Roadtripping To Loch Hart Music Festival? Don't Miss These Highlights

Victoria’s south-west coast is a magnificent part of the world. Its famous Surf Coast, centring around Torquay and Jan Juc, is home to one of the world’s preeminent surf contests, The Rip Curl Pro on Bells Beach, and has been featured in major Hollywood movies. The Great Ocean Road, which runs between Torquay and Warrnambool and also takes in the Great Otway National Park, is considered one of the world’s most spectacular drives. As of 2018, it is also home to the Loch Hart Festival, a three-day event in mid-November full of music, fun, food and fresh coastal air held at the Kangaroobie Campground just off the Great Ocean Road. One of the key acts playing the festival in 2019 is Forever Son, the brainchild of local Anglesea lad Jack Robbins. We asked him his five favourite things to do in the area, for someone coming down for the festival but also maybe sticking around for a bit to check out the many sights and activities that the region has to offer. 

The Great Ocean Road

"Cruise along The Great Ocean Road and find yourself a private little beach, patch of sunshine and sand and take a morning dip. Some of my favourites include Cumberland River, Point Roadknight and Point Addis. The water will be a little chilly but take a leaf out of Wim Hof’s book. It feels good to be present, breathe and centre yourself."

Great breakfast & coffee

"Next you are going to want to get a coffee and maybe a little brekkie. There are heaps of good places but my favourites are Ocean Grind in Torquay, Moons Espresso Bar or The Bottle Of Milk in Lorne, Wye River General Store in Wye River, Minerva & The Bean or 4 Kings in Anglesea. Get fuelled up and ready for some exploring."

Take a hike

"Explore some of the amazing bushland. Hike along the Erskine River or up to Sheoak or Phantom Falls from Lorne, head into the Ironbark Basin near Bells Beach, walk along Distillery Creek near Aireys Inlet or go cave hunting along the beach from Skenes Creek to Kennett River."

Aireys

"Next it’s time to delve back into the amazing time that was and always will be, Round The Twist. Smash the first season before heading down for Loch Hart Music Festival and then spend some time hanging out in Aireys Inlet at the lighthouse from the show. Maybe even have a spaghetti-eating contest... just make sure not to eat a whirling derfish."

Dinner time

"By now the sun should be ready to set, so you're going to need to find yourself a killer takeaway pizza, a beer and a spot to eat it. For pizza we are talking: Coffin Sally in Port Fairy, Standard Dave in Warrnambool, Pizza Pizza in Lorne or Il Matto in Torquay. Also during the day see if you can grab some beers from the Forrest Brewery in Forrest or Bells Beach Brewery in Torquay to wash the pizza down with. Head to the beach and eat."