Torquay activities
Things to do in Torquay
Australia's surf capital has more for travellers than just the famous break — a world-class surfing museum, a 44 km coastal walk, factory outlets, and three patrolled beaches.
The shortlist
What you should not skip
Torquay's appeal splits into three streams: surf-focused activities (Bells, the Surfing Museum, surf lessons), road-trip-launchpad activities (the foreshore café strip, Surf Coast Walk, retail outlets), and family activities (Front Beach, Skate Park, kids' surf programs). Most travellers do something from each stream during a 1-2 night stop.
- Bells Beach — 6 km south. Cliff-top viewing platform, the world's longest-running surf contest. Bells Beach guide.
- Australian National Surfing Museum — vintage boards, the Bells history, free Walk of Fame outside. ~90 minutes.
- Surf lesson at Jan Juc — 2-hour beginner lesson AU$70–90, includes board and wetsuit. Multiple operators.
- Surf Coast Walk: Torquay to Bells — 3 km cliff-top section, ocean views the entire way. 1.5 hours each direction.
- Surf City Plaza outlets — Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Billabong factory stores. Real factory pricing.
- Front Beach swim — patrolled, sheltered, family-friendly.
- Foreshore café crawl — Bomboras, The Salty, Soulful Brunch, Bottle Rocket Pizza.
Surf-focused
For surfers and surf-curious
- Bells Beach cliff-top viewing — watch the locals surf or the pros at Easter. Free.
- Australian National Surfing Museum — the definitive surf history collection.
- Australian Surfing Walk of Fame — outside the museum, free.
- Surf lesson — Front Beach or Jan Juc, multiple operators.
- Board hire — Lorne Surf Shop or Torquay surf shops have boards from AU$30/day.
- Watch the Rip Curl Pro — held over 10 days at Easter. Free spectating.
- Surf retail at Surf City Plaza — Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Billabong factory outlets.
Beyond surfing
For everyone else
- Surf Coast Walk sections — 44 km total, multiple day-section options.
- Front Beach swim — patrolled, gentle, family-friendly.
- Cosy Corner — quieter sheltered swimming spot at the southern end.
- Torquay Skate Park — one of Victoria's best, free entry.
- Whites Beach — quieter beach 2 km south of Front Beach.
- Anglesea kangaroos (30 min east) — wild kangaroos on the golf course fairways.
- Foreshore café crawl — strong restaurant strip on The Esplanade and Pearl Street.
A perfect day in Torquay
If you have 24 hours
7:30am — Coffee and breakfast at Soulful Brunch or The Salty.
9:00am — Drive 6 km south to Bells Beach for the cliff-top platform. 30 min.
10:00am — Surf Coast Walk from Bells to Jan Juc and back (5 km loop, 2.5 hours).
1:00pm — Lunch back in town at Bottle Rocket Pizza or Bomboras.
2:30pm — Visit the Australian National Surfing Museum. 90 min.
4:30pm — Beer at Blackman's Brewery.
6:00pm — Sunset walk on Front Beach.
7:30pm — Dinner at Bomboras on the foreshore.
Frequently asked
Torquay things-to-do FAQs
- What are the top things to do in Torquay?
- Watch surfers at Bells Beach (6 km south, world-famous reef break), visit the Australian National Surfing Museum (the only major surfing museum in the southern hemisphere), take a surf lesson at Front Beach or Jan Juc, walk the Surf Coast Walk, browse the Surf City Plaza factory outlets (Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Billabong), and eat your way through the Front Beach café strip.
- Can you take a surf lesson in Torquay?
- Yes — multiple operators run beginner-to-intermediate surf lessons at Front Beach and Jan Juc, where the sand-bottom waves are gentler than the reef breaks at Bells. Group lessons typically AU$70–90 for 2 hours including board and wetsuit hire. The Torquay Surf Academy and Go Ride a Wave are the established operators.
- Is the Australian National Surfing Museum worth visiting?
- Yes for surf-curious travellers. The museum tells the history of Australian surfing, has a substantial collection of vintage boards (including the iconic boards from the early Bells era), and houses the Australian Surfing Walk of Fame. Entry around AU$15/adult. Allow 60–90 minutes. Located at Beach Road in Torquay.
- What is there to do in Torquay if you don't surf?
- Plenty. Walk the Surf Coast Walk along the cliff-tops. Visit the Surfing Museum (interesting even for non-surfers). Watch professionals surf at Bells from the cliff-top platform. Browse the surf retail outlets at Surf City Plaza. Swim at the patrolled Front Beach. Explore Anglesea (30 min east) for kangaroos at the golf course. Have dinner on the foreshore strip.
- How long is the Surf Coast Walk from Torquay?
- The full Surf Coast Walk is 44 km from Torquay to Aireys Inlet. Most people walk day sections. From Torquay, the most popular is Torquay to Bells Beach (3 km one way, 1.5 hours each direction) or the longer Bells to Jan Juc loop (5 km, 2.5 hours). All sections offer cliff-top ocean views and are well-marked.
- When is the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach?
- Late March or early April, over 10 days during the Easter period (exact dates vary year-to-year based on swell forecasts). Spectator viewing from the cliff-top is free. Accommodation in Torquay books out 12+ months ahead for Rip Curl Pro week. The contest is the third stop on the World Surf League Championship Tour.
- What's a good day trip from Torquay?
- Drive south on the Great Ocean Road to Anglesea (30 min) for the kangaroos at the golf course, then Aireys Inlet (45 min) for Split Point Lighthouse, then Lorne (1 hr 15 min) for lunch on Mountjoy Parade. Round trip with stops fills 6–8 hours. Alternative day trip: Geelong (25 min north) for the waterfront and the You Yangs Regional Park beyond.
- Are there family activities in Torquay?
- Yes — Front Beach is patrolled in summer with gentle sand-bottom waves suitable for kids. Soulful Brunch and the Esplanade cafés cater to families. The Torquay Skate Park is excellent. Surf schools run kids' programs. Bells Beach Backpackers in Jan Juc has a kid-friendly pool. The Surfing Museum engages most children for at least an hour.