Torquay, on Victoria’s Surf Coast is often referred to as the surfing capital of Australia and the birthplace of the surfing industry in the country. Wow. That is a big call. Torquay is also the official start of the Great Ocean Road, one of Australia’s best road trips. So why not come and hang loose in Torquay and find out for yourself why Torquay is Australia’s surfing capital.

Torquay is a seaside town about 105km south-west of Melbourne’s CBD. To get there, you can drive along the M1 to Geelong, then follow the signs along the Surf Coast Highway. It will take about 1.5 hours to drive, but it depends where in Melbourne you are coming from. If you don’t have a car you can take a train or bus to Geelong, then a bus from Geelong to Torquay. However, public transport is limited so it is best to have a vehicle for flexibility in getting around. 

FYI: the “hang loose” or shaka hand gesture is a common greeting and parting expression of the ‘aloha’ spirit in surf culture. Aloha is an Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting from someone. And hang loose means to chill or relax so you can presume when someone gives you the hang loose hand gesture it means hello or goodbye and relax.

How to Hang Loose in Torquay

Just to confirm, hang loose for this post means to relax, chill out and take things easy. And you can easily do this in Torquay and there is plenty to see and do in Torquay that allows you to hang loose.

1. Get the Look at Surf City Plaza

To help you hang loose in Torquay I suggest you get the look first. As you arrive in Torquay you will find the Surf City Plaza. This is home to many surf clothing and equipment stores including Rip Curl, Quicksilver and Boardriders.

check out the surf stores

2. Discover Surfing at the Australian National Surfing Museum

Behind the Surf City Plaza is the Australian National Surfing Museum. A walk around this museum will reveal over 100 years of surfing culture. And when you understand the culture of surfing, you understand that ‘chilling out’ is a big part of this surfing way of life in Torquay. At the museum check out the wave of boards starting with original timber boards morphing into today’s lightweight fast boards. Discover more about surfing’s world champions including Australian surfing legends through the memorabilia, photos and film in the theatre room.

You will find The Australian National Surfing Museum at 77 Beach Road, Torquay. It is open every day 9am to 5pm but is closed Christmas Day.

wall of surf boards at the Australian National Surfing Museum

3. Visit the Beaches of Torquay

The beaches of Torquay are the biggest drawcard. The beaches face Bass Strait, that bit of water that separates mainland Australia from Tasmania. Exposure to these waters is what contributes to the great waves and surfing conditions which Torquay beaches are known for.

There are a number of beaches that are linked by an Esplanade and everyday you will find anyone and everyone walking on the Esplanade. One of the most popular beaches is the Torquay Front Beach which is for everyone to enjoy. Then there is Whites Beach, a dog beach. And further on from Whites Beach is Point Impossible, a nude beach. Yep, there is a beach for everyone at Torquay.

White Beach – plenty of golden sand to enjoy with your dog

4. Learn to Surf

Why not learn to surf on a visit to Torquay. A mere 2 hours is all you need! And you will soon be carving up the green room with the best of them. Hopefully with not too many wipe outs! Book your surfing lesson in Torquay here.

5. Walk the Esplanade & Chill in a Cafe

You will find the Esplanade, or a walking path, linking many of the beaches. Many a local and visitor walk here with their dog, pushing a stroller or just walking and enjoying the beach vibe. Across the sometimes busy road you will find many a cafe offering good eats with great ocean views. This is a perfect way to hang loose in Torquay.

6. Discover the Point Danger Marine Sanctuary

Walk or drive and park at Point Danger where you get amazing views looking back over Torquay, and along the limestone coast to Jan Juc and Bells Beach. But Point Danger Marine Sanctuary is a natural wonder you could explore. The sanctuary is 21.7 hectares and extends around the limestone headland of Point Danger between the towns of Torquay and Jan Juc. In the sanctuary lives many species of marine plants and sea life like sea slugs, crabs and muscles to name a few. One of the best ways to discover the sanctuary is to walk along the shore or snorkel or dive.

Point Danger

7. Visit Torquay Village

In keeping with the relaxed Torquay beach life, visit Torquay Village. To get to the Torquay Village you will need to turn off the Surf Coast Highway and travel a kilometre or so. This quaint shopping precinct in the heart of Torquay provides many unique speciality homeware stores with a beach vibe. Plus, there are plenty of cafes and eateries along with the big supermarkets to top up any groceries you might need for your days in Torquay.

8. Visit Nearby Bells Beach

Not far from Torquay, a mere 8km in fact is the world famous Bells Beach where each year during Easter the world’s best surfers come to surf to win a famous ‘bell trophy’. Which you may have seen when you visited the Australian National Surfing Museum. In winter (June to August) big swells and cold offshore winds display Bells Beach at its wildest. The big swells provide spectacular waves for experienced surfers who visit, some daily.

Where to Stay in Torquay

Torquay is an easy day trip from Melbourne, a hop skip and a jump from Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula but many beach-loving Aussies visit Torquay for a weekend getaway or longer holiday. There is plenty of accommodation in Torquay and surrounds to stay from caravan parks to hostels to hotels to houses. Check out Torquay accommodation here.

Are You Ready to Hang Loose in Torquay

Torquay is a great Australian destination to hang loose and get into the surfing culture so prominent in Australia. Whether you include it in your big lap of Australia, as a stopover before driving The Great Ocean Road, as a day trip from Melbourne or as a holiday destination get ready to hang loose in Torquay.