Lorne is the starting point for many local, national and world class surfing events namely Bells Beach for the Rip Curl Pro to the famous Pier to Pub ocean swim and testing marathon runs along the famous Great Ocean Road. Cycling events have also grown in popularity with Lorne hosting at least 4 top grade events each year testing cyclists riding hundreds of kilometres along the Great Ocean Road and the Otway Ranges Hinterland. These include Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race & Wiggle Amys Grand Fondo. Music festivals such as Falls Festival Lorne attracts thousands over a three day period of music, music & more music. Lorne and the Great Ocean Road region hosts a diverse range of festivals and events each year.
It has rapidly been embraced at a local and international level as a unique competition and spectator experience. Come to Geelong and the Surf Coast to see the world’s best riders compete for glory or take the challenge and take part in the highly popular People’s Ride.
It all began when a young surfer from the small coastal town of Lorne decided to transform his annual new years eve chillout with close friends on the family farm into something a little bigger. With an extended invitaition to a bunch of bands and any one else who wanted to come along, a musical treat was in the making.
Festival Of Performing Arts (FOPA) brings exciting emerging performers to Lorne for a long weekend of intoxicating shows. As a multi-arts festival, Lorne FOPA applauds cross-disciplinary dexterity. What is that we hear you ask? Well, let us be frank, it is the innate artistic ability to excel across any number of art forms from music to theatre, comedy and beyond.
The 145km ride features over 90km of road closures through the picturesque farmlands of the Otway ranges to Lorne and then back along the famous Great Ocean Road to Torquay.
The Great Ocean Road provides the most spectacular and challenging course of any marathon in the world and our program of events will appeal to runners and walkers of all abilities.
The swim is a 1.2km course starting at the Lorne Pier and finishing on the foreshore in front of the Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club house. It is organised and run by the volunteers of Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club.
The Lorne Sculpture Biennale (LSB) is a vibrant festival celebrating the best of Australian and international sculpture. It’s a free public event held every two years, where the stunning Lorne foreshore becomes the picturesque pedestal for sculptures and the venue for a vibrant program of events.
Boasting an expansive membership base of Otways businesses, groups and local producers, you will find abundant Otway Ranges breweries and wineries, markets and farmgates, and places to eat such as restaurants and cafes bursting at the seams with Otway Ranges food and produce.
Wiggle Amy’s Gran Fondo is held in memory of Amy Gillett and conducted by the Amy Gillett Foundation. Participants raise much needed funds to help the Amy Gillett Foundation create a safe bike riding environment in Australia.