The Great Ocean Road is renowned for its stunning coastlines, surf breaks and surfing comps. Known as the Surf Coast, and located only 75 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, the Great Ocean Road is one of the best places for surfing in Victoria, in fact, it is home to some of the best surf beaches in Australia!
With a wide range of accommodation options, great food & drink and plenty of world-class attractions to enjoy, it’s hard to find a reason not to head to the region. Whether you’re a seasoned surfer and searching for the best surf beaches in Victoria or you’re new to the sport and want to learn to surf, the Great Ocean Road is the ideal spot for hitting the waves. Here is why so many people head to our coast for surfing in Victoria
If you’re looking for surfing lessons in Victoria (and are an inexperienced or beginner surfer), the best way to learn is to take lessons held by qualified professionals.
Lessons are normally held on easier breaks (some of the best surfing beaches for learning are east of Apollo Bay or west of Warrnambool).
Here is where you can get surf lessons on the Great Ocean Road:
Find out the best beaches to learn to surf on the Great Ocean Road
Home to the internationally acclaimed Bells Beach Surf League competition, the Great Ocean Road region easily boasts some of the best surf beaches in Australia.
Many are surprised to learn Bells Beach is just one of the many Great Ocean Road beaches included among the best surf beaches in Victoria. There is, of course, Johanna Beach — which is where the Surf League competition moves to when the westerly facing Johanna picks up swell that misses Bells.
Torquay also has one of the best surf beaches in Victoria — it is one of the most popular surf spots, often referred to as the home of Australian surfing. Torquay, along with Anglesea, Fairhaven, Aireys Inlet and Lorne are collectively known as the Surf Coast.
Other popular spots for surfing along the Great Ocean Road include Easter Reef, Gibson’s Step and even spots in the family-friendly Apollo Bay. Among the best surf beaches in Victoria is also Warrnambool Beach.
If you want to learn to surf in Victoria and are planning on heading to the Great Ocean Road, there are also plenty more adventures for you to enjoy during your time here. If you’re a thrill-seeker, the area is popular for mountain biking, or you could try ziplining – flying from tree to tree 30 metres off the ground.
There is a huge range of outdoor activities, tours and natural attractions to keep you busy and having fun. Be sure to drop into the Australian National Surfing Museum and the surf shops in Torquay are worth checking out too.
Local experts at our Visitor Information Centres will be able to provide you with any info you need if you’re planning to visit. They can also assist with booking surf lessons on the Great Ocean Road.
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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
