Aireys Inlet Beach

Drive from Torquay via the Great Ocean Road — it's a 27-minute run along one of Australia's most scenic coastal routes, with daily access. A bus from Torquay also runs five times a day and takes around 33 minutes. Free street parking is available in Aireys Inlet village, though spots fill fast on peak summer weekends, so arrive early. Melbourne Avalon International Airport is 56 kilometres away for those flying in.

The Split Point Lighthouse, just 0.5 kilometres from the beach, is the area's standout attraction — built in 1891, it's still active and open for tours, and it doubles as the filming location for Round the Twist. Walk 0.7 kilometres to Reef Lookout for elevated coastal views back along the Great Ocean Road. Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery is a short 0.3-kilometre stroll if you want to browse local work between beach visits. Bells Beach, the world-famous surf break set in a sandstone amphitheatre, is 20.5 kilometres down the road and worth the short drive.

Le Comptoir is just 0.2 kilometres from the beach — close enough to walk before the morning light fades. The Captain of Aireys, about 1.1 kilometres away, covers pizza if you want something casual after a long afternoon. For more variety, Morgans Bar & Grill and Umisango, a Japanese restaurant, are both around 9.3 kilometres away toward Anglesea.

Sunnymead Hotel is the closest option at 0.5 kilometres from the beach — convenient for an early morning walk before the daytrippers arrive. Further afield, Boss Hurst House and the Lodge are both around 11.3 kilometres away, and Grand Pacific Hotel sits 14.6 kilometres down the coast for those who want a grander base.

The Split Point Lighthouse makes for a striking backdrop from the beach at golden hour — shoot from the foreshore looking north to frame the lighthouse against the sky. The Painkalac Creek mouth offers a quieter, more intimate composition, especially in the soft morning light when the blue water is still and the golden sand reflects the early sun.

Do not enter the water — a permanent rip current near the northern rocks makes swimming genuinely dangerous, and the beach is unpatrolled. On the rare occasions a patrol is active, swim only between the flags. Dogs are welcome on a leash outside summer patrol hours, but seasonal restrictions apply — check Surf Coast Shire guidelines before you bring your dog. Parking is free but limited on busy summer weekends, so a morning arrival or the bus from Torquay are both smart moves.