Aireys Inlet

Aireys Inlet has very little in the way of large commercial accommodation establishments such as hotels, motels or resorts. There is much more in self catering and holiday type accommodation such as bed and breakfasts (also known as bnb and b&b), apartments, holiday houses, cottages, cabins, guesthouses as well as tourist or caravan parks, but no back packers. There are also even smaller hamlets near by with a few b&bs, holiday houses and cottages so also check out Fairhaven, Moggs Creek, Eastern View and Big Hill, all to the south west of Aireys Inlet.
 

Self catering accommodation – Apartments, holiday houses, cottages, cabins, b&b’s and guesthouses in Aireys Inlet are:

• Aireys Inlet Getaway
• Aireys on Aireys
• Aireys Overboard Seaside Cottage
• Aireys Riverbend
• Butlers Bend Holiday Villas Aireys Inlet
• Cimarron Bed & Breakfast
• Glen Farm Cottages
• Great Ocean Retreats
• Lornview
• Ocean Inlet Aireys Inlet
• Sirenuse Beach Villa Aireys Inlet
• Split Point Cottages Aireys Inlet
• Surf Coast Cabins Aireys Inlet

Tourist, Caravan or Holiday Parks in Aireys Inlet:

• Aireys Inlet Holiday Park

The Motel in Aireys Inlet:

• Lightkeepers Inn Motel

The Hotel in Aireys Inlet: 

• Aireys Inlet Hotel

Aireys Inlet Information:

The first settlers arrived in the area in the 1830s. Aireys Inley was named after J. M.C. Eyrie (the spelling has been changed over time) who settled in the district in 1846.
Aireys Inlet had a population of 1,300. Larger settlements like Anglesea and Lorne are far more popular that this quiet seaside retreat.

Aireys Inlet is located 121 km southwest of Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road, 10km west of Anglesea. Aireys Inlet is a pleasant holiday destination characterised by the beautiful surrounds of ochre cliffs, rock pools, and the magic of secluded and majestic beaches. Aireys Inlet is surrounded by the Angahook Lorne State Park, where water is fed into the Painkalac Creek, which runs down into the estuary behind the dunes of Aireys Inlet.

Aireys Inlet was devastated by the infamous 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires in which nearly every house was burnt down. However, after a brief lull, interest in the area resumed and has been steadily climbing since. Properties, especially those with an ocean view, are becoming increasingly sought after, some going for greater than $1 million.

Many surfers holiday in Aireys Inlet to take advantage of the popular Fairhaven beach. As the inclination of the beach can change dramatically between years, the surf is regarded as unpredictable. Swimmers should take note there is a strong rip current.

Painkalac Creek, which separates Aireys Inlet from Fairhaven, forms a salt lake or inlet behind the sand dunes before it cuts through to the ocean. Due to low water levels in the inlet it is not often that the inlet breaks through. There is also a horseshoe-shaped reef at Step Beach which forms an excellent swimming hole at low tide. The towns main attraction, the Split Point Lighthouse overlooks the inlet. The lighthouse has made Aireys Inlet an icon along the Great Ocean Road.

Things to See and Do:

Split Point Lighthouse -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 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 - The monument in the centre of town is to all those who have lost their lives on the dangerous southern coast. The anchor is believed to be over 100 years old. It was discovered in Port Phillip in 1936.

Angahook-Lorne State Park - Located just north of the town, the 3000 ha Angahook-Lorne State Park is excellent for bushwalking and picnics. It is one of the best forest reserves on the coast and has 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 is recognised as an outstanding surfing beach. It is also the location of the famous Pole House.