Guidebook for Torquay
Popular Local Restaurants
There are plenty of great little cafes and dining areas along the beachside within walking distance. These are some of my favourites.
10 minutes walk along The Esplanade; it's ideal for brunch or lunch or a drink on the balcony. Meals are available on limited days and best to book. This is the local bowls club open to all. Great views from indoors or outdoors - you can see our house.
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The Greens Bistro & Bar
47 The Esplanade10 minutes walk along The Esplanade; it's ideal for brunch or lunch or a drink on the balcony. Meals are available on limited days and best to book. This is the local bowls club open to all. Great views from indoors or outdoors - you can see our house.
This mini cafe with good coffee and limited takeaway food is a great spot to watch the surfers at the Back Beach. Follow the walkway past the point and past the Front Beach to where the bike track ends. There's parking there too if you want to take your gear and go swimming or surfing. This is one of the most popular family surf beaches in Torquay. The cafe also won an international architecture award. Enjoy!
Third Wave Kiosk Torquay
1 The EsplanadeThis mini cafe with good coffee and limited takeaway food is a great spot to watch the surfers at the Back Beach. Follow the walkway past the point and past the Front Beach to where the bike track ends. There's parking there too if you want to take your gear and go swimming or surfing. This is one of the most popular family surf beaches in Torquay. The cafe also won an international architecture award. Enjoy!
Hardings Lounge at the RACV is a short drive away and offers spectacular views across the golf course. The restaurant is quite expensive but there is also a cheaper dining bistro area in the bar.
Hardings Lounge
1 Great Ocean RdHardings Lounge at the RACV is a short drive away and offers spectacular views across the golf course. The restaurant is quite expensive but there is also a cheaper dining bistro area in the bar.
Small cosy setting with great Japanese food and good service. Popular with the locals.
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Roku Den
34 Bell StSmall cosy setting with great Japanese food and good service. Popular with the locals.
Fabulous indoor outdoor Vietnamese restaurant in old container crates on The Esplanade.
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Pholklore
38 The EsplanadeFabulous indoor outdoor Vietnamese restaurant in old container crates on The Esplanade.
Great coffee right on the beach; popular with locals and dog walkers. Or you can take a cuppa home and sit on the balcony. Nice spot for brunch or lunch too. It's only about 7 minutes walk away - you can see it from the house before the cliff.
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The Salty Dog Cafe
47 The EsplanadeGreat coffee right on the beach; popular with locals and dog walkers. Or you can take a cuppa home and sit on the balcony. Nice spot for brunch or lunch too. It's only about 7 minutes walk away - you can see it from the house before the cliff.
Excellent Thai Restaurant at good prices - considered as good as those in Melbourne.
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HugSiam Thai
12-14 Pearl StExcellent Thai Restaurant at good prices - considered as good as those in Melbourne.
Il Matto
15 Bell StVery popular Italian Restaurant.
Another popular restaurant on The Esplanade with views.
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Fishos Torquay
36 The EsplanadeAnother popular restaurant on The Esplanade with views.
Restaurant by the sea with great Tapas food and has a lovely large indoor/outdoor area out the back. Plate sizes are fairly large so can order less than you think. Fairly expensive but worth it!
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The Kyn
41 The EsplanadeRestaurant by the sea with great Tapas food and has a lovely large indoor/outdoor area out the back. Plate sizes are fairly large so can order less than you think. Fairly expensive but worth it!
Local brewery - fun, friendly place to go for a beer and pizza. Independently owned brewery that brews its own very good gin too. Has outdoor area out the back.
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Blackman's Brewery Bar and Restaurant
26 Bell StLocal brewery - fun, friendly place to go for a beer and pizza. Independently owned brewery that brews its own very good gin too. Has outdoor area out the back.
