Date: 6th March 2026
Travelled: 80 kms from Ocean Grove to Lorne
Visited: Torquay and Lorne
Stayed: Lorne Foreshore CP, $70pn , N38.53597, E143.97541
Our 3 days at Collendina (Ocean Grove) passed easily enough. Pam manages to find a 50m heated pool at North Bellarine about 10 minutes away, so we manage a swim 2 out of the 3 mornings. Apart from that thereโs the odd forced march and driving to the shops. Afternoons are taken up with several sets of table tennis.
The weather has a chill and we get a couple of showers.
Finally on our last day at Collendina itโs a beautiful morning so we take the Suzuki for a drive to Torquay and Bells Beach, as far as we can tell the starting point of the Great Ocean Road.
Driving into Torquay there are the two largest Rip Curl and Billabong warehouses youโre ever going to see. Then we pass the Museum of Surfing, WOW !
Finding a parking spot easily enough we take a walk along the foreshore path to Danger Point a small headland that divides Torquayโs two beaches. On our way back we walk the shops (one of Pamโs favourite pastimes) thankfully nothing catches her eye and weโre soon on our way to Bells.
Some 5kms further along the GOR we turn for Bells Beach. Thereโs just a few travellers like us so thereโs plenty of parking. We take a walk to the viewing platform and take a photo, weโve done Bells (pictured below).
With the Suzuki hooked up we make for Lorne, stopping at Anglesea for morning tea (picture above). The drive on to Lorne is picturesque but busy if your driving.
We arrive in Lorne and find our spot in the CP, which to be frank is very ordinary considering itโs the most expensive on this trip to date. This was the CP that was washed away in a flash flood back in January.
Having settled in we go exploring finding a Country Road and Tommy Bahama shops which just makes Pamโs day.
Next morning another forced march, this time to Lorne Pier. Itโs a scenic walk along the poetically named shipwreck trail. Only about 5kms return so I get off easy.
On our way back from the pier we drop into the tourist office to get some advice on a drive up to Erskine Falls and the road through the Great Otway National Park to the village of Forrest.
Second coffee done, we take the Suzuki for a drive. Our first stop is Erskine Falls, itโs a short walk with about 60 steps down to the viewing platform. From the falls the road is gravel (about 30kms) on to the village of Forrest then back to the GOR on a sealed road.
The Suzuki being all wheel drive handles the gravel with ease. Anyway another enjoyable day on the road slides through to the keeper. We walk up to the bowling club for dinner only to find itโs not your normal bowling club.
A round of drinks is $28 ! In reality the bowling club is a very up market restaurant, the food was excellent but expensive by our normally frugal standards.
Final photo Lorneโs famous bin tree.
Michael + Pam
