Torquay Holidays & Travel Guide
Located just over an hour southwest of Melbourne, Torquay is a famous surfing town and is the official beginning of the scenic coastal tourist drive of the Great Ocean Road. Particularly popular in the summer months, Torquay is a holiday hotspot year round and is steeped in surf culture as the home of famous Bells Beach as well as the birthplace of many of Australia's most iconic surf brands including Quiksliver and Rip Curl. Home to one of the most sought-after titles in World Championship surfing, the Rip Curl Pro is held in Torquay every Easter. Home to protected beaches, Torquay also offers some slightly wilder waves at Jan Juc and Bells Beach for experienced surfers. There's also some fantastic surf shopping to be done at Surf City Plaza and the Baines Court surf seconds outlets.
Accommodation
There is a great range of Torquay accommodation options located throughout town, designed to suit all travellers and budgets. With options ranging from 3 to 5 stars, there's something to suit everyone regardless of whether you want to splash out or are looking for something a little more affordable. From beachfront apartments to comfortable hotel rooms, spacious holiday homes and charming beachside B&Bs, no matter your accommodation choice you can enjoy waking up to the sound of the waves breaking on the shore. Whether you want to stay for one night or one week, there is a great range of Torquay accommodation for everyone.
Torquay Holiday Packages
Torquay holiday packages offer excellent value for money when it comes to visiting this popular surf town either on its own or as part of an extended holiday touring the iconic coastal drive of the Great Ocean Road. The easiest and most affordable way to plan and book your holiday, these packages save you both time and money. Allowing you to make the most of your time in Torquay and on the Great Ocean Road, these Torquay holiday packages combine all your travel needs into one discounted package. Offering significant savings, you can bundle together everything from accommodation to car hire or flights, tours, meals, travel insurance and more.
Attractions
Offering surf culture at its best, Torquay is home to a wide range of attractions, the majority of which focus on the beautiful location and beaches of this coastal town. As the official starting point of the Great Ocean Road, this iconic coastal touring route is an attraction in itself, however Torquay is the perfect spot to visit before kicking off your scenic tour. The town is home to a great range of shopping including a large precinct dedicated to, you guessed it, surf wear. Surf City Plaza and the Baines Court surf seconds outlets offer bargains on brands such as Quiksliver, Rip Curl, Rojo, Strapper and Gash. There are also plenty of protected beaches to enjoy, however if you've got a board you can either try the slightly wilder waves of Jan Juc or prove yourself on the big waves of famous Bells Beach. There's also the Surf World Surfing Museum in case you just haven't had even surf culture. However if you have had enough, the Point Danger Marine Sanctuary offers some fantastic snorkelling despite its ominous sounding name.
Getting to Torquay
Located just over an hour southwest of Melbourne, getting to Torquay marks the start of a beautiful scenic drive along the iconic touring route of the Great Ocean Road. Flights are available to both the centrally located Tullamarine Airport as well as Avalon Airport a little further out. If you're hiring a car or have your own vehicle, there are excellent roads out of Melbourne as well as routes from Ballarat, Hamilton and even Adelaide. From Melbourne, take the West Gate and Princes Freeways to Geelong and follow the signs to the start of the Great Ocean Road and Torquay. There are also weekly V/Line bus services that operate along the Great Ocean Road from Geelong to Apollo Bay, stopping in Torquay. V/Line rail services also operate out of Melbourne's Southern Cross Station connecting to Geelong and the Shipwreck Coast on the Great Ocean Road.