Torquay and Bells Beach

5 min read Updated October 2026 Compare all tours

Torquay calls itself Australia's surf capital, and it is where the Great Ocean Road begins. From central Melbourne it is about 103 km, roughly an hour and a half by car over the West Gate Bridge to Geelong and then down the Surf Coast Highway. Visitors flying into Avalon Airport, between Melbourne and Geelong, are about half an hour away. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, which manages the coast and parks along the road, has its office in Torquay at 25 Baines Crescent.

Bells Beach, on Bells Beach Road in the same postcode area, sits inside a surfing recreation reserve that the same authority manages. The park authority says Torquay has some of the best waves on the Surf Coast, and Bells is where the annual Rip Curl Pro is held.

Swimming and patrolled beaches

Torquay has sheltered beaches for families as well as open surf beaches. The park authority describes Torquay Back Beach as suitable for surfers and experienced swimmers. In summer four beaches are patrolled: Torquay Back Beach, Jan Juc, Cosy Corner and Fishermans Beach. Volunteers from the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club patrol at weekends and on public holidays from November to April, and paid lifeguards cover weekdays from December to February. Cosy Corner has weekday patrols in December and January.

Lifesavers are only on duty while the red and yellow flags are up. Surf Life Saving Australia advises swimming between them, because that is where rips are least likely. A rip shows as a darker, deeper channel with fewer breaking waves. If one catches you, stay calm, raise an arm and call for help, or swim parallel to the beach. The emergency number is 000.

Learning to surf

Surf schools take beginners into waist-deep water on soft boards, with a safety briefing on the sand first. In Torquay the two-hour group lesson starts at a surf shop, where you check in 15 minutes early and pick up a full-length wetsuit and board. A Level 1 coach runs the session, sunscreen is provided and hot showers wait afterwards. Bring swimwear and a towel. Children can join from 8, and those under 9 need a parent in the water with them.

Torquay Surfing Academy runs group sessions of up to 16 people, with permits for several beaches along the Great Ocean Road, so the coaches can move to wherever the surf suits learners on the day. It also offers private two-hour coaching from its base at 34A Bell Street. The operator of the Torquay group lesson runs the same format on the beach at Anglesea.

From the air and on the river

The tandem skydive over Torquay climbs up to 15,000 ft above the coast, followed by up to 60 seconds of freefall and 5 to 7 minutes under the parachute. The minimum age is 16, under-18s need consent, and the weight limit is 110 kg. Photos and video cost extra and can be added on the day. A transfer from Melbourne can be booked with it.

For something calmer, a night kayak tour sets off from the riverbank at Anglesea in double kayaks fitted with lights. No experience is needed. The guide stops at a quiet bend for a hot drink or soup and talks about the southern sky, and wetsuits and head torches are provided.

The Rip Curl Pro

The Rip Curl Pro is a professional contest held every year at Bells Beach. The park authority describes Torquay as the official host of an event held over Easter, and the event page talks of the Easter tradition. For 2026, however, the contest moved to the start of the world championship season. The date for 2027 had not been announced when this page was written, so check the event page before you plan a trip around it. In late January 2027 the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race also passes through, with stages between Geelong, Barwon Heads and Torquay.

Starting the drive

Many day tours from Melbourne make Torquay their first stop. One tour stops at Torquay Surf Beach for morning tea with a view towards Bells Beach before heading west. A private tour drives via Bells Beach, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet before the Memorial Arch. From Torquay it is about 47 km and 55 minutes to Lorne, which makes the two a comfortable half day if you drive yourself.

The coast here is cooler than the city in summer. Melbourne averages about 26 °C in January, Cape Otway further west about 21.5 °C, so pack a jumper even for a beach day. More on surf lessons and other activities is on our page about surfing and outdoor activities.