Theatre, Music and the Arts, Great Ocean Road Journey, Victoria, Australia

Theatre, Music and the Arts

There is a lively music scene in the region, with many towns and villages hosting some of the country's favourite concerts and music festivals. Falls Festival at Lorne, the Queenscliff Music Festival, Apollo Bay Music Festival and Meredith Music Festival are all popular destinations, attracting quality performers and supportive crowds. The Blues Train, based in Queenscliff, transforms the vintage steam trains of the Bellarine Railway into a rockin' and rollin' good time. Four of Australia's best blues acts perform in the four train carriages, making it a progressive party you'll never forget.

Theatre buffs will find something of interest across the region. As well as the main performing arts centres in larger towns that host a variety of plays, shows and concerts, there are many small theatres in towns and villages where local theatre groups and travelling performers can be seen.

The Geelong Gallery houses a fantastic collection of art including well known pieces by Eugene von Guerard, Frederick McCubbin, Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton. Entry is free. The Geelong Gallery is just one of the places to visit on the Central Geelong Arts & Culture Walking Trails map, which is available at local visitor information centres. The guide also has details and maps for public art, iconic heritage buildings, museums, galleries and the Geelong Botanic Gardens. It is also available for download by clicking here.

There are fantastic galleries and specialty museums throughout the region. Lorne hosts the annual Lorne Sculpture Exhibition each October-November where pieces are picturesquely displayed on the Lorne foreshore.

Highlights

Cape Otway

Opera in the Otways

IT’S OFFICIAL! Opera in the Otways is back for its fifth year with a programme that will delight opera lovers and new-comers, starring Jonathon Welch and Deborah Cheetham. Jonathon Welch, a household name thanks to his inspirational leadership of the multi award-winning Choir of Hard Knocks, has prepared a program of great popular operatic arias, duets and ensembles by Verdi, Puccini and Mozart from La Traviata, La Bohème, La Rondine and The Marriage of Figaro. The program will feature operatic tenor Jonathon Welch and soprano Deborah Cheetham performing popular songs and ensembles from three of the greatest music theatre and operetta composers in Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Lehar’s Merry Widow. The finale will feature excerpts from Deborah Cheetham’s enthralling Pecan Summer – Australia’s first Indigenous opera. Tickets go on sale in early August. Join our mailing list or follow us on Twitter and we’ll keep you updated on Opera in the Otways. Saturday 17th November 2 - 6pm

Torquay

Surf World Surfing Museum Torquay

Surf World is where surfing lives. The world's largest surfing and beach culture museum which houses the Australian Surfing Hall Of Fame as part of its comprehensive surfing displays. Surf World is recognised as one of "The most significant centres of world surfing heritage" by the International Surfing Association. Surf World is a must see interactive tourist icon which presents the best of surfing from the past, present and future in a contemporary manner. Surf World provides a spectacular insight into the surf history, culture and the sport itself on a local, national and global level.

Torquay

Surfcoast Images

Surfcoast Images is a gallery carrying an extensive range of West Coast photography from The Apostles to The Bellarine Peninsular by Kevan Way. Large high resolution panoramas are a specialty and can be printed in-house to any size. There is also an array of painting, jewellery, sculpture and glass from a range of local artists. Surfcoast Images also has an outlet in Lorne at 144 Mount Joy Parade.

Anglesea

Anglesea Art Walk

Spanning 2.5 kilometres and featuring six mosaic art pieces, the Anglesea Art Walk highlights the history and unique flora and fauna of this extraordinary place. It starts at the JE Loveridge lookout with sensational panoramic views of the Surf Coast and concludes in the valley at the Anglesea Primary School.

Anglesea

Anglesea Art House Inc

The Anglesea Art House is a venue for members to work. Weekly classes are held in watercolour, life drawing, oil, and acrylic medium. A pottery shed, with electric wheels, gas and electric kilns are also available. A printing machine is also available, with a weekly printing group working with etchings, collagraphs, lino cuts and the like. A weekly mosaic group also meets. Weekend workshops, in different mediums, are held when required. Members also display and sell their work from the Art House. A variety of craft is also displayed and sold, including jewellery, felting, mosaics postcards, aprons, dolls clothes, bags etc.

Torquay

Bell Street Photographers Gallery

The Bell Street Gallery showcases a magnificent range of inspiring surf and landscape photography predominantly from the Great Ocean Road region of Victoria. The Gallery is an outlet for a select handful of Victorian professional photographers. Their collection of work exposes the raw and at times frightening beauty of this ancient coastline, encompassing international iconic locations such as the Twelve Apostles and Bells Beach. Located in Torquay, home of the annual Bells Beach pro surf contest and the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, the Bell Street Photographers Gallery features canvas and paper prints for sale and provides high-end archival quality printing and framing services. Prices start at $50 and all pieces are locally manufactured. See the Great Ocean Road through the eyes of local photographers. Open 7 days a week.

