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    Surf Coast

    Australia

    Surf Coast

    Coastal Region

    The Surf Coast between Torquay and Aireys Inlet kicks off the Great Ocean Road: long beaches, surf spots like Bells Beach, and relaxed coastal towns an hour from Melbourne.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Australia
    7. Great Ocean Road
    9. Surf Coast
    The Surf Coast between Torquay and Aireys Inlet kicks off the Great Ocean Road: long beaches, surf spots like Bells Beach, and relaxed coastal towns an hour from Melbourne.

    Sehenswürdigkeiten

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Bells Beach

    1Bells Beach

    Bells Beach is Australia's most famous surf spot, every year at Easter, home to the Rip Curl Pro. From the viewpoint above the bay, you can watch the surfers. The beach is not suitable for swimming.
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    Australian National Surfing Museum

    2Australian National Surfing Museum

    The Surf Museum in Torquay displays boards from a century, the history of surf brands founded here, and a Hall of Fame. Good for an hour, especially in bad weather.
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    Point Addis

    3Point Addis

    Point Addis is a headland between Bells Beach and Anglesea, offering expansive views over the Surf Coast. Below lies a long beach, and at the top, a short Koorie Cultural Walk begins through the coastal heath.
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    Split Point Lighthouse

    4Split Point Lighthouse

    The white lighthouse of Aireys Inlet has stood on the cliff since 1891. On a guided tour, you ascend to the gallery. Below, a short cliff path leads to Eagle Rock.
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    5Torquay Front Beach

    The sheltered city beach of Torquay with calm water, guarded in summer, behind it lawns with picnic tables. Surfers go next door to the Back Beach.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Fishos Torquay

    Fish and Chips on Torquay's Esplanade, opposite the beach. Best to take them away and eat on the lawn by the water.
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    Food and Drink

    Torquay has cafes, fish and chips, and pubs. Anglesea and Aireys Inlet are smaller; booking is recommended on weekends.

    Fish and Chips on the Beach

    The classic after surfing, to take away on the esplanade.

    Flat White

    Coffee is serious here; almost every spot has a good morning café.

    Surf Life

    The Surf Coast is the cradle of Australia's surfing industry. The brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver were founded in Torquay, the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach at Easter is one of the oldest professional competitions in the world. At the Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay, you can see how surfing has developed here.The land traditionally belongs to the Wadawurrung. A short cultural trail at Point Addis explains their ties to coast and heath.

    Travels on the Surf Coast

    From Melbourne, it's just over an hour's drive to Torquay via Geelong. V/Line offers train service to Geelong and bus service further along the coast to Apollo Bay. However, you'll need a car between the beaches.The Surf Coast Walk connects Torquay and Aireys Inlet along approximately 44 kilometers of cliffs, with sections ideal for half-day walks.

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    Nearby

    Great Ocean Road

    Great Ocean Road

    The roughly 240-kilometer coastal road southwest of Melbourne runs from Torquay, via Lorne and Apollo Bay, to the limestone cliffs of the Twelve Apostles. Along the way, surf beaches, rainforest in the Otway Ranges, and steep cliffs alternate.
    Otway Coast & Hinterland

    Otway Coast & Hinterland

    Between Lorne and Princetown, the Great Ocean Road leaves the coast and leads through the Great Otway National Park: cool rainforest, waterfalls, koalas, and Apollo Bay, a good base.
    St Kilda

    St Kilda

    St Kilda lies about 6 km south of the center on Port Phillip Bay and is Melbourne's most famous beachside district. Palms along the Esplanade, the pier with its penguin colony, and the 1912 Luna Park amusement park define the scene.Acland Street is known for its traditional patisseries, Fitzroy Street and Carlisle Street for bars and cafés.
    Southbank

    Southbank

    Southbank, on the Yarra's south bank, is Melbourne's cultural and entertainment district. Restaurants and bars line the promenade; St Kilda Road houses the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, and the National Gallery of Victoria.The former industrial area was redeveloped from the 1990s. Today, skyscrapers like the Eureka Tower (with Skydeck) and the Crown Complex dominate the skyline.
    Melbourne

    Melbourne

    Melbourne, Victoria's capital, is Australia's second-largest city with around 5 million residents. Situated on Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River, it's considered the country's cultural heart, boasting Victorian architecture, laneways filled with cafes and street art, and major sporting events.The city centre is compact and easily explored by tram. Neighborhoods like Fitzroy, Southbank, and St Kilda each boast their own character.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash. Each photo carries its credit.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI