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Above: Lorne and The Twelve Apostles from The Great Ocean Road.
Below: Mantra Erskine Beach Resort.
POSTED: 25 MAY 2010
Lorne: a gem on one of the world's greatest ocean drives
The Great Ocean Road, stretching for 243 sinuous kilometres between the Victoria towns of Torquay and Warrnambool, is one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world, arguably comparable to Big Sur in California.
I’ve done the entire road — every twisting, thrilling kilometre of it — many times in the past and, each time, stood before the Twelve Apostles in silent wonder.
These majestic limestone formations rise just so grandly from the ocean to make you feel humble and insignificant. Nature made these stupendous art works, her battering seas separating the once-mighty cliffs from the mainland, and now visitors from all over the world pose before them to be photographed against such a remarkable backdrop.
On our visit this time, we travelled the road only as far as Lorne. Late summer in Victoria was too perfect not to stop and stay, to relax and let Lorne’s many charms have their way with us.
We’d driven easily through Geelong to Ocean Grove, and to Torquay. Then it was on to Anglesea, one of the most family-friendly towns along the road, with its caravan park, budget accommodation and distinctive pedal boats.
With the sun dancing on the blue ocean, each turn in the road presented more alluring views: rugged cliffs on one side, untamed beaches on the other.
Through Fairhaven and past Moggs Creek, we arrived at Lorne in less than an hour from Geelong, feeling exhilarated after the rousing drive.
Mantra Erskine Beach Resort, a sprawling complex on green lawns built around an old operating guest house on the beachfront, was the obvious choice for accommodation.
If you’re going to be in a famous seaside town, you might as well be right on the beach, and our two-bedroom apartment on the second floor had us right up amongst the beautiful norfolk pines, with the ocean peeking through green branches laden with white cockatoos.
The resort has a day spa, an 18-hole putting course and heated indoor pool, but we were content to sit on our balcony on such a glorious day with the green hills behind us, the pines and ocean in front of us, the cockatoos swooping above us.
Mantra is the perfect base to explore Lorne and its boutique shops and fancy restaurants, along with a faithful fish-and-chip shop that’s been servicing Lorne since 1954.
There is one place everyone must head to in Lorne, whether you’re fond of a drink or not — the Lorne Hotel. High up on the pub’s decks the views across the elegant curve of the beach are stunning, and while we enjoyed vodka-and-tonics in the sunshine, there is coffee and cake and all the pub grub you could want.
That evening, we dined inside Mantra’s bistro with views to the beach – just us and a hundred conference attendees in the resort dining outside on the lawns.
The February evening had just enough chill to provide an excuse to light a fire and we sat inside beside the flames with a seafood platter and a bottle of Victorian pinot, feeling very pleased with ourselves and our rediscovery of The Great Ocean Road.
CONTACTS
The Great Ocean Road: www.tourismvictoria.com
Mantra Eskine Beach Resort: phone (03) 5228 9777 or visit www.mantraerskinebeachresort.com.au
DISCLOSURE: Ann Rickard was a guest at Mantra Erskine Resort.