Our Guide To The Surf Coast, Victoria

Before we moved to the Surf Coast we used to spend every weekend driving down here to surf. We would wake up early Saturday morning and hit the road - stay as long as we could and drive back to Melbourne. And if the surf was really good we’d wake up on Sunday and do it all over again.

We moved in September 2016 and haven’t looked back.

We absolutely love living on the Surf Coast, each season brings something exciting!

Autumn - The Summer crowds have have left and the waves start pumping, there’s nothing quite as epic as watching surfers run down the track to Bells Beach and paddle out into the massive swell during Autumn. This is the time of year when you’ll see the best sunrises and sunsets.

Winter - The best thing about winter is that you can easily find yourself on a secluded beach, whether you’re strolling, rugged up in a puffy jacket and boots or in a steamer running towards the ocean it’s a pretty amazing feeling having a slice of this incredible coastline all to yourself.

Spring - As you drive into the Surf Coast Shire you’re welcomed by fields of yellow canola flowers as far as they eye can see and all of the trees are in full-bloom with native flowers. The days are getting warmer, the ocean walking tracks and bustling, surf carparks and full and there’s a joyful feeling in the air.

Summer - It’s busy, bustling and beautiful! A cracking summer’s day on the Surf Coast will find every beach packed and every restaurant along Torquay Esplanade full. Although summer brings the crowds and it’s harder to find a carpark we absolutely love it! The towns are buzzing with laughter and sidewalks coated in sand.

This is our guide to the Surf Coast, we’d love to hear your recommendations- pop them in the comments below!

our favourite Places on the surf coast

Favourite surf breaks

• Boobs Left

• Southside

• Point Roadknight

Favourite place to walk

• Point Addis

• Jan Juc - Bells

• Around the back of Freshwater Creek

Favourite place to back up the van and watch the surf

• Point Impossible

• Spout

Favourite Beach to read a book in summer

• Under the cliffs at Boobs at low tide

FAVOURITE CAMPING SPOTS

• Johanna Beach

• Beauchamp Falls (free)

• Wye River, easy Friday night camp spot and dinner at the pub

Favourite Drives

• Great Ocean Road (of course)

• Otway National Park

• Dream property scouting around Freshwater Creek, Paraparap & Bellbrae

Favourite places for grocery shopping

• Torquay Farmers Markets on a Saturday morning - vegetables, Ottway Beef, Fresh Fish and the sour cherry pastry from the bread stall is epic

• Peaches (Torquay) - Hands down have picked up some of the tastiest produce from here, if you stuck for dinner or lunch anytime you’ll be able to find something (think dairy, eggs, fruit and vegetables, pantry staples, big bunches of herbs, fresh flowers)

• GROW (Anglesea) - Great for bulk whole foods, specifically dried mango

• IGA (Torquay) - Stocks a great supply of local wine, craft beers & ciders

Favourite Places for Gift Shopping

• Torquay Merchant - Anytime we need a gift, this place is our go-to. Full of beautiful homewares, clothing and just overall nice stuff

• Arizona Living (Torquay) - Who doesn’t love plants?

• Need Essentials (Torquay) - Wetsuits

• Torquay Books - I could hang out in this bookstore all day long, another great gift-shop stop

• Anglesea Surf Shop - Secondhand surf boards

Self care

• Kimberly & Co (Torquay) - Hair

• Boak & Theodore (Torquay) - Skin

• Peep Studio (Torquay) - Brows

• Saigon Nails (Torquay) - Nails

• Rebecca Winkler (Jan Juc) - Naturopath

• Sequence Osteo (Torquay) - Osteopath

• Surf Coast Pilates (Torquay) - Reformer

Favourite Breakfast

• Ginger Monkey (Torquay) - Al orders the Huevos Rancheros and I switch between the Beans and the Mushrooms

• Common Ground Project (Freshwater Creek) Egg and Bacon Roll

Favourite Coffee

• Ocean Grind (Torquay) - Shorebreak long black with a raspberry dusted bliss ball

Favourite Chai

• Pond (Torquay) - Almond Milk with a touch of honey please

Favourite Treats

• Alisitos (Torquay) - Thes guys made a mean margarita

• Bread Stall at the Torquay Farmer’s Market (as mentioned earlier)

• Larder (Torquay) - Raspberry and Pistachio

• Freshwater Creek Cakes - Passionfruit Sponge

• Airey’s Lighthouse Cafe - Scones and Jam

Favourite lunch

• Airey’s Fish and Chip Shop - Grilled Fish Souvlaki

• Fisho’s (Torquay) - Fish and Chips

• Freshwater Creek Service Station - epic sausage rolls for a quick snack

Favourite dinners

• Pholklore (Torquay) Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Seafood Laksa

• Gypsy Lunchbox (Torquay) Beef & bacon burger with chips (best burger in town)

• Cave Pizza (Jan Juc)

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