Torquay (Victoria)

Introduction

Torquay backbeach Victoria

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Torquay is a small town at the start of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. It is widely considered Australia's surfing capital, home to famous surf brands like Rip Curl, Quiksilver and Billabong, the Surf World Museum, and some great beaches, including Bells Beach.

Sights and Activities

Surfing

No visit to Torquay would be complete without a trip to one of its famous surf beaches. Bell Beach and Winki Pop are surf beaches for more experienced surfers, while beginners can pick up some tricks of the trade at Torquay Front Beach and nearby Jan Juc beach. Be sure to check at the Visitor Information Centre or local Surf Life Saving Club beforehand to find out what surf conditions are like. You can also check the Swellnet, Coastalwatch or Buoyweather websites for daily surf reports.

These companies offer surfing lessons:

• Torquay Surfing Academy offer surfing lessons, as well hiring out surfing gear. Email: contact@torquaysurf.com.au. Phone: 03 5261 2022.
• Go Ride A Wave offer surfing and kayaking lessons, and hire out surfing gear. Email: info@gorideawave.com.au. Phone: 1300 132 441.
• Westcoast Adventure & Westcoast Surf School offer surfing, snorkelling, surf kayaking, canoeing, rockclimbing and abseiling lessons. Email: sales@westcoastsurfschool.com. Phone: 03 5261 2241.
• Offshore Surf tours offers lessons and surf tours from Melbourne. Email: info@offshoresurftours.com. Phone: 03 5261 5606.

Walks

There are several great places to go for a walk around Torquay. To enjoy what remains of the area's indigenous vegetation, walk around Deep Creek Reserve between the Surf Coast Highway and The Esplanade. Also starting at Deep Creek Reserve is the Foreshore Trail, a route you can take along the Esplanade, Torquay Front Beach, Point Danger, Torquay Back Beach and onwards to Jan Juc. The Surf Coast Walk commences in Jan Juc and goes for up to thirty kilometres, passing along Bells Beach, the Iron Bark Basin, Point Addis, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet Lighthouse, Fairhaven and Moggs Creek. It's also possible to just do a section of the walk, if you'd prefer a shorter walk.

Other sights and activities

• Surf World Museum: Surf World is the world's largest surfing museum. It showcases surfing history, memorabilia and culture.
• Shopping: Quiksilver, Rip Curl and Billabong all have their headquarters in Torquay, so be sure to check out their retail and factory outlets in the centre of town.
• Swimming: If you're not into surfing, there are a few nice beaches where you can enjoy a swim. 'Cosy Corner' - located between Torquay beach and Point Danger - and Fisherman's Beach are two good spots to try.
• Golf: Torquay Golf Club is located at 1 Great Ocean Road, offering incredible panoramic views of the coast as you do a round of 18. Alternatively, try The Sands Torquay, which has a lovely coastal location in a natural environment.
• Fishing: Fishermen's Beach, Zeally Bay, Spring Creek and Jan Juc Beach are all great fishing spots. You are not allowed to fish in Marine National Park.
• Tiger Moth World Adventure Park is a theme park devoted to the 1930's open-cockpit Tiger Moth bi-plane. There is a museum and a grass aerodrome to check out, and you can also go for a ride in one of the Tigers. There are also aerial tours of the Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles in modern planes.

Events and Festivals

Getting There

By Plane

There is a small airport in Torquay, but there are no passenger services to and from other destinations. The nearest airport is Avalon Airport, near Geelong.

By Train

There is no train service to Torquay. However, V/Line operates a train service to Geelong, with coaches connecting on to Torquay.

By Car

From Melbourne, it takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to drive to Torquay. Follow the Princes Freeway to Geelong and then take the Surf Coast Highway south to Torquay.

By Bus

V/Line has buses from Geelong to Torquay. The bus continues along the Great Ocean Road, so if you're coming from that direction, you can take the bus to Geelong and stop off at Torquay along the way. From Geelong, V/Line has a train service to Melbourne.

By Boat

There are no regular passenger boat services to Torquay. Searoad have a car and passenger ferry operating daily on the hour between Queenscliffe and Sorrento. Torquay is only a short distance from Queenscliffe.

Getting Around

By Car

Torquay is quite small, so it is fairly easy to drive around by car.

By Public Transport

There are taxis in Torquay, and McHarry's operates a regular bus trip between Geelong, Torquay and Jan Juc.

By Foot

Torquay is small enough to be able to walk around most of its sights. For a number of suggested scenic walks, see the Sights and Activities section above.

By Bike

There are some great areas to cycle around Torquay, with over 30 popular trails.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

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Upscale

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

Australia Post is the government's postal service. Most reasonably sizable townssuburbs will have at least one post office. A standard letter or postcard sent within Australia will cost $0.55. Internationally, it costs $1.40 to send postcards anywhere in the world. Letters cost $1.45 to send within the Asia Pacific region and $2.10 to anywhere else in the world. ^[1]. It is also possible to send things as parcels or by express mail.