Aireys Inlet

An inlet located some 119 kilometres south-west of Melbourne (126 kilometres by road), Aireys Inlet is a town situated midway between Anglesea and Lorne, along the Great Ocean Road, in the state of Victoria. This small coastal town, which directly faces Bass Strait, has an estimated population of a little more than 1,200 residents. The town is named after J.M.C. Airey, former lieutenant in the British Royal Navy, who settled in the area in 1842.

Aireys Inlet is home to some popular locales that residents and tourists alike can certainly enjoy, and at the top of this list is Split Point Lighthouse. Built in 1891 and originally known as Eagles Nest Point (and known fondly as "The White Lady" by local residents), this landmark overlooking the inlet helped put the town in the map of Australian tourism (the novel The New Shoe, by Arthur Upfield, is based on the lighthouse, as well as the town itself). The lighthouse staff holds tours daily, which allows visitors a bird's-eye-view of the inlet.

While generally laid-back and old-fashioned, Aireys Inlet nonetheless has many other attractions to offer. Notable events to participate in and sites to see include Aireys Festival of Words, Aireys Inlet Farmers Market, Aireys Inlet Open Mic Music Festival, and Great Otway National Park. Common recreational and sporting activities in and around the town include bird watching, canoeing, fishing, golf, horseback riding, mobile library, mountain biking, surfing, and nature walks.