Church Camp 2026 Info & Registration
The Open Icon Church Camp will be held on the weekend of 9-11 October, 2026, in the coastal township of Aireys Inlet, 120km from Melbourne CBD on the Great Ocean Road. It is accessible by car, or V/Line train and bus, and for anyone coming from outside Victoria, the cheapest flights go to Avalon Airport, and our Melbourne people will come past Avalon on the way to Aireys Inlet, so we can easily arrange someone to collect you from the airport.
This year, we are again centring our camp in a place that has a range of accommodation options which our people can choose from and book for themselves (see accommodation options below). Some of our meals will be everybody together in a local pub or restaurant, and others will be free for people to make their own arrangements.
We will use the lovely little St Aidan’s church as our central gathering place and as the chapel for our prayer liturgies during the weekend. It was built after the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires (it’s stained glass windows commemorate the fires) and has been shared by the local Anglican, Catholic, and Uniting Church congregations. In addition to the chapel, it has a small meeting room and a kitchenette, and good outdoor meeting spaces. It is located right opposite the main shops and cafes, and next door to the Big4 Holiday Park with its playground.
As in previous years, we will not be running a very tightly structured program at our camp. The focus is on relaxing and enjoying getting to know one another better, so there is lots of flexibility for people to do different things during the day. We have some set times to gather for prayer using our SYCBaps Daily Prayer liturgies, but most of the rest of the time is flexible and will operate “open space” style with people suggesting activities that others can join, or not. Nothing will be compulsory and many people will opt to go for walks, go to the beach, sit and chat in local cafes or the pub, visit the local art gallery, browse the bookshop, climb the lighthouse, play mini-golf, do jigsaws or craft activities, or just sit in the sun (or shade) and chat. We will use Cloud of Voices on our phones to communicate the suggested activities and their times and meeting places. Help will be available for anyone who isn’t yet using Cloud of Voices.
We will join with the local Uniting Church congregation for worship on Sunday morning. They are long-time users of our LaughingBird resource website and have invited us to lead the service for them. For those who are unable to come to camp and those who get home early enough, we will still hold our usual Sunday liturgy online at 5pm on the Sunday.
There is lots of accommodation available in Aireys Inlet, much of it not far from St Aidan’s Church, and prices will depend on how many people you choose to share with. While you are required to book your own accommodation, you don’t have to do it individually, but are encouraged to share, and it will be a lot cheaper if you do. Please send an email to our church email list if you are seeking others who might be willing to share a room or a unit with you. Here are the main suggestions:
BIG4 Holiday Park, 19-25 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet
Right next door to St Aidan’s Church! In addition to caravan and tent sites, there are lots of different cabins, ranging from $378 (for 2 nights) for 2-3 person budget cabins to $600 for an 6 person, 2 bedroom deluxe cabin. They also have caravan sites and tent sites if you prefer to bring your own shelter. Pets welcome.
Find more information and pictures, or book online at https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/vic/great-ocean-road/aireys-inlet-holiday-park
or phone 03 5289 6230
Sunnymead Hotel 64 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet
Standard suites from $430 (for 2 people for 2 nights) or superior suites from $482. A 400m gentle uphill walk to St Aidan’s Church.
Find more information and pictures, or book online at https://www.sunnymeadhotel.com.au
or phone 03 5289 6666
Aireys Inlet Getaway 2 Barton Court, Aireys Inlet
10 villa or studio cabins available, ranging from $624 (for 2 nights) for a two person studio cabin to $1080 for a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom villa that sleeps eight. A 800m uphill walk to St Aidan’s Church.
Find more information and pictures, or book online at https://www.aireysinletgetaway.com.au
or phone 03 5289 7021
Welsford Holiday House, 6 Kerrie Court, Aireys Inlet
Margie’s family have a holiday house, about 600m from St Aidan’s Church. It can sleep up to eleven people across four rooms, as follows:
- 1 bedroom with a double bed and ensuite bathroom.
- 1 bedroom with a queen-sized bed and a single bed.
- 1 bedroom with a queen-sized bed and a set of single bed bunks.
- 1 queen-sized sofa-bed in a common area of the house (not the main lounge room).
Please contact Nathan if you are interested in staying in this house, but because its use is not costing us much, our intention is to give first preference to those for whom the commercial accommodation in the town would be unaffordable.
Overboard Seaside Cottage 1 Barton Ct, Aireys Inlet
This cottage may be available if it is not already booked out. It is an 800m uphill walk to St Aidan’s Church.
The cost for the weekend would be $685 for a couple, or $934 for four people.
Find more information and pictures, or book online at http://www.overboardcottages.com.au/aireysinlet/index.html
AirBNB
There are numerous houses available on AirBnB in the area, starting at around $500 for the weekend. That would be expensive on your own, but perhaps not if you are sharing with a few people.
Find more information and pictures, or book online at https://www.airbnb.com.au/aireys-inlet-australia/stays
Of the six meal times over the weekend, half will be arranged to enable everyone to eat together in local venues. The other three you can organise yourselves with whoever you like, wherever you like. In the spirit of our “open space” approach to the weekend, if you want to opt out of the big together meals and do your own thing then too, of course you can.
Most venues can cater for Special Diets if they are asked. For complex special dietary requirements or allergies, please make contact with the venue yourself to verify their willingness to provide for you.
Friday Night Dinner, from 7:00pm, we will make a group booking for everyone who wants to come to have dinner together at the Aireys Pub. If you think you will be there for that, please indicate that on your registration so that we know how many to book for. You can view the current menu here.
Saturday Morning Breakfast or Brunch. Organise yourselves with whoever you like, wherever you like. You could self cater in your accommodation, or you could go alone or with a small group to one of the many excellent local cafes (see suggestions below). There is often an offer for a pancake breakfast at the Welsford House, and there may be again!
