About Aireys Inlet

Aireys Inlet Information

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.

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.