Author name: Paul Beames

There’s something quietly magical about Lake Elizabeth, a perched lake deep in the Otway Ranges. Tucked behind the small timber town of Forrest, it’s one of those places that doesn’t shout — it whispers. The air smells of damp tree ferns, mountain ash and moss; the water reflects mist like memory, and every track feels […]

Not far from the roar of the Southern Ocean, Visit the Allansford sits quietly at the end of The Great Ocean Road, a stretch famous for its bends, sea views and surf breaks like Bells Beach and London Bridge. Most people fly past this quiet dairy town on their way to the 12 Apostles or

Every surfer knows Bells Beach — even if you’ve never paddled out, you’ve probably seen its big waves on the telly or on a Rip Curl poster in a Torquay café. When I first drove down Bells Beach Road, past the gum trees and the sea spray, I knew why this stretch of coast is

Few trails capture the essence of the Australian coast like the Surf Coast Walk. From Torquay to Aireys Inlet, this 44km track winds through dunes, woodlands and windswept cliffs — every step a reminder that nature’s dance is never still. I’ve walked this route more times than I can count, and every time I’ve learned

Great Ocean Road tell you to slow down, and paddling the Anglesea River is one of them. The water is calm, the wattlebirds are chattering from the river banks and beyond the dunes, you can just hear the ocean rolling in from Anglesea Main Beach. On my first kayak on the Anglesea River, I realised

Some towns are all noise and neon, but Aireys Inlet hums in a softer key.It’s where the Great Ocean Road finally lets you catch your breath — the kind of place you pull over “just for a look” and end up staying for a week. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve pulled into town

Some towns on the Great Ocean Road have their landmarks — Split Point Lighthouse, Erskine Falls, the 12 Apostles — but Aireys Inlet Skate Park has carved its own kind of fame. I’ve rolled through plenty of bowls across Australia, but this one, tucked between bush and beach, has that salty coastal soul that only

Few walks capture the wild heart of southern Australia like the Great Ocean Walk. I first tackled this beast of a trail with a small crew from Great Ocean Road Tours Australia, boots dusty, packs heavy, and spirits somewhere between excitement and dread. From Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, this track unwinds for over

I still reckon the best kind of souvenir isn’t a fridge magnet — it’s berry juice under your fingernails. The title Visit a Berry Farm and Pick Your Own Berries on the Great Ocean Road says it all: this stretch of southern coastline isn’t just about thundering surf and limestone cliffs; it’s about flavours fresh

You won’t find a Chocolate Factory surrounded by indigenous gardens, lavender fields, and landscaped grounds just minutes from the Surf Coast’s salty breeze — but that’s the magic of the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. On my first visit, I popped in for a quick coffee from the Pod Café and ended up