Weekend In Torquay

When it comes to the Great Ocean Road, the majority of people seem to either enjoy a long-old day trip from Melbourne or opt to hire a car and drive to just the major sites. To BBM, this seems a shame – there are so many lovely towns along the way that deserve way more attention and Torquay is just one of those that deserves a few days holiday.

If you have been well and truly initiated into the Australian surfing community then no doubt Torquay, Victoria’s surfing capital, is on your radar. Each and every year in April the biggest names in surfing roll into town for the Rip Curl Pro World Championships which see’s surfers filling up every restaurant, café, camp site and square-inch of beach space. If your dream boy or girl comes bare-foot and with an excellent sense of balance – this may well be the best time for you to visit to improve your chances of meeting the person of your dreams but as there is so much to see and do, it is a delightful weekend getaway at any time of year.

Getting there

As Torquay is located on the Great Ocean Road, you may want to hire a car so that you have the freedom to explore at your leisure. If you pick your car up in Melbourne CBD and manage to avoid the queues of people with exactly the same idea as you, you can expect to be in beach heaven in around 90 minutes. Catching a train is fortunately nice and easy. Hop aboard one of the many daily trains to Geelong from Spencer Street Station (1 hour journey time) and then catch an Otway Bus for half an hour to get you the rest of the way.

What to do?

Torquay is a surfer’s dream. Even if the idea of attempting to ride a wave fills you with a magnificent sense of dread and your centre of gravity is way off , you have a duty to immerse yourself in the culture just a little. Whether that be with a lesson if you are feeling active, by reclining on one of the most popular beaches on the surf coast and watching the masters at work or by learning something about the history of the sport at the Surf World Museum. It’s everywhere, there is no fighting it so you may as well embrace it.

Surf World Museum offers fascinating insights into everything surf related – who knows, you may even be inspired to grow your hair and commence referring to things as “gnarly”. The museum is home to colourful, interesting displays, surfing artefacts and memorabilia and live surfboard shaping demonstrations. Entry is $12 for adults and it’s open 9-5 seven days a week (excluding Christmas Day).

Walking the surf coast is another way to enjoy the delights of the Great Ocean Road, whilst keeping one eye on the surf and getting some exercise at the same time. Walking the whole 30km coast may well be an activity best suited to serious walkers only, not those who head out equipped with nothing more than a pair of Havaianas and a smile. If the distance doesn’t faze you then you can enjoy the delights of all the major spots Bells Beach, Jan Juc, Iron Bark Basin, Point Addis, Anglesea, Fairhaven and Moggs Creek.

If walking sounds way too much like hard work for your weekend getaway – you can explore the sites of the Great Ocean Road by motorbike – or sidecar – with Gringos Motorcycle Tours. If you haven’t got a hire car, this is a fun and slightly different way to explore the main sites on the famous coastline from Apollo Bay to The Twelve Apostles, see what is left of London Bridge and then return back through Camperdown and Colac.

If you class yourself as a bit of an adrenaline junkie, why not get a different perspective on the coastline of Torquay by sky diving through Australian Sky Dive? Once you have flung yourself from the plane and enjoyed a 45 second freefall, you can enjoy views of Torquay, Bells Beach and the Great Ocean Road as you float in to land.

If you prefer to keep your pulse at a resting rate then something more sedate might be in order.  Wine lovers amongst you may be interested to learn that Geelong was once the largest grape growing region in Victoria and has been enjoying a renaissance of late due to its rich soils and its climate which is said to lie somewhere between Bordeaux and Burgundy. Be sure to sample a few of the delightful chardonnays and a glass or four of Shiraz.

The coast is home to some great locally produced gourmet cheese and fabulously fresh seafood. Therefore foodies among you who enjoy nothing more than a nice morning stroll around a farmers market should time your visit to coincide with the Torquay Central Farmers Market which rolls into town every Saturday. You can expect to sample gigantic, locally grown fruit and veg, homemade pickles, preserves and chutneys and deliciously fragrant freshly baked bread.

Where to stay?

If your budget only stretches to hostel prices then you can book a bed in Bells Beach Hostel for around $28. If you are looking for somewhere to erect your tent you can get a pitch at Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park for $31 per night and fall asleep to the sounds of the sea.