Just 140 kilometers, two hours drive, from Melbourne is Lorne, Australia. The city is on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. The mild weather helps make Lorne a popular vacation choice.

Like most tourist locales, the city offers a large variety of Lorne accommodation. There are high quality resorts, such as the Mantra Erskine Beach Resort. The Cumberland Lorne Resort is even equipped with a day spa. The Grand Pacific Hotel is a restored building with gorgeous ocean views.

Other accommodation include cottages, like the Lemonade Creek Cottages that are surrounded by temperate rain-forest. There are many motels and villas, as well as a few bed and breakfast options. Some of the houses for rent are minutes away from the beach and shopping centers.

Lorne is located on the Great Ocean Road tourist route. This 243 kilometer road stretches from Torquay to Warrnambool, and is actually a war memorial for the victims of World War I. Its favorable access to the Road allows its visitors to enjoy the road for its own sake and to reach the other coastal cities and their attractions. In Red Paws of Lorne, guests can even keep pets.

The town is a generally quiet, with a resident population of less than 1000. The low population helps make this destination an escape from the urban rush. Adding to this atmosphere is the abundance of nature options for a tourist itinerary. Picnics are welcome at many of these gorgeous locations. Visit the Erskine Falls, Otways National Park, or the local parks for a calm, beautiful nature experience.

Lorne is first and foremost, a seaside town. Cafes are popular, along with beaches. For those seeking relaxation, there is also a spa. Art gallery and shopping are a plus. For the lucky traveler with kitchen access, it is worthwhile to consider the fish market, which offers local catch for sale.

Once a year the town becomes part of the Great Ocean Road Marathon. Started in 2005, this event closes part of the road for a 45 kilometer race. Other fitness-friendly events include the Pier to Pub Swim and the Mountain to Surf Run. Casual sportsmen could enjoy golf and other games at the country club. Surfing is available, with lessons offered a couple of hours away.

Once a year, the town is filled with concert goers. It is the center of the Falls Festival, a large music festival that spans four days. Starting on the 28th, and ending on New Years Day, the festival has hosted over fifty artists a year since 2007. It started in 1993, and each year it gets a little bigger. The attendees camp out, sometimes near the venue and sometimes a little ways outside of it. Tickets cost between $30 and $300, depending on if you have a pass for the whole festival or only some days, and whether or not you are camping.

This city offers many historic building worth the time to explore. They only date back to the late 1800s, but still hold a lot of history. The Pacific Hotel at Mountjoy Parade, built in 1879, sports wonderful old brick. There is also the Erskine House and St. Cuthbert Presbyterian Church. Those both date back to the early 19th century. Erskine House is particularly nice to visit, as it also has gardens and an accommodation center. Finally, there is also the Lorne Historical Society Museum to visit.