The cliffs at Aireyıs Inlet

Aireys Inlet (including Fairhaven)
Small and sleepy seaside resort on the Great Ocean Road.
Located 121 km southwest of Melbourne via the Princes Highway and the Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet is a pleasant holiday destination on a section of coastline which many claim to be the most beautiful in Australia.

Like so many seaside towns the development of Aireys Inlet was slow and haphazard. The first settlers arrived in the area in the 1820s and the town was named after J. M.C. Eyrie (somehow the spelling has been changed over time) who settled in the district in 1846. With the advent of the goldrushes Cobb & Co. provided a regular service from Geelong to Anglesea. From Anglesea passengers travelled on to Aireys Inlet on a four-horse wagonette conducted by James Hasty. By 1891 the lighthouse had been built. The town developed very slowly and even modern tourism has tended to pass it by. Larger settlements like Anglesea and Lorne are far more popular that this quiet seaside retreat.

Things to see:  

Lighthouse at Aireyıs Inlet

Split Point Lighthouse
It is said that Split Point Lighthouse is haunted. Certainly it was described in Arthur Upfield's novel The Clue of the New Shoe as 'a tapering white stalk holding aloft the face of glass beneath the cardinal's red hat'. The lighthouse was built in 1891 as a reaction to the sinking of the ship Joseph Scammell. Perched on the cliffs 70 metres above sea level the main light can be seen 30 km away. The lighthouse provides excellent views of the surrounding coastline. It is also part of a pleasant cliff walk to Anglesea which starts near the car park.

Airey's Inlet Bark Hut
The 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires destroyed the original building which had stood since 1857 but the current building, a loving recreation, is an interesting replica of the kind of early homestead in the area. The original building was the home of Thomas and Martha Pearse who were pioneer settlers in the district. It is located in the Allan Noble Sanctuary off the Great Ocean Road. The sanctuary with its small lake and seats is a pleasant retreat from the tourism of the district.

Seafarer's Monument
In the centre of town is a monument to all those who have lost their lives on the dangerous southern oceans. The anchor is believed to be over 100 years old. It was discovered in Port Phillip in 1936.

Angahook-Lorne State Park
Located a few kilometres to the north of the town, the 3000 ha Angahook-Lorne State Park is excellent for bushwalking and picnics. It is considered one of the best forest reserves on the coast and has a number of excellent views over the ocean as well as opportunities to see a range of wildlife including kangaroos and possums.

Fairhaven Beach
Located a few kilometres west of Airey's Inlet Fairhaven Beach is recognised as an outstanding surfing beach.

A Book About The Great Ocean Road
The best book about the Great Ocean Road is the remarkably cheap ($19.95 for a full colour hardback) book by Port Campbell photographer, Rodney Hyett. It is 96 pages and has everything you could possibly want ­ great photographs, maps of the area, a potted history of the area, details about national parks and visitor information centres, accommodation, walking tracks, even details of the region's eight lighthouses and succinct (not as detailed as this website) pieces of information about all the major destinations from Queenscliff to Cape Bridgewater. If you are planning to travel the Great Ocean Road and explore the totality of its attractions this is a small masterpiece of publishing and a great travel guide. It is available from many shops along the way and can be ordered from Port Campbell Shopping at http://www.portcampbellshopping.com.au.

	Motels
	The Lightkeepers Inn 64 Great Ocean Rd Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6666 Rating: ****
	Hotels
	Aireyıs Inlet Hotel Great Ocean Rd Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6270
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Aireys by the Light 2 Federal St Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6134 Rating: ****1/2
	Aireys River Bend 78 River St Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 7137 Rating: ****
	Lorneview Bed & Breakfast 677 Great Ocean Rd Eastern View Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6430 Rating: ****1/2
	Apartments
	Aireys Inlet Gateway Holiday Apartments 4 Barton Crt Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 7021 Rating: ****
	Holiday Homes & Units
	Butlers Bend Holiday Villas 28 Bambra Rd Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 7047 Rating: ****
	Cottages & Cabins
	Aireys Overboard Seaside Cottage 1 Barton Crt Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 7424 Rating: ****
	Aireys-on-Aireys 19 Aireys St Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6844 Rating: ****1/2
	Distillery Creek Cottages 35 Distillery Creek Rd Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5266 1176 Rating: ****
	Split Point Cottage 40 Hopkins St Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6566 Rating: ****
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	Glen Farm Cottages Hartleys Rd Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6306 Rating: ***1/2
	Caravan Parks
	Aireys Inlet Caravan Park Great Ocean Rd Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6230 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Aireyıs Inlet Hotel Bistro Great Ocean Rd Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6270
	McGinty's BYO Restaurant Great Ocean Rd Aireys Inlet VIC 3231 Telephone: (03) 5289 6996