Torquay's Top 10 - Terrific Things To Do In Torquay, Victoria

1. Go Surfing

Australia’s surf capital.... the beaches around Torquay are absolutely world-class. The town surf beach is perfectly suited to beginners and some surf lessons will get you up and riding that wave in no time. If you’re a pro, you already know about the legendary Bells Beach. Home to the famous Rip Curl Pro competition that brings the best surfers in the world to ride our breaks, it’s Australia’s best surf beach. If you’ve got the skills to hack it, you’ll get serious kudos when you tell people you’ve surfed Bells. If you're willing to brave typical Victorian days that involve the trifecta of sideways rain, gale force winds and single digit temperatures, then this is one of the best places to surf year-round. If you'd rather not slap on a wetty you can still soaking up the area’s surf culture by visiting the Australian National Surfing Museum, located at the Torquay Visitor Information Centre, and remain completely dry.

2. Get A Spa Treatment

For some no holiday is complete without a body scrub, massage or being wrapped in some sort of seaweed. Torquay has a number of venues you can head to for a spa treatments to take the edge off.  Endota Day Spa, Saltair Day Spa and RACV Torquay Resort’s One Spa all do a mean rubbing and kneading in the Torquay area, alternatively, you can find a Torquay holiday rental on Search and Stay with a spa bath or swimming pool, take a fluffy robe with you and and you won't have to leave your holiday accommodation.

Image credit: Visit Victoria/Saltair Day Spa

3. Dabble In Some Wine (or Beverage) Tasting

Beaches are lovely and all that, but a little wine tasting never (ever) goes astray. VIsit Bellbrae Estate Wines, enjoying a little taste of their cool-climate wines, a rummage through their cheese and condiments.

Other wineries in the area include Brown Magpie Wines, Mt Duneed Estate and Saint Regis Winery, but check opening hours as they’re quite seasonal. Also if you're going to whine about wine, you can taste a wheat-based beverage at Blackman’s Brewery. Obviously, if you don't fancy driving take a tour with Andy's Trails, and discover the full gamut of the Bellarine and Surf Coasts vineyards, craft beers, ciders and gin. Don't forget to stock up on locally produced beverages to take back to your Bellarine holiday house to Torquay holiday accommodation.

4. Visit tTe Torquay Farmers’ Market

While focusing on the local produce, you must head to the Surf Coast Shire Offices’ car park to stock up on fresh farmer-direct local and regional produce - olives, honey, chicken, cakes, crepes and wine - whatever you are looking for you'll find here so fill your car to head back to your holiday home in Torquay booked on Search and Stay. The open-air Torquay Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from 8:30 am to 1 pm.

Image credit: Visit Victoria/Mark Chew

5. Go For A Swim

Some of the best swimming beaches along the Great Ocean Road include Torquay’s beautiful Norfolk Pine-lined front beach, which offers a quiet protected foreshore and the nearby Fishermans Beach. Anglesea’s main beach is a wide sandy expanse beside the Anglesea River and attracts both swimmers and surfers, and just around the bay is the long sweeping arc of Point Roadknight beach. The shallow, protected waters are safe for children, making it another popular spot with families.

6. Taste The Treats In A Torquay Café

Here is a list of Torquay’s best foodie finds including Little Things Big Things, The Pond Café and The Salty Dog but for those who want to sit down to a hearty meal after a day of surfing (or spa-ing) you'll find good food done really well at Squires Loft or for the authentic taste of Sicily on the Surf Coast, try Il Matto.

7. Hike Or Ride The Surf Coast Walk

Stretching from Point Impossible to Fairhaven, the Surf Coast 44-kilometre coastal walk is not for the faint-hearted. Yet with cliff top views, eucalyptus forests, whales and wildlife, and lots of lookout points it has many, many things going for it. If you’ve got a spare eight hours and a spare lung you can walk or cycle the whole 44 kilometres. Alternatively, you can just do the Torquay (1.6 kilometres) and/or Bells Track sections (3.2 kilometres), drinking up the views of Fisherman’s Beach, Front Beach and Bells Beach. Alternatively again, you can just sit somewhere in the sun with a glass of wine and ask someone else who did it how they enjoyed the walk. You will also find holiday rentals at Fisherman’s Beach, Front Beach and Bells Beach on Search and Stay

Image credit: Visit Victoria/Mark Chew

8. Break Out The Credit Cards And Go Shopping

1969 was a big year for Torquay with two boardshort companies led by four local surfers setting up backyard businesses. These businesses, Quicksilver and Rip Curl, went on to become two of the industry’s largest and both maintain their headquarters in Torquay to this day.  Surf City Plaza is the place to slip into your surfer style, offering everything from beach towels and singlets to surfboards and wetsuits along with homewares, gift and art stores, sprinkled about Gilbert and Bell streets.

9. Read a book on the grassed Torquay foreshore

With long boulevards of grass, the Torquay foreshore is an A+ place to roll out a picnic rug, stretch out the limbs and nerd out on your latest reading pursuits or grab the latest Gourmet Traveller Magazine and flick through the pages while you doze in the sun.

Image credit: Visit Victoria/XM2

10. Get Your Action Adventure On At Tiger Moth World

Tiger Moth World is great if you’re aching for some serious adrenaline. Tiger Moth World has action-adventure pursuits including scenic flight, aerobatic flights and of course if you're serious, you can go sky diving over the Great Ocean Road. Grab some Great Ocean Road holiday accommodation on Search and Stay and book in your sky-high adventure

Visit torquaylife.com.au for many more options on the Great Ocean Road and all around Torquay.