Holiday houses in Aireys Inlet

It may be small in size compared to neighbouring towns along the Great Ocean Road, but Aireys Inlet is big on personality and charm. The hamlet — located between Anglesea and Lorne — is dominated by a historic lighthouse, one of many characterising this stretch of wild coast. Discover why on the Lighthouse Precinct Walk, uniting heritage-listed buildings, and the Cliff Top Walk, offering glimpses of just how forceful the Southern Ocean can be. Whichever trail you choose, you’ll likely spot dolphins year round, and whales during migration. The real reason you come here, however, is to enjoy one of the world’s most scenic road trips.

The Great Ocean Road covers some 243 kilometres (150 miles) of Victoria’s southern coast from Torquay to Allansford, revealing rainforest, waterfalls, rocky coves, and hidden beaches along its route. Using Aireys as your base, you’re within easy reach of the 12 Apostles (of which there are now only eight), the Gibson Steps sea stacks, and Loch Ard Gorge, the site of the most famous shipwreck on this part of the coast.

Aireys Inlet books its holiday rentals out fast over the summer months and Easter school holidays, when visitors descend to swim, surf, snorkel, and soak up the sun. Summer can be humid, however, leading many nature lovers to choose the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn to visit this part of the coast. The conditions across both offer perfect temperatures for hiking and biking, with spring seeing the countryside cast in the colours of wildflowers, and the autumn ushering in a number of arts festivals along the Great Ocean Road. Winter is also ideal for outdoor pursuits, with the added benefit of being a prime time to spot dolphins and migrating whales.

Split Point Lighthouse

Part of the so-called Shipwreck Coast (nodding to the number of ships that were wrecked here in wild conditions), Aireys Inlet was a natural destination to warn incoming vessels of the shoreline. The town’s Split Point Lighthouse dominates the landscape — it’s still operating, and you can enjoy self-guided tours and sweeping views over the Great Ocean Road and Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary.

Beach Hopping

From Aireys Inlet, you’re just a 20-minute drive south of the surf breaks of fabled Bells Beach. If you prefer to beach-comb closer to your base, there are a number of stretches of sand within easy reach: try Fairhaven (patrolled during the summer months), Sandy Gully, and Step Beach — the latter two have access to hidden coves between rocky outcrops. Inlet Beach has grassy areas ideal for picnics in the sun, although the sand here is unpatrolled.

Surf Coast Walk

The entire Surf Coast Walk is a whopping 44 kilometres, stretching from Point Impossible at Torquay in the north and hugging the shore past Bells Beach, Point Addis, Anglesea, and Aireys Inlet before finishing in Fairhaven just south of your base. The trail — broken into sections — is as scenic as it is varied, climbing cliff-top lookouts, navigating eucalypt forest, and traversing family-friendly promenades.