Saturday Lunch Organise yourselves with whoever you like, wherever you like. You could self cater in your accommodation, you could organise a picnic or a BBQ, or you could go alone or with a small group to one of the many excellent local cafes (see suggestions below).
Saturday Night Dinner, from 6:30pm, we will make a group booking for everyone who wants to come to have dinner together at The Captain Wood Fired Pizza Restaurant. If you think you will be there for that, please indicate that on your registration so that we know how many to book for. Click here and scroll down for the current menu.
Sunday Morning Breakfast. Organise yourselves with whoever you like, wherever you like. You could self cater in your accommodation, or you could go alone or with a small group to one of the many excellent local cafes (see suggestions below).
Sunday Lunch, from 12:45pm, we will make a group booking for everyone who wants to come to have lunch together at the Aireys Pub. If you think you will be there for that, please indicate that on your registration so that we know how many to book for. You can view the current menu here.
Suggestions for other good places to eat in Aireys Inlet (click on the names for more info)
Cafe: Mr T & Me, 42 Great Ocean Rd
Open from 8:30am Saturday and 9:00am Sunday
Cafe: The Lighthouse Tearooms, 7 Federal St
Open 9:00am – 4:00pm
Cafe & Deli: Mishka’s Cafe, 87 Great Ocean Rd
Open from 7:00am – 3:00pm
Restaurant: A La Greque, Corner of Great Ocean Road and Beach Road
Classy Greek cuisine. Open from midday for lunch and dinner.
Restaurant: Le Comptoir, 36 Great Ocean Rd
A classy, cosy, and very authentic French restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Restaurant: Kiem’s Dining, 32 Great Ocean Rd
Quality Asian Fusion, marrying the flavours of Vietnam and Taiwan with contemporary twists. Open for lunch or dinner.
Restaurant: Santara at Sunnymead Hotel, 64 Great Ocean Road
Open for dinner on Friday and Saturday night if you’re looking for something separate from the rest of us.
Fragrant Indian-inspired dishes
Take-away: Pasta di Puglia, 34 Great Ocean Rd
Handcrafted fresh pasta, handmade gnocchi, and seasonal Italian dishes. Limited dine-in, but excellent take-away.
Take-away: Aireys Inlet Fish & Chips, 2/79 Great Ocean Rd (down at the bottom shops)
Fish tacos, burgers, souvlaki, and of course, fish and chips with all the classics!
What to bring to camp
- Your clothing (there could be cold weather), including raincoat and walking shoes.
- Your toiletries
- Any medications you may need
- Any food and drink that you want for snacks or self-catered meals
- Anything you want for activities you might wish to do or share at camp, eg. jigsaws, board games, knitting, craft materials, toys, sports equipment, bathers, surf board, DVDs, books, etc. etc.
Depending on the accommodation you choose, you may need to bring bed linen and/or towels, but some places will provide them. Check when you choose and book your accommodation.
Apart from some set times to gather for daily prayer liturgies, but most of the rest of the time is flexible and will operate “open space” style with people suggesting activities that others can join, or not. In addition to things such as board games, jigsaws, knitting circles, small group conversations, and coffee in local cafes (see the Meals info above for a list of cafes), there a number of possibilities specific to the Aireys Inlet neighbourhood. The include:
- Beaches
There are several great beaches. Sunnymead, Sandy Gully, and Fairhaven beaches are all beautiful ocean surf beaches, and Step Beach is a bit more sheltered and child friendly. All of those require descent down significant stairways to gain access. The Inlet beach is more accessible from street level, and has both an ocean surf area and a calm and safe area inside the inlet mouth. - Scenic Walks
There are beautiful scenic walks along the cliff top paths with magnificent ocean views. - Bird Watching
The Alan Noble Sanctuary is a wetlands sanctuary, right in the town with a wealth of birdlife, and easily accessible paths and seats. - Playgrounds
There are good children’s playgrounds at the Big4 Holiday Park, right next door to St Aidan’s Church, and another adjacent to am excellent skate park down the hill at 122–136 Great Ocean Rd. - Fireplaces
For those who can’t imagine our church camp without a fireplace to sit around, remember that it will be mid-October this time, not mid-winter. However, if it is cold, there are fireplaces at the Aireys Pub and in the lounge of the Welsford holiday house! - Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery
50 Great Ocean Rd. Open 10:00am – 5:00pm - Split Point Lighthouse
Visit the famous lighthouse that was features in the ABC Kids drama, Round the Twist. Between 10:00am and 2:00pm it is open for tours and the physically able can climb to the top for amazing 360° views of the surrounding coastline. - Great Ocean Road Mini Golf
73 Great Ocean Rd. Open 10:00am – 5:00pm. Two entertaining courses at this excellent facility. Great fun for kids and adults alike. - Great Escape Books
For the bookworms, this is Margie’s favourite bookshop! 2/75 Great Ocean Rd. Open 10:00am – 5:00pm. - Aireys Inlet Market
Aireys Inlet Community Hall, 6 Great Ocean Road
This excellent once-a-month market will be happening on the Sunday of our camp, from 9am to 1pm, so some people might like to visit it between Sunday worship and lunch.
Most people will be booking and paying for their own accommodation and meals for this camp, so there is no charge beyond that for attending the camp. But we don’t want anybody to miss out because of money, and we do have some people who cannot afford these costs, and so we will be subsidising those who need it. If you need help with the costs, speak to Nathan or a member of the Host Group, and we will arrange it. And if you can afford to contribute some money to help subsidise others, please let us know on your registration, but don’t pay yet until we find out who might be needing it.
Online Registration Form
(Make sure you hit “Submit” at the end)