Torquay
Your trip down the Great Ocean Road officially starts at Torquay. Torquay is the home of surfing in Australia and the town thrives with holiday makers in the summer as they flock to its beautiful beaches, with wide grassy foreshores and rows of Norfolk Pine trees. There are many walking tracks and scenic views along the several beaches in the area as well as from rocky points in the coastline including Yellow Bluff and Point Danger. As you enter Torquay driving down the Surf Coast Highway from Geelong, turn left at the first set of traffic lights at Darian Road. Continue to the cliff top car park to view the aboriginal designed analemmatic Sundial depicting Australian birds and animals in colourful mosaic tiles. Continue your journey around the Esplanade which will bring you past Torquays front beach, and tempt your tastebuds with an icecream as you enjoy a stroll along the beach.
No trip to Torquay would be complete without a visit to the Surf shops which have factory outlets of famous surfwear clothing such as Quiksilver and RipCurl, plus the Surfworld which is well worth a visit. You may even be tempted to become a surfer yourself, with learn to surf schools located in the township.
For nature lovers the Surf Coast Walk starts at the car park just past the roundabout at Torquay and goes to Jan Juc, Bells, Aireys Inlet and continues on through Fairhaven to Moggs Creek Picnic area. It is 30 kms in total but can be done in sections, or ideally with 2 car groups starting at either end and meeting in the middle at a pre arranged spot.
A few kilometres south-west of Torquay is Bells Beach which hosts the Rip Curl Pro Surfing Classic - an annual event which attracts competitors from all over the world. You must include a stop to see our famous Bells Beach, take the Bells Boulevard (C132) just past Jan Juc township, around the coast, turning inland on Jarosite Road to get back to the Great Ocean Road.
Click here to download the Surf Coast Walk brochure (PDF file 67KBs)
Click here to download the Surf Coast Fishing Guide (PDF file 71KBs)
