Surfing Torquay

Torquay Surf Spots

The front beach at Torquay is sheltered from South swells by Point Danger with waves breaking far off and gently rolling in. The Southern end, Cosy Corner in Fisherman's beach is ideal for kids and beginners. Check it out in massive conditions for a long right hander.

The exposed surf beach on the other side of Point Danger is Torquay Point - a super long righthander breaking off Rocky Point in front of the surf club, a favourite of longboarders. Towards the middle of the beach is a left hand beach break called Drainos.

The next beach from Torquay is Jan Juc, set at the bottom of limestone cliffs Its exposed to South swells and the beach breaks have more power than at Torquay Surf Beach. Suitable for beginners when smaller, but only for intermediate surfers when it gets to chest high and above. Breaking in front of the shallow ledge at the Western End of Jan Juc is Bird Rock, a fast barrelling right hander.

About 5km West of Torquay, the world famous Bells Beach is known for a set of classic reef breaks which hold some of the biggest waves in Victoria with huge open water faces which just keep on going. Every Easter when the big swells appear, Pros from all over the world converge here for the Bells Beach Classic (Now Rip Curl Pro) the longest running surf comp event. The area is impressive with cliffs forming a natural amphitheater from where you can watch the performance. Deep water sets, strong rips and the high level of surfing means that only experienced surfers should paddle out.

Fun Fact: Bells Beach is where Bodhi paddled out to meet the 100 year. storm in Point Break.

Torquay Surf Lessons / Schools

There are 3 main schools operating in the Torquay / Jan Juc area.

Torquay Surf Hire / Rental

You can hire your gear in town before heading for a surf from the surf schools Torquay Surf Academy and Go RIde a Wave and the Bells Beach Surf Shop.

Torquay Surf Shops

Most of the surf shops are located in the Town centre where you will find the flagship stores by global brands Rip Curl, Oakley and Patagonia within a short hop from each other. Local independent surf shops in town also stock other brands. You can pick up some off-season bargains at the surf outlets on Baines Beach crescent.

Things to do in Torquay

The Surf City complex is a popular stop for tourists visiting the Great Ocean Road who come for a toilet break, shop at the surf retail outlets and recharge at the cafes. Within the complex, the Australian National Surf Museum is a must visit for surfers wanting to learn about the surfcraft, local history and characters which make up Australian surfing. Nearby there is a skatepark usually sessioned by local groms.

Torquay is a great place to base yourself as there are all the niceties of life within a short drive to great waves, with lots of cafes, dining and bars.

Best places to pick up a coffee in town are at Mikro Coffee and the Sticks & Stones cafe. The Third Wave Kiosk at the front beach car park has sweeping views of the beach.

There are quite a few microbreweries in town to quench your thirst. SouWest is a food and beverage hub with a beer hall, tasting hall and a playroom area for kids. 4 Pines (from Sydney) have taken over the original Boardriders Backpackers venue, transforming it into a nice venue serving food and brews. The Bells Beach Brewery has an outdoor area where you can taste their drops with food supplied by food trucks. Blackmans Brewery has a beer garden and serves gourmet pizza. Check out Torquay Hotel and Bomboras for events and live music.