Surf Coast

Culture & customs

The Surf Coast is rich with Australian surfing lore. Its main urban hub, Torquay, is the town where some of the greatest surf industry labels, including Rip Curl and Quiksilver, were born and raised. Its most famous surf spot, Bells Beach, plays host to the longest running major surf contest on earth. Look past that and you’ll discover a super keen surf population, highly committed to the conditions (it gets cold here!) and very proud of what they have on this long craggy coast. Strong environmental streaks run through this surf culture, as does a streak of deep memory; Torquay is the site for one of the world’s best-curated surf museums. In other ways, this is very like other Aussie surf zones, with boardriders’ clubs, volunteer surf rescue clubs, and a general awareness of surfing as being simply part of life.

Local scene

There’s a much wider range of surf along the Surf Coast than is mostly recognized beyond its shores. While Bells and its nearby cousin Winkipop are renowned for their big open wave faces and occasional serious size, there’s a lot of beachbreak surf scattered up and down the famed Great Ocean Road. The really big heavy surf lies far to the west, outside this surf zone, which is protected from the worst of the region’s harsh winter winds by Cape Otway, 80 kilometres (50 miles) to Bells’s southwest. Head the other way, into Torquay and a little further east, and you’ll find many much friendlier surf spots, where on even big winter days you’ll find a bunch of surfers having fun in much easier waves. You’ll also find the kind of casual relaxed vibe that’s a hallmark of most Australian surf zones — albeit a bit chillier!

What to bring

This is wetsuit country. A 3/2mm full suit never quite goes astray here, even in summer, and in the deep winter you’ll be glad of a 4/3mm and perhaps boots and a hoodie. Surfboard-wise, as in most Australian surf zones, any board you want to ride will find itself a home, but if you have an eye on the stronger waves such as Bells and Winkipop, bring something with plenty of paddling power and a strong glass job. There’s nothing you can’t buy here, much as anywhere in Australia, so if the weather catches you off guard, just hit one of the mega surf shops — and you might be glad of that option. Not for nothing do they say that if you don’t like the weather down here, wait ten minutes.

Also: Our amazing partners over at FCS have curated a collection of fine products for your next surf trip. Check it here.

How to get there

Fly into Melbourne, which is serviced by most international cities, and then head down the M1 to Torquay, where the marvelously named Great Ocean Road begins.  

Downtime

There’s the aforementioned Surfworld Museum, worth a visit for any surf nut. Otherwise, this coast is all about driving. Head out beyond the Surf Coast to the west past Cape Otway, and check out the spectacular beauty of Johanna and the Twelve Apostles near Port Campbell. That’s a day or two done for any coast-lover. Or maybe go the other way, up to Melbourne, second only to Sydney in sheer size, and (many would say) with the edge in restaurants and general culture. (Melbourne also has the Urbnsrf Wavegarden pool, super fun on a flat day.) Further away to the east, there’s another great piece of surfing coast in Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula, with its super quality wineries and other delights.