Exploring the rock pools at Lorne
In the heart of winter, when the town was stripped bare of the crowds and tourist business experienced in summer was when we visited Lorne on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. During the off-season was the perfect time to explore the Great Ocean Road’s natural attractions. My favorite childhood memory is exploring tidal rock pools on Australia’s south east coast. This was the first time I had the opportunity to introduce my own kids to the wonder of crabs, fish, anemones and shellfish, to be viewed in their own natural aquariums. I wasn’t disappointed, as we spent hours roaming the rocks, searching for the next discovery.
Rock pool at Lorne
Gorgeous sunshine invited sand play on the Great Ocean Road’s white sandy beaches where only the most hardcore winter surfers entered the frigid waters. And the reward for a stroll on the Lorne pier? A greeting from a seal directly under the feet of strollers above.
Lorne pier
Erskine Falls near Lorne
Ten kilometers from Lorne are Erskine Falls. A five-minute walk from the car park is a viewing platform however we chose to descend further into the gully where, amongst the ferns we viewed the falls. A warning to folk with young kids, although worth the descent down, the climb back up the stairs carrying a little one takes some effort.
Mouth of the Cumberland River, Great Ocean Road
Ocean fishing at the mouth of the Cumberland River yielded two salmon (caught by the boy’s aunty).
Lorne is a 2 hour drive on the Princes Highway (M1) from the Melbourne. Head over the Westgate Bridge towards Geelong, and then follow the signs to the Great Ocean Road. Then follow the Great Ocean Road to Lorne.
There are numerous accommodation options in Lorne including resorts and private holiday house rentals.
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Make that 5 salmon caught by a certain aunty 🙂
Oh no, I understated your expert haul Sis! I will have to correct it when I get the chance. xx
Lovely spot to visit in winter. I love rock pools too and it amuses me that the ones my kids and I visit here in Sydney and down at Jervis Bay are much the same as the Scottish ones of my own childhood.
Enjoyed my armchair wandering with you!
Love the rock pools around Sydney. They are the ones I used to explore myself as a kid. It is amazing they are similar to those on the Scottish coast – will have to check those ones out too one day!
Great pictures. So many things to do along the Great Ocean Road. Did you try the Great Ocean Road iPhone or Android App on your travels?
No – we were deliberately tech free for this weekend. Perhaps on our next visit we will give it a try.
Gosh how could you mistake 5 salmon for 2 salmon – obviously not a fisherwoman yourself Danielle 🙂
Clearly I was not paying enough attention to the fishing haul – probably because I was chasing my 2 year old over the sand dunes. Great to see the comments are working for you again Jan.