Mantra Lorne – A Place to Stay on the Great Ocean Road

Lorne is a pretty coastal town on the shores of Louttit Bay near the beginning of The Great Ocean Road, about two hours from Melbourne.

Situated right on the Great Ocean Road it was our favorite town to stay in along the journey.

It has a unique environment where the beach meets the rainforest. The Otway Mountains surrounding Lorne form a distinctive micro-climate which brings unique flora and fauna to the region.

I was surprised at how pretty it was and I knew it was a place to return one day for a much longer stay. Three nights just wasn’t enough to enjoy the chill factor.

The Mantra Lorne

As part of our partnership with Mantra Apartments, we stayed at the Mantra in Lorne and was impressed with its location and immaculate facilities.

It felt like we were tucked away in a tropical resort, but only a 5 minute walk to town.

The Mantra Lorne sits across from the beach with an access track running straight from the beautifully landscaped garden and main restaurant area. It’s the only hotel in Lorne with beachfront access.

Although there are no uninterrupted views of the ocean due to the dune forest separating it from the beach, the lawn and garden area is a lovely place to sit for happy hour with a cold bevy.

A $4 Happy hour happens every afternoon between 5-7pm. You can linger longer if you wish and enjoy a meal from the restaurant – they do great wood fired pizzas and a $45 two-course meal deal.

Not only is it on the beach, but a short walk to all the cafes and restaurants on the main street.

Our room overlooked the gardens and tennis court area and was a comfortable 2 bedroom apartment with a balcony.

The Mantra Lorne also has heritage and studio rooms. Accommodation rooms have all been set around one of the oldest guest houses in Victoria making Mantra Lorne a part of Lorne’s rich cultural history.

Things to do in Lorne, Victoria

Walk or bike from Erskine River to Lorne Pier

There’s a lovely walk along the beach and cliffs from the Erskine River to Lorne Pier. The fisherman’s co-op sells fresh seafood from the morning’s catch here.

We were in town in March during the Lorne Sculpture Biennale, similar to the Sculpture by the Sea in Sydney, and along the walk were over 40 pieces of sculptured art to marvel at.

Teddy’s Lookout

A short drive up the hill behind Lorne is Teddys Lookout. Drive up to the picnic area at the end of George Street and walk a short distance to enjoy the spectacular views of the Great Ocean Road from the lookout.

Explore the Great Ocean Road

Of course, the joy of Lorne’s location is that it makes for a great base to explore one of the best regions in Australia. And the drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay is said to be the most spectacular.

Places to eat in Lorne

The Bottle of Milk

A gourmet burger joint that definitely delivers on taste. The Bottle of Milk is consistently regarded as some of the best in Victoria and I was pretty impressed with my Magic Mushroom burger.

Lorne Beach Pavilion

I can’t recommend the coffee, but the views at the Lorne Beach Pavillion were pretty good. I”m sure its a great place to eat, and maybe have a cup of tea, or a wine.

Moons Espresso

I didn’t think I was going to get a good coffee in Lorne – everything I tried was yuck until the day we left and we grabbed some for the road at Moons Espresso. Ahh at last.

Plan Your Trip to Lorne, Australia

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