Aireys Inlet

Eagles Nest Gallery

Situated in the picturesque township of Aireys Inlet, the charm of this town lies in its quiet bushland setting and spectacular beaches along the Great Ocean Road, the gateway to the iconic Twelve Apostles. Aireys Inlet is also the home of the Split Point Lighthouse and the quiet relaxing nature of the setting is a wonderful source of inspiration for many artists and writers. Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery prides itself on showcasing the works of established and emerging artists from the Geelong/Otway region, many of whom live in the local area.

Anglesea

Moongate Studios

Set in bushland acreage near Anglesea on the beautiful Great Ocean Road, Moongate Studios is the owner-built, mud-brick home, gallery/studios and gardens of Geo and Jan Francis, internationally acclaimed artists. A personal and working relationship of over 40 years has crafted Jan and Geo into an intuitive, vibrant team capable of successfully following public and corporate art projects through all stages from concept to installation, whilst individually developing their own well recognised and much awarded creative voices. George sculpts in all mediums including stone, wood, steel and bronze. Jan paints oils on canvas but also loves the simplicity of the black and white in lino-cuts, etchings and ink sketches. Their art expression manifests through the love of life, observation and experience. They are the founding and current heads of Geelong Sculptors Inc and have forged and nurtured QUALITALY, a cultural corridor between Geelong Australia and Piedmont Italy for over a decade. Studio exhibitions are ever changing as new work emerges. Commissions welcome, workshops and consultation available.

Jan Juc

Angledean Pottery

Angledean is a large mud brick studio situated in the rolling hills of beautiful Bellbrae. This working studio has been producing high quality hand thrown stoneware pottery for over twenty years. In recent years the artisans have also been working in art glass creating beautiful pieces of contemporary fused glass and jewellery. All the original works are for sale and have been created in the studio by the artisans. Angledean studio is located 700 meters from Anglesea road and just two kilometres north of the Great Ocean Road roundabout intersection in Bellbrae.

Anglesea

Melaleuca Gallery

Melaleuca Gallery has been a fine art venue for over 20 years. It is located at 121 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea, opposite the river, protected by the ancient Melaleuca trees, after which the gallery has been named. The gallery building was constructed after the first world war as a beach house, to a simple design that makes it ideal for displaying art. The building is in original condition with its character intact. The gallery was established by Sadrene Smith who saw the need for a Fine Art Gallery on the West Coast. The gallery offers a venue for artists from Victoria and interstate the opportunity to exhibit out of the metropolitan area.

Lorne

Qdos Arts

Qdos Arts is the epicentre of the vibrant arts scene in Lorne. What began as a gallery, cafe and sculpture park to celebrate the visual, performing and gourmet arts has grown into a complete respite for creative souls even with five Japanese-inspired tree houses. Owner/artist Graeme Wilkie whose admiration for the Japanese aesthetic led him to develop this quintessential Australian bush setting into a unique blend, a 'living art' experience. Light is also a theme in the gallery with lofty roof lines and glass to draw in the bushland views. Leading artists are represented and the visual feast is matched by the creative gourmet offerings of the café. The grounds form a natural amphitheatre watched over by the gallery and tree houses, in which major sculptural works blends with tall gums, a peaceful pond and a myriad of birdlife. If you have an innate reverence for the ordinary things like forest, stone, wood and love for simplicity with the harmony of the natural world, or you need a haven for a weary soul in the natural tranquillity of the Otway Ranges with only the music of nature, Qdos Tree House accommodation is the treat you need!

Torquay

Tigerfish Torquay

Tigerfish Torquay is what happens when a designer, who surfs, decides to open an art gallery. Tigerfish Torquay has an interesting little gallery and surf shop. Art is the key ingredient at Tigerfish and what sets it apart from every other surf shop. It is for those who like quality, original, limited-edition, carefully designed or handmade items that are worth a second look. Featuring works of art, surf boards, clothing, silver work, surf movies and other cool stuff. Tigerfish is hard to define. Take a look. Get inspired.

Packages & Offers

See, Do, Stay & Save

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Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant & Villas Winter Warmer Getaway Package

Package for two from $350.00.

Stay & Save at Cumberland Lorne Resort

From $411 for a three night stay.

BIG 4 Beacon Resort Blues Train Package

A unique musical experience! Toe tapping entertainment, a cool drink and a good laugh. Rock your stay in Queenscliff with Blues Train tickets and award winning accommodation at BIG4 Beacon Resort.

Seahaven Village - Taste of The Bellarine $495

Relax at stunning Barwon Heads Friday and Saturday night in a cosy 4.5 star one bedroom spa suite.

Barwon Heads Golf Club Winter Escape

$240 per couple per night

Theatre, Music and the Arts

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