Photo Credit: Ocean House, Lorne
By HTE Founder, Erin Hughes
Seventeen years ago I left Melbourne and followed love down the coast to Jan Juc on the Victorian coastline. I thought it might be a summer thing. A year, maybe two. Instead, it became my life. One filled with salt water, gum trees, ocean roads and a community that still feels a little bit magic.
We have lived all along this coastline – Jan Juc, Fairhaven, Aireys Inlet, then back to Jan Juc again. We built homes, had babies, found routines, and made a life here. Now with four kids, I can say with absolute certainty that this is not just where we live, it is a way of living.
Each summer the Great Ocean Road is buzzing with energy. You can feel it everywhere. But here is the real secret: the quieter months are just as special. Maybe even more so.
If you are planning a trip, short or long, here is how I see the GOR. The places we love. The spots we return to. The moments that make this coastline feel like home.
Torquay + Jan Juc for movement:
Upstate Studios: Bright, energising, friendly. Go for Pilates or yoga, stay for the vibe.
For coffee:
Third Wave Kiosk: Right by the ocean. The kind of place where you take a deep breath and remember you are small in the best possible way.
Swell: Bustling, warm, very Torquay.
To slow down:
About Time Bathhouse: Salt, steam, stillness. A reset, especially after travel.
Eat + Drink:
- The Kyn for close-to-perfect Middle Eastern plates
- Phoklore for Vietnamese with sea breezes
- Bomboras for sandy feet and fish tacos
- Cave Pizzas for low-key nights
- Swell Café for brunch or lunch
- Bird Rock for a casual local dinner
- Roku Den for excellent Japanese
- Fishos Torquay for fresh, locally sourced seafood
Shop:
Torquay Merchant for considered Australian labels.
Gypsy & Co for relaxed coastal style.
Beauty:
Peep Studios: Perfect brows, flawless lashes, and the friendliest faces — a definite local favourite for tinting and waxing
Stay:
Cosy on Bell Street: Light-filled, modern, walkable to everything.
Anglesea
Eat:
Love House: Warm, simple, seasonal. The kind of place you return to.
Beauty:
Lucent: Soft, nurturing, very needed.
Coffee:
Laneway 73: Good humour, good chats, good coffee.
Aireys Inlet + Fairhaven
This part of the coast holds my heart. Slower. Softer. A little hidden if you are not looking for it.
Eat:
A La Grecque: Long lunches in the sea air — we got married here.
Le Comptoir: For French comfort.
Le Comptoir Bakehouse: For pastries you will dream about.
Coffee:
Always Le Comptoir. Just trust me.
Stay:
Sunnymead Hotel: Relaxed, boutique, a touch Palm Springs meets coastal Victoria.
Lorne
Holiday energy, beach towels, seafood platters and boutiques that always tempt.
Eat:
Totti’s: For the best long lunches.
Ipsos: Greek food with personality.
Solonika Social Pizzeria: For that perfect evening glow.
Mexican Republic: Think fun nights and margaritas.
Shop:
Midi Boutique: Coastal bohemian done well.
Deluxe Lorne: Elevated beach-to-dinner pieces.
Stay:
Ocean House: Architectural, special, ocean-front.
The Heart of This Coastline
What I love most about raising our family here is the outdoors. Kids barefoot on sand. Stormy ocean swims. Bush tracks that smell like summer eucalyptus. A community that knows your name. It is grounding, humbling, and full of joy. This place teaches you to look up. To notice tides. To slow down. To grow roots.
Where to Stay:
Check out the below to find some more beautiful places to stay while you’re visiting the Great Ocean Road.
- Elux Accommodation (gorgeous stays curated beautifully)
- Airbnb
- Great Ocean Road Holidays
- Coastal Homies (stylish family-friendly stays)
