The artist – and local – shares a few of his favourite beaches and pit stops along this world-famous ocean drive.

Few have a stronger connection to the ocean than Lowell Hunter. A Nyul Nyul man from the Kimberley, Hunter maintains a deep attachment to the water through his art, producing elaborate sand sculptures captured with drone photography. “My first memories of this love for the ocean were when my mum used to take me out fishing, and I just remember spending time with her and having this freedom,” says Hunter. “We didn’t have much at all, but in a lot of ways we had so much.”

At age seven, Hunter moved to Warrnambool and he now calls Torquay home. Here, the strength of his cultural identity and relationship with the ocean – and desire to capture both in his art – has only continued to grow. “I was down at Bells Beach one afternoon after delivering some cultural awareness training and I just thought, ‘This is where I’m safe, this is where I’m strong, this is where I can be proud of who I am and there’s no fear or judgement,’” he says.

“What I love about living on the Great Ocean Road is that there’s a really nice community feel – it’s not too big,” he says. “I love getting on the beach in the early morning with no one around, and it’s just me and the Country waking up with the sunrise, creating my art. It’s a really special and unique feeling.”

If you’re planning a Great Ocean Road trip of your own, Hunter has a few local secrets to share for the journey. The best part? The drive is the perfect length for a long weekend. If you’re flying into Melbourne Airport, you can rent a car (or upgrade to an SUV) from Avis, with the Great Ocean Road starting in Torquay – about 110 kilometres, or 1.25 hours away. And, if you’re an Avis Preferred member, you’ll be on the road in no time, with straight-to-the-car, priority service on offer. 

Lowell’s best beaches

If you’re putting together a Great Ocean Road itinerary, beaches should be top of the list.

“I can’t go past Point Addis for the spectacular backdrop and beaches there,” Hunter says of the spot famous for its sandy beaches and weathered limestone cliffs – only 20 minutes from the route’s beginning. “And Aireys Inlet – I go there a lot to create my sand art … Where the estuary runs out into the ocean, it’s just a nice canvas to work on.”

You’ll also want to stop in at the roaring surf beach at Johanna (131 kilometres or 2 hours and 20 minutes from Torquay) and continue another hour up the road to the towering rock stacks of the Bay of Islands. For something not on most travellers’ radars, though, you’ll need to go right to the end of the Great Ocean Road.

“If you’re venturing further to Warrnambool, I like to stop in at Childers Cove,” Hunter says. “That’s quite isolated in the sense that it’s a bit off the beaten track.” Ideally, Hunter suggests visiting early in the morning or later in the afternoon. “There’s no one really around and it’s quite spectacular, whether it’s sunrise or sunset there. It’s just such a beautiful spot to finish or start your day.”

Coffee, breakfast and pizza by the sea

While you tour its magnificent beaches, Hunter says you’ll find some great pit stops all along the Great Ocean Road. “Leaving Torquay, stop into Surf Break Cafe– that’s a nice spot to grab early-morning coffee,” he says. Here you’ll find coffee from locals Surf Coast Coffee Roasters and a few pieces of Hunter’s art, too. “The owner just loved my work and said, ‘I’ve got to have it in my cafe,’” Hunter says. “He purchased about 12 or so pieces and proudly displays them.”

Further along in Port Campbell (just over 2 hours from Torquay, or 190 kilometres along the coastal route) is another great cafe stop, Grassroots Deli Cafe. “If I’m travelling down the coast I’ll often stop in Port Campbell and spend the night, then grab coffee and brekkie at Grassroots Deli Cafe,” Hunter says. “It’s got a really nice community feeling about it and great food. It’s good healthy tucker, which is sometimes good when you’re on the road.”

In the evening, Hunter’s favourite place to refuel is local pizzeria The Captain of Aireys. “You will get one of the best pizzas on the coast there, if not the best, in my opinion,” Hunter says. Named for a local Aireys Inlet legend, Captain of Aireys specialises in woodfired, hand-stretched pizzas. If you need a tip, Hunter always follows the captain’s lead. “The Captain pizza – you’ve got mozzarella, ham, salami, mushroom, capsicum, onion and olives. That would be my go-to.

Read the original article published on Broadsheet.