"Inverloch" a Inverloch Travel Page by leffe3

Taking its name from the Gaelic for 'lake entrance', Inverloch, 143kms south east of Melbourne is a sleepy town (pop, 2,100) full of holiday lets and retirement homes. Located at the mouth of Anderson's Inlet on the superb Bass Coast, it is a popular family holiday destination, providing, as it does, safe beaches as well as plenty of opportunities for sailing, fishing and bird-watching.

There's not a great deal in the town itself - as indicated, it's primarily holiday lets and retirement homes with one main (small) concentration of shops, cafes and restaurants centred round the Shell Museum and at the safe beaches of Anderson's Inlet (as opposed to the more exposed ocean beaches). It does serve the local dairy population, although the main district town of Wonthaggi is only 15kms to the west.

Surprisingly (there is little evidence today), Inverloch started life in the 1870s as a port, responsible for the transporting of coal from the mines near Wonthaggi to Melbourne - Inverloch being the closest safe harbour. Its heyday soon declined as a result of the advent of the railways.

Time stood till for the town until tourism took off in the 1950s/60s and lack of commercial development is the main attraction. Less than an hour's drive from the more commercial Phillip Island along with an hour's drive to Wilson's Prom National Park also helps with its attractiveness as a base.

Most of the 'services' for the holidaymaker are cafes, fast food outlets (especially fish & chips and bakeries) and a huge supermarket - essentially catering for the family and/or self catering holiday option.

It's an easy going spot, life is slow and if it gets just a little too busy, other beach and inland options are only a few minutes drive away.

As it's on the Bass Coast, most holidaymakers are local Victorians (with some inter-state). Most international tourists head to the west of Melbourne and the more renowned Great Ocean Rd. The Bass Coast rivals parts of the GOR in my opinion, but with the main highway travelling inland between Melbourne to Wilson's Prom (the main attraction of the area), many miss this part of the coast out. That certainly has its good points as well as its bad! :) It means that some of the best beaches in Victoria remain fairly deserted!

March also sees the annual Inverloch Jazz Festival.