Torquay is a city in Victoria, Australia. Renowned for its beaches, it is a popular seaside destination along the Great Ocean Road and a must-see for any avid surfer or any traveller looking for a beachside getaway.
Understand
Located at the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road, Torquay is a famous surfing spot, with Quiksilver and Rip Curl headquartered here and Bells Beach just around the corner.
Get in
Torquay is 97 km south of Melbourne, 22 km south of Geelong and 253 km east of Warrnambool at the other end of the Great Ocean Road.
Torquay is serviced by the V/Line coach between Geelong and Apollo Bay, which runs four times a day each direction on weekdays and two times on weekends, connecting to rail services from Melbourne at Geelong Station. Alternatively, Route 50 (map) and 51 (map) operate between Geelong Station and Jan Juc, a suburb in the south of Torquay, via Marshall Station in Geelong's south. These services operate more frequently, about every hour, although stop more frequently so have a slightly longer travel time.
Get around
Routes 50 and 51 between Geelong and Jan Juc form the town's only public transport, as an extension of Geelong's bus network (map). Both routes largely follow the same route down the Surf Coast Highway, although Route 50 diverts to serve the north-eastern area of Torquay, including The Sands Resort. A map is available on the PTV website.
See
- Fisherman's Beach, -38.32554°, 144.32994°. 2015-08-17
- Australian National Surfing Museum, 77 Beach Rd, -38.32651°, 144.316011°, +61 3 5261 4606. The largest surfing museum in the world. 2015-08-17
- Torquay Surf Beach, -38.34266°, 144.31949°. 2015-08-17
- Torquay Front Beach, -38.33534°, 144.32579°. 2015-08-17
- Point Impossible Beach, -38.3131°, 144.365°. A "clothes-optional" beach, designated as a legal nudist beach. 2021-03-20
Do
Buy
- Torquay Books, 14B Gilbert Street, -38.332022°, 144.324600°, +61 03 5261 2311, torqbook@bigpond.net.au. M-Sa 9:30-5PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Friendly bookstore with a broad collection, including a kids' section. 2021-03-18
- Rip Curl Torquay, 101 Surf Coast Highway, -38.327500°, 144.316822°, +61 03 5261 0008. 9AM-5:30PM. Torquay is the home of Rip Curl, and this is a good place to get surfing and swimming equipment. 2021-03-19
- Surfcoast Wholefoods, Shop 104, 41 Bristol Road, -38.33163°, 144.32137°, +61 03 5261 5555, hello@surfcoastwholefoods.com.au. M-Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 8AM-5PM. Organic and wholefoods specialty store. 2021-03-19
Eat
- Italo’s Wood Fired Pizza, 7 Gilbert Street, -38.332313°, 144.325303°. M W 4:30-9:30PM, Th F 2PM-9:30PM, Sa Su 11:30AM-9:30PM. This little restaurant offers Italian wood-fired pizzas. Waitstaff are friendly, and if you're going on the weekends around lunch time it's usually pretty quiet. Sides such as pasta and chips are also available. $12-$25 2021-03-17
- Squires Loft, Shop 6/15 Bell Street, -38.33804°, 144.32205°. W-Su from 5:30PM. 10% surcharge on public holidays. Chain steak restaurant with gluten free options. 2021-03-18
- Fisho's Torquay, 36 The Esplanade, -38.332826°, 144.325874°, +61 03 5264 7739. Noon-3PM and 5PM-8PM. Fish and chips restaurant opposite the surf beach serving locally sourced seafood. Fish $22-24. Kids $12. Sides $2.50-$16. 15% surcharge on public holidays 2021-03-18
- Pholklore, 38 The Esplanade, -38.332456°, 144.326146°, +61 03 5261 4270. M-F 5-9PM, Sa Su noon-9PM. Vietnamese street food. $8-22 2021-03-18
- Growlers, 23 The Esplanade, -38.334908°, 144.324654°, +61 03 5264 8455. 8:30AM-late. Beachfront eatery that serves bistro food. Breakfast $7.90-25, lunch $20-24, dinner $12-$36 2021-03-18
- Las Olas, 10 Pearl Street, -38.332567°, 144.323485°, +61 03 5264 8877. Californian-style Mexican cuisine. $6.40-22.50 2021-03-18
- Bomboras, 37 The Esplanade, -38.332603°, 144.326007°, +61 03 5264 7881. 6AM-late. Cafe offering Mediterranean cuisine. Main $29-$37, salads $22-25, sides $9-10, pizzas $14-24 2021-03-18
Drink
Sleep
- Bells Beach Backpackers, 51-53 Surf Coast Highway, -38.329705°, 144.316395°, +61 03 5261 4029, info@bellsbeachbackpackers.com.au. Despite the name, it's right in the middle of Torquay. This hostel offers 4 bed and 6 bed dorm rooms (all mixed), as well as "vanpacking", where if you have a caravan to sleep in, you will be able to access the hostel's amenities for $30, which includes a kitchen, bathroom and laundry. $35-38 2021-03-18
- Peppers The Sands Resort, 2 Sands Boulevarde, -38.3134°, 144.3468°, +61 3 5264 3333. Golf resort on the north headland of Torquay, with a modern design. Comprising two interconnecting, three-level buildings, the design offers beautiful views over the surrounding Whites Beach and Sands Golf Course.
- RACV Torquay Resort, 1 Great Ocean Road, -38.34065°, 144.31139°. Expansive resort at the beginning of the Great Ocean Road with a golf course, spa, and other facilities. 2021-03-18
- Wyndham Resort Torquay (Crowne Plaza Torquay), 100 The Esplanade, -38.32282°, 144.33042°. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Upscale resort with a combination of guest rooms and apartments. From $389 2021-03-17
A little outside
- Anglesea Backpackers, 40 Noble St, Anglesea (Noble St turns off the Great Ocean Rd south of the main shops and just south of the bridge – be careful if driving over the bridge, Noble St has a weird split at the intersection and it’s easy to go the wrong way up a one-way lane), -38.408665°, 144.179864°, +61 3 5263 2664, angleseabackpacker@iprimus.com.au. A very clean and tidy small hostel with two 6-bed dorms and an ensuite room with a double and single bed. The walls are a bit thin so noise travels. The shower for the dorms is a bit cramped and the arm for the shower head is a bit manked. After dark a ring-tail possum walks along the power lines in front of the hostel – the manager might point it out to you. Internet $5 per half hour. Dorm beds summer from $23, winter from $20; ensuite room summer from $70, winter from $60. http://home.iprimus.com.au/angleseabackpacker
Connect
Torquay has mobile phone coverage from all major Australian providers on the 4G network. Internet access is available from PCs at Torquay Library, Surf City Plaza, -38.3263465°, 144.3162365°, +61 03 4201 0667. M-W 10AM-5:30PM, Th 10AM-8PM, F 10AM-5:30PM, Sa 10AM-1PM, Su 1:30-4:30PM. 2021-03-20
Go next
- Geelong is Victoria's second largest city and the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula with a wide range of options for activities.
- Warrnambool is located at the end of the Great Ocean Road and has a rich maritime history. It's Australia's largest coastal city not on the Port Phillip Bay.