Surf Coast Hidden Gems

The Surf Coast is home to spectacular beaches, rivers and waterfalls.

It’s a popular place, and rightly so, but sometimes it’s the less travelled places that can create special moments and memories – for locals and visitors.

Here’s a collection of our favorite hidden gems to explore on the Surf Coast. It’s the best of the coast, minus the crowds.

Step Beach

On everyone’s Surf Coast list is a stop at the popular Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet. And so it should be, as it offers breathtaking coastal views and a chance to climb to the top and hear hair-raising stories of tragic shipwrecks. After your visit, chances are you’ll be one of the few people to venture down the steps to the aptly named Step Beach. It’s a hidden cove with fantastic shells scattered like jewels on the coarse sand and clear rock pools to search for crabs, fish and spiny black anemones. The reef just offshore at low tide forms an excellent swimming hole, perfect for a cooling swim on hot days.

Anglesea River

Most people enjoy walking through the Anglesea River as it flows into the sea at the main surf beach. However, just inland and a little off the beaten track, are plenty of laidback ways to enjoy the Anglesea River itself. Standup paddle boarding is popular, with the gently flowing and sandy bottomed river the perfect place to spot fish and rays. Paddle boats and small motor boats are a great fun way to explore the rich coastal landscape. And the river is the perfect place to cast a line and try to catch one of the local species of bream or whiting, something that anyone of any age can enjoy.

Fairhaven Beach

This beautiful 6km stretch of sand and pounding surf is a half-hour drive west of Aireys Inlet. It’s easy to stake a claim to a section of Fairhaven beach – it is never crowded and has plenty of room to move. If you want to swim, stick to the patrolled section, as there are powerful currents and shifting rips. Fairhaven is a popular spot for experienced surfers, so pull up some sand at the eastern end (near the Surf Life Saving club) and let the board riders dazzle you with their tricks and manoeuvres.

Point Addis Beach

On the famous Bells Beach stretch of the Surf Coast, the relatively secluded Point Addis beach is a favourite with locals and perfect for exploring the rugged sandstone cliffs and rock platforms below. Easy steps down to the sand through the stunning national park lead to a broad arc of soft sand, perfect for settling in for an afternoon of beach naps and refreshing dips. If the surf’s up, it’s a great spot to catch some waves for everyone from beginners to pros. Up top is Point Addis Lookout, ideal for panoramic views along the coast and, in season (June to September), the perfect place for sighting passing humpback whales.

Kalimna Falls

Erskine Falls, in the bush behind Lorne, is gorgeous but gets a lot of visitors, so if exploring hidden waterfalls is more your thing, head to Kalimna Falls, a short drive inland from Lorne to the picturesque Sheoak Picnic Area. Within this section of the ancient Otway National park, you can explore an historic timber railway, which was once the logging transport line for Mountain Ash, the largest trees in the world, all the way from the mountains to the pier at Lorne. Now, a well-made walkway winds through tree fern gullies and bridges, under towering beech and blackwood eucalypts. The lower falls take a spectacular plunge off a granite ledge into a rocky pool below. Press on further for the smaller but beautiful upper falls, where you can sit – often in perfect solitary peace – in the eroded cave behind the small falls and watch the serene scene from behind a curtain of falling water.

Lake Elizabeth Platypus spotting

One of the most elusive native animals to spot in the wild is the platypus. Your chance to see this most amazing creature is at Lake Elizabeth, a 50-minute drive inland from Lorne. You can explore by kayak or on foot, or join a small group with experienced local guides on dawn and dusk eco-certified canoe tours, who claim a 95 percent sighting rate of the shy platypus in its natural environment. Together with resident koalas and towering undisturbed forest, the natural freshwater Lake Elizabeth is a magical place to explore a natural environment in a remote location.

Surf Coast Walk

The Surf Coast Walk is a spectacular 44km coastal trail that links Aireys Inlet to Torquay via beaches and lookout points. You can explore popular Jan Juc and Bells beaches and you’ll likely have long cliff top sections all to yourself. Our pick along the way is Point Roadknight beach, a locals’ favourite, perfect for young families to explore the spectacular rock formations. The beach is one of the safest places to swim in the region and a great place to refresh with a dip after a long walk.

Remember…

Wherever you explore, be sure to stay sun-smart, always swim between the flags, drink plenty of water when walking distances, and keep up to date with weather warnings and local conditions. And always leave no trace – take your rubbish home with you.

For Surf Coast maps and further details there are excellent travel guides at exploresurfcoast.com.au.