Lorne Beach is the heart of what makes Lorne one of the Great Ocean Road’s most popular towns. The local surf school offers lessons for beginners, and lifeguards patrol the beach throughout summer.
Lorne Beach is what the tourist industry in Lorne, Victoria, has grown up around. The most popular town on the Great Ocean Road has plenty of other attractions these days, including a buzzing food scene typified by Movida Lorne and Ipsos. There are also fabulous walks in the Great Otway National Park to the likes of Sheoak Falls and Erskine Falls, plus top-notch views from Teddy’s Lookout. But Lorne is really a surf town at heart.
Is it safe to swim at Lorne Beach?
There are other beaches in and around Lorne, but Lorne Beach (also known as Lorne Surf Beach) is the only one patrolled by lifeguards. Stick to swimming between the red and yellow flags and you should be just fine.
The southern area of the beach is generally safest for swimming. That’s why the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club is based there.
Lorne Beach is about 1.2km long. It stretches from the mouth of the Erskine River to the rocks leading towards Point Grey.
Lorne Beach surfing lessons
The protection offered by Point Grey stops the ocean getting too hairy at Lorne Beach. This also makes it an ideal spot for beginner surfers. The low, rolling waves tend to be about a metre high.
Should you decide that Lorne is the perfect place to learn to surf, then you’re in luck. The Go Ride A Wave surf school offers two-hour lessons. Surfboards and wetsuits are provided. Most people will be standing on the board, albeit temporarily, while riding a wave by the end of the lesson.
These Lorne surfing lessons should be booked online.
Other great beaches on the Great Ocean Road include Bells Beach near Torquay, Johanna Beach and the beach at the bottom of the Gibson Steps in Port Campbell.
Lorne Beach: key visitor information
Information sourced from Surf Life Saving Victoria and Go Ride A Wave. Always check current conditions and flag positions before swimming.
| Question | Information |
|---|---|
| When is Lorne Beach patrolled by lifeguards? | The beach is patrolled by the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club throughout summer. Check the Surf Life Saving Victoria website for current patrol hours. |
| How much does it cost to visit Lorne Beach? | Entry is free. |
| Where is the safest place to swim at Lorne Beach? | The southern end of the beach, near the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club. Always swim between the red and yellow flags. |
| How long is Lorne Beach? | Approximately 1.2km, stretching from the Erskine River mouth to Point Grey. |
| Is there parking at Lorne Beach? | Yes. A car park is located at the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club on Mountjoy Parade. Street parking is also available along the foreshore. |
| What facilities are at Lorne Beach? | Toilets, showers, a playground, barbecues, and a kiosk are all available near the main beach area. |
| How much do Go Ride A Wave surfing lessons cost in Lorne? | As of July 2024, two hour introductory surfing lessons cost $84. You can book online. |
| What is included in a Go Ride A Wave surf lesson in Lorne? | Two hours of instruction, a full-length wetsuit and a soft beginner surfboard. All you need to bring are bathers and a towel. |
| Are there surf lessons for children at Lorne Beach? | Yes. Go Ride A Wave offers 90-minute kids-only sessions for children aged 5 to 14, as well as intensive school holiday programmes. |
| Where do Go Ride A Wave lessons meet in Lorne? | Outside school holiday periods, lessons meet at HAH café, 81 Mountjoy Parade. During the Christmas and January school holidays, meet at the Lorne Main Beach Surf Life Saving Club car park. |
Things to do near Lorne Beach
Teddy’s Lookout – A short drive from the beach along George Street, this clifftop viewpoint offers panoramic views of the Great Ocean Road curving along the coastline below, making it one of the most photographed spots on the drive.
Erskine Falls – Around 10km inland from Lorne, this 30-metre waterfall is one of the most visited in the Otways. An easy upper platform is close to the car park, with a more strenuous descent of 240 steps to the base.
Sheoak Falls – A shorter and easier waterfall walk, around a ten-minute drive from Lorne. The falls drop 15 metres into a pretty pool, and a longer walk from the Sheoak Picnic Area is also possible.
Ipsos restaurant – One of Lorne’s best-known restaurants, serving Mediterranean food just a short walk from the beach along Mountjoy Parade.
Live Wire Park – An aerial adventure park on the edge of Lorne, featuring ziplines, rope bridges and treetop challenges for both adults and children.
More Victoria travel
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- How tours of the J Ward Lunatic Asylum in Ararat work.
- Practical guide to visiting Ballarat Wildlife Park.
- Bring the gold rush to life at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat.
- Why it’s worth stopping at Eagles Neck near Inverloch in Gippsland.
