Anglesea, Lorne & the Surf Coast
Two of the Great Ocean Road’s best-loved towns, the open water of Bass Strait and the forests of the Otways — this is where the ocean meets the bush.
Surf Coast VictoriaAnglesea: where the ocean meets the bush
Rugged coastline, long surf beaches and heathland trails make Anglesea a perfect base for the Coastal Quest Adventure Race.
You’ll paddle the Anglesea River and the open water of Bass Strait, run clifftop trails with huge ocean views and ride the sandy singletrack of Anglesea Heath. It’s adventure racing at its best: raw, wild and beautiful.
Saturday: Lorne
On Saturday the race moves about 40 km down the Great Ocean Road to Lorne, where the Otway Ranges drop straight into Loutit Bay. It’s one of the most dramatic stretches of the Victorian coast. Tall eucalypt forest and tree-fern gullies climb steeply behind the town, and rivers tumble over waterfalls on their way to the sea.
Lorne is a day of forest, hills and ocean views — the kind of stage you’ll still be talking about at dinner. Lorne also has a classic seaside main street, so friends and family can enjoy a great day out while you race.
Loutit Bay
A sheltered bay and sandy beach in the heart of town, with the timber pier reaching out over the water.
Erskine Falls
A 30-metre waterfall dropping into a tree-fern gully in the Great Otway National Park, just inland from Lorne.
Teddy’s Lookout
A clifftop view over the Great Ocean Road as it winds past the mouth of the St George River.
The Otways
The Erskine River, Sheoak Falls and Castle Rock all sit in the forested hills that wrap around the town.
Anglesea MTB trails
Anglesea has some of the Surf Coast’s most popular mountain biking. The Eumeralla trail network, just outside town, offers about 30 km of mostly green and blue cross-country singletrack through coastal heath and bush. The sandy soil drains well and rides well in every season.
Local favourites include Grasstrees, The Flying Scotsman, Babyheads and Pobblebonk. Beyond the singletrack, gravel loops through Anglesea Heath open up longer rides, and the Anglesea Bike Park on Camp Road has jump lines for anyone with energy left over.
The trails connect easily with local roads and walking tracks. That makes Anglesea a natural adventure hub, and Coastal Quest teams get a real taste of the riding the region is known for.
Off the course
Beyond the race, Anglesea and Lorne are welcoming coastal towns where racers, families and volunteers can relax, refuel and soak up the local atmosphere. Cafés, surf beaches and coastal walks make them ideal places to unwind after a big day on the course.
Whether you’re chasing a podium or your first taste of adventure, the Surf Coast has everything you need for an unforgettable racing weekend.
See you on the Surf Coast
1–2 May 2027 · Anglesea & Lorne, Victoria
