Summary
Torquay, is a mythical surf town located just 100 km south of Melbourne, Victoria. As well as being home of Ripcurl, the world-famous clothing company, it is also known for sitting right next to Bells beach, an iconic Australian surf spot.
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The town itself is tiny and very quiet but due to its proximity with Australia’s second most populated city, the amount of surfers here can get pretty high. On good swells, Bells Beach is a world-class break that offers huge walls perfect to practice fast surfing and aggressive maneuvers.
Torquay can also be a good place for beginners with mellow beach breaks surrounding it. However, most surfers head down there to ride the perfect right-handers at Bells. This wave is very consistent, works on all tides and the world’s most prestigious surf contest is being held here every year. Make sure to bring a wet suit even in summer!
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
Wave direction : Right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Intermediate and Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NW
Torquay
Wave direction : Right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Intermediate and Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NW
Bells Beach
Wave direction : Right
Bottom : Sand and reef
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Any
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NW
Point Addis
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
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.