Summary
Torquay is one of the most iconic surf towns in Australia, located just 100 km southwest of Melbourne in Victoria. Known as the official starting point of the Great Ocean Road, Torquay is home to Rip Curl, one of the biggest surf brands in the world, and sits just minutes from the legendary Bells Beach—a staple on the WSL Championship Tour.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned surfer, surfing in Torquay offers everything from mellow beach breaks to powerful reef waves that hold massive Southern Ocean swells.
Why Surf in Torquay?
Despite its small-town vibe, Torquay is a mythical name in Australian surfing, thanks to its proximity to Bells Beach, the country’s most iconic right-hand point break.
On a solid swell, Bells Beach delivers world-class waves that are long and powerful walls, ideal for fast, aggressive surfing. It’s also home to the Rip Curl Pro, one of the longest-running surf competitions in the world.
If you’re new to surfing, don’t worry, Torquay also offers gentler beach breaks suited for beginners.
When to surf Bells Beach
The best time to surf Bells Beach, Torquay is from April to October for bigger waves and colder weather or from November to March for warmer weather and smaller waves.
January-February March-April May-June July-August September-October November-December
Suitable for: All surfers All surfers Intermediate
AdvancedIntermediate
AdvancedIntermediate
AdvancedAll surfers
Air temperature 20°C
68°F19°C
66°F15°C
59°F10°C
50°F12°C
54°F17°C
63°F
Water temperature 17°C
63°F16°C
61°F14°C
57°F13°C
55°F13°C
55°F15°C
59°F
Crowd Very crowded Fairly crowded Fairly crowded Fairly crowded Fairly crowded Very crowded
Swell consistency 75% 80% 80% 80% 85% 75%
Swell height 6ft 6ft 7ft 8ft 8ft 6ft
Where to stay in Bells Beach
Browse our interactive map to find the best accommodation deals in Bells Beach!
Best surf hotels in Bells Beach
Surf spots near Torquay
Winkipop
Located just next to Bells, Winkipop is a faster and hollower right that’s best suited for experienced surfers.
- Wave direction : Right
- Bottom : Reef
- Best tide : Any
- Skill level : Intermediate and Advanced
- Optimal swell direction : SW
- Optimal wind direction : NW
Bells Beach
The most famous wave in Australia. A long, right-hand point break that can hold serious size. Bells breaks over a reef and sand bottom and is incredibly consistent year-round.
- Wave direction : Right
- Bottom : Sand and reef
- Best tide : Any
- Skill level : Any
- Optimal swell direction : SW
- Optimal wind direction : NW
Point Addis
A beautiful, scenic break offering both left and right-handers, best for intermediate to advanced surfers.
- Wave direction : Right and left
- Bottom : Reef
- Best tide : Any
- Skill level : Intermediate and Advanced
- Optimal swell direction : SW
- Optimal wind direction : NW
Jan Juc
A sandy beach break ideal for beginners and intermediates. It’s less crowded than Bells and handles a range of swell sizes well.
- Wave direction : Right and left
- Bottom : Sand
- Best tide : Any
- Skill level : Any
- Optimal swell direction : SW
- Optimal wind direction : NW
Getting there
Torquay is a fairly accessible surf town, being only a couple hours away from Melbourne. To get to Torquay and Bells Beach, simply fly into Melbourne and drive for about 2 hours south-west.