Torquay
Australia's surf capital and the gateway to the Great Ocean Road — Rip Curl, Quiksilver, the Surfing Museum, and the launching point for every road trip.
Where Australian surf culture was built
Torquay isn't just on the Great Ocean Road — it's where the road's culture starts. By the late 1960s, two surf-clothing companies had set up shop in town: Rip Curl in 1969, Quiksilver in 1969 as well. Both grew into global brands without ever moving their headquarters elsewhere. The town's identity, even six decades later, remains anchored to the international surfing economy that grew out of those two garages.
Today Torquay is a town of about 18,000 — by far the largest of the Surf Coast settlements — with a year-round economy that runs on surf retail, surf schools, professional surfing, and the steady stream of road-trippers heading south. The Surf City Plaza on the highway holds the original Rip Curl, Quiksilver and Billabong factory outlets. The Australian National Surfing Museum is in town. And Bells Beach — the world's most famous surf break — is six kilometres south.
For travellers, Torquay sits at a strange intersection: it's the practical "last full-amenity town" before the road begins, but it's also a destination in its own right for anyone interested in surfing or surf culture. Most road-trippers spend an hour here on the way through. Surf-focused travellers spend two or three days. The town accommodates both, with a strong restaurant strip on the foreshore, family-friendly beaches, and accommodation across every tier from caravan parks to boutique hotels.
A day, two days, a long weekend
For a quick stop on a Great Ocean Road trip, focus on three things: Bells Beach cliff-top viewing (15-min stop, 6 km south), the Australian National Surfing Museum (45 mins on Beach Road), and lunch on the foreshore at one of the cafés along The Esplanade.
For a full day, add a Surf Coast Walk section — the path runs from Torquay through Bells, Jan Juc, and beyond, with the Bells-Torquay section being the most accessible. Add a swim at Front Beach (patrolled) or a learn-to-surf lesson at Jan Juc. Browse the Surf City Plaza outlets if you want surf retail at factory prices.
For multiple days, the options open up: hire a board and surf the local breaks, watch the pros at Bells Beach during the Rip Curl Pro (Easter), drive 30 minutes east to Anglesea for the kangaroos at the golf course, head 10 minutes north to Point Addis for a quieter beach, or use Torquay as a base for day-trips along the Great Ocean Road as far west as Apollo Bay.
See the full Torquay things-to-do guide for the complete shortlist.
A solid food scene
The Torquay strip on The Esplanade and Pearl Street has the strongest restaurant cluster on the Surf Coast outside of Lorne.
- Bomboras — modern Australian dinner with sea views.
- The Salty — café and brunch staple.
- Soulful Brunch — wholefoods café, surfer favourite.
- Bottle Rocket Pizza — wood-fired Neapolitan.
- Torquay Hotel — pub bistro, local crowd.
- Blackman's Brewery — local craft brewery, taproom and food.
Where to sleep
- RACV Torquay Resort — premium hotel with golf course and pool.
- Peppers The Sands — beachfront resort, family-friendly.
- Torquay Tropicana Motel — mid-range motel with pool.
- Wyndham Resort Torquay — apartment-style accommodation.
- Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park — direct beach access.
- Bell's Holiday Park — second caravan park, quieter.
- Holiday rentals on Pearl Street and Esplanade.
Torquay FAQs
- Is Torquay the start of the Great Ocean Road?
- Yes — Torquay is the official eastern start of the Great Ocean Road. The road's symbolic gateway, Memorial Arch, sits 10 km south at Eastern View, but the road itself technically begins at the southern edge of Torquay. Most travellers consider the trip 'started' once they pass Bells Beach a few minutes south of town.
- Why is Torquay called the surf capital of Australia?
- Torquay is the headquarters of Rip Curl and Quiksilver — both founded here in the 1960s — and home to the Australian National Surfing Museum. Bells Beach, 6 km south, is Australia's most famous surf break and host of the Rip Curl Pro since 1961. The town's surf culture is the densest in the country: surf shops, surf schools, surf retail outlets, and a beach-first lifestyle that pervades every street.
- How far is Torquay from Melbourne?
- About 100 km from Melbourne CBD, or 1 hour 15 minutes by car via the M1 to Geelong then south on the Surf Coast Highway. From Melbourne airport, allow another 30 minutes via the Western Ring Road. V/Line buses run from Geelong to Torquay multiple times daily.
- What is there to do in Torquay?
- Surf at Front Beach or Jan Juc, watch professional surfers at Bells Beach, visit the Australian National Surfing Museum, browse the Surf City Plaza outlets (Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Billabong factory stores), walk the Surf Coast Walk, eat at the strong café strip on the foreshore, and base out of town for trips along the Great Ocean Road. Combined: a full day or a relaxed two-night stay.
- Is Torquay worth visiting?
- Yes — for surf-focused travellers, Torquay is the definitive starting point on the road. For non-surfers, Torquay works as a comfortable last-amenity stop before the road begins (good restaurants, full retail, surf-museum-as-attraction). It's not as visually dramatic as Lorne or Apollo Bay, but it has the strongest infrastructure of any Surf Coast town.
- Where should I stay in Torquay?
- Front Beach area for walkability to cafés and surf, Jan Juc for quieter family stays, the residential streets behind the foreshore for holiday rentals, the Surf Coast Highway corridor for budget motels. Premium options include RACV Torquay Resort and Peppers The Sands. Caravan parks at Torquay Foreshore and Bell's.
- How long should I stay in Torquay?
- One night minimum if you're combining it with a Great Ocean Road trip — that's enough for surf, dinner on the foreshore, and a morning museum visit before driving south. Two nights lets you take a surf lesson, walk the Surf Coast Walk, and explore Bells properly. As a standalone destination, two nights is the sweet spot.
- Is Torquay good for families?
- Yes — one of the most family-friendly Surf Coast towns. Front Beach is patrolled and gentle. Jan Juc is wider and quieter. The Surf Coast Walk has accessible sections suitable for prams. Multiple surf schools run kids' learn-to-surf programs. The restaurant strip caters to families with kids' menus and outdoor seating.