TORQUAY
GET TO KNOW
THE AREA
This buzzy beachside resort town may be best known as the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, but it’s a destination in its own right. A real surfer’s paradise, Torquay draws countless swell-seekers and vacationers to its shores, but for lucky residents, it’s calm suburbia by the sea. Living here is like being on perpetual holiday, a relaxing tonic to city life that nevertheless offers adrenaline rushes around every corner, if your preference swings that way.
Lifestyle
As Victoria’s undisputed surf capital, the beach is central to life in Torquay. Thongs and boardies are practically a uniform here, with countless days beginning and ending with walks along the shoreline, sand and salt thick in your hair.
Every Easter the world’s top surfers descend on the world-renowned Bells Beach to vie for one of the tour’s most prestigious competitions, while summer sees the population swell with holidaymakers, school-leavers and surf enthusiasts from around the country, all flocking to make the most of Torquay’s sun-soaked charms.
However, for the blessed few who live here all year round, Torquay’s stunning natural features are the norm. On any given day you’ll find locals rising at dawn to catch the first surf or jog along the famous Surf Coast Walk trail, surrounded by the rich ochre of the bluffs, the deep blue of Bass Strait and the leafy green of the forests, skipping past vantage points each more stunning than the last.
Read MoreLifestyle
As Victoria’s undisputed surf capital, the beach is central to life in Torquay. Thongs and boardies are practically a uniform here, with countless days beginning and ending with walks along the shoreline, sand and salt thick in your hair.
Every Easter the world’s top surfers descend on the world-renowned Bells Beach to vie for one of the tour’s most prestigious competitions, while summer sees the population swell with holidaymakers, school-leavers and surf enthusiasts from around the country, all flocking to make the most of Torquay’s sun-soaked charms.
However, for the blessed few who live here all year round, Torquay’s stunning natural features are the norm. On any given day you’ll find locals rising at dawn to catch the first surf or jog along the famous Surf Coast Walk trail, surrounded by the rich ochre of the bluffs, the deep blue of Bass Strait and the leafy green of the forests, skipping past vantage points each more stunning than the last.
During the week, many make the 30-minute commute to Geelong for work, while weekends are set aside for rest and recreation – be it lazy breakfasts at Melbourne-calibre cafés and afternoon beers at a brewery, or heart-pumping hikes and swims out at sea.
Neighbours
Torquay has traditionally attracted older couples and retirees who make the most of the laidback lifestyle, enjoying their empty nests while welcoming the kids back on weekends. In recent years, however, new developments have expanded the demographics of the area, attracting younger families to new estates and contemporary builds while classic beach houses anchor the older parts of town. Of course, you’ll find plenty of Melbourne-bred folk who’ve come for a change of pace, and even a scattering of those from the country who’ve come to see what beach living is all about.
Neighbours
Torquay has traditionally attracted older couples and retirees who make the most of the laidback lifestyle, enjoying their empty nests while welcoming the kids back on weekends. In recent years, however, new developments have expanded the demographics of the area, attracting younger families to new estates and contemporary builds while classic beach houses anchor the older parts of town. Of course, you’ll find plenty of Melbourne-bred folk who’ve come for a change of pace, and even a scattering of those from the country who’ve come to see what beach living is all about.
Area features
ACTIVE OUTDOORS
Life in Torquay is lived on your feet and in the outdoors, with sports and recreational activities serving every skill level and interest. The Torquay Surf Life Saving Club is the oldest and largest in Victoria and there are also local AFL, cricket and soccer teams, too, There are multiple golf courses to take a swing at, plus fishing and snorkelling zones scattered along the shore.
BRILLIANT BEACHES
Torquay boasts some of the best beaches in Victoria, but it’s not just about huge swells and crashing waves. There are plenty of safe, protected beaches for splashing about with kids, like popular Front Beach, while surging surfs draw experienced wave riders to Bells Beach and Jan Juc.
DINING AND DRINKING
The abundance of fish and chip shops aside, there’s also a great drinking and dining scene in Torquay. For a resort town it punches well above its weight with plenty of gorgeous cafés and restaurants around. In addition, Torquay is home to one of the state’s best craft breweries and artisan sourdough makers – Blackman’s beers and Zeally Bay Sourdough loaves are loved around the state.
SURF LIFE
Torquay is a mecca for surf enthusiasts. Each year, the best of the best congregate at Bells Beach to compete in the Rip Curl Pro, the tour’s longest running world championship contest – it’s a spectacle to behold. Summer is peak season for surf festivals, and if you’re a keen beginner there’s no better place to be with plenty of schools that’ll get you paddling like a pro in no time.
