of mini golf with your kids. Hungry? Head to the kiosk for an ice cream or enjoy a special lunch with water views at the onsite restaurant, Almyra.

Walk the Swing Bridge Circuit

This gentle, pram-friendly 1-kilometre loop is the perfect way to start the day. Starting at the visitor centre, stroll through the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park towards the Swing Bridge. Grab a takeaway coffee from the Swing Bridge Café , then wander along the boardwalk, through the caravan park, over the Erskine River Bridge back to where you started at the visitor centre.

the Swing Bridge Cafe in Lorne — Stroll through the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park towards the Swing Bridge.

Get in the swing of things at Lorne Country Club

Fancy a game of social tennis? Or perhaps you want to refine your golf swing on the green? With a 9-hole golf course and several synthetic grass and clay tennis courts, the Lorne Country Club is a great spot to spend an afternoon in the sun.

an aerial view of the Lorne Country Club — Come for golf or tennis at Lorne Country Club. (Image: Visit Victoria)

High up on a hill, this bush-fringed spot has incredible ocean views too. Come for tennis or golf, stay for a beer and meal at The Peak bistro.

a man playing golf at Lorne Country Club — Refine your golf swing on the green.

Catch a show at Lorne Theatre

This Art Deco picture palace has entertained Lorne locals and visitors to the Great Ocean Road since 1937. During summer, this charming theatre shows a select range of Hollywood and arthouse films. If you love live music, be sure to check the website before you head to Lorne – you might be able to catch a live set here too since the theatre hosts international and local acts.

Need coffee? Here are 9 Lorne cafes to get your caffeine fix.

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.

The best things to do in Lorne on your next seaside trip