Great summer outdoor/indoor area to enjoy brunch or lunch overlooking the Front Beach on The Esplanade
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Bomboras Torquay
37 The EsplanadeGreat summer outdoor/indoor area to enjoy brunch or lunch overlooking the Front Beach on The Esplanade
The restaurant has a fabulous outdoor area overlooking the Front Beach at 23 The Esplanade.
Doc Hughes
The restaurant has a fabulous outdoor area overlooking the Front Beach at 23 The Esplanade.
Popular place for brunch and lunch on the beach at the corner of the main street.
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The Pond Cafe
39 The EsplanadePopular place for brunch and lunch on the beach at the corner of the main street.
Great Indian restaurant at 24 Bell Street in Torquay.
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Jashn - Torquay
24 Bell StGreat Indian restaurant at 24 Bell Street in Torquay.
Serves the best and cheapest coffee in town and great sandwiches - only a few seats available. Very popular.
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Torquay Larder
5 Gilbert StServes the best and cheapest coffee in town and great sandwiches - only a few seats available. Very popular.
Easy walk to this Italian Restaurant with indoor/outdoor area on The Esplanade. Pizzas are popular.
Luigi's Italian Restaurant
Easy walk to this Italian Restaurant with indoor/outdoor area on The Esplanade. Pizzas are popular.
Bar and restaurant with good food - not cheap but popular, particularly for young familes. Includes a beer garden and indoor play area for kids.
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Torquay Hotel Motel
36 Bell StBar and restaurant with good food - not cheap but popular, particularly for young familes. Includes a beer garden and indoor play area for kids.
Arts & Culture
Situated in the charming seaside town of Queenscliff is this restored 19th-century fortification with military artifacts & interpretive history exhibits.
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Fort Queenscliff Museum
Gellibrand StreetSituated in the charming seaside town of Queenscliff is this restored 19th-century fortification with military artifacts & interpretive history exhibits.
Torquay is Australia's surfing capital and the home of Ripcurl. This national museum celebrates the story of surfing and charts Australia’s significant contribution to the development of surfing around the world. Immerse yourself in one of Australia’s most popular pastimes, surfing. The museum is said to be one of "the most significant centres of world surfing heritage" by the International Surfing Association.
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Australian National Surfing Museum
77 Beach RdTorquay is Australia's surfing capital and the home of Ripcurl. This national museum celebrates the story of surfing and charts Australia’s significant contribution to the development of surfing around the world. Immerse yourself in one of Australia’s most popular pastimes, surfing. The museum is said to be one of "the most significant centres of world surfing heritage" by the International Surfing Association.
Want to go to the movies? Drive into Warn Ponds shopping complex which is about 18 minutes and 20 km away on the Torquay side of Geelong.
https://readingcinemas.com.au/locations/theatre/waurn-ponds
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Reading Cinemas
Princes HighwayWant to go to the movies? Drive into Warn Ponds shopping complex which is about 18 minutes and 20 km away on the Torquay side of Geelong.
https://readingcinemas.com.au/locations/theatre/waurn-ponds
Sightseeing
Chocolaterie e gelateria di Great Ocean Road
1200 Great Ocean RdI Dodici Apostoli
Head to Queenscliff and you can take the ferry across the Heads to the charming beachside town of Sorrento - can even take your car.
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Queenscliff Ferry station
Head to Queenscliff and you can take the ferry across the Heads to the charming beachside town of Sorrento - can even take your car.
Great for the whole family.
The 600 metre-long, 25 metre-high elevated walkway provides unrivalled views of the unique beauty of the region’s flora and fauna, from the rainforest floor up into the soaring heights of the treetops.
Visitors can also zip through the leafy treetops of the magnificent Otway Ranges from one ‘Cloud Station’ to another, suspended up to 30 metres above the forest floor.
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Avventure tra le cime degli alberi di Otway Fly
Great for the whole family.
The 600 metre-long, 25 metre-high elevated walkway provides unrivalled views of the unique beauty of the region’s flora and fauna, from the rainforest floor up into the soaring heights of the treetops.
Visitors can also zip through the leafy treetops of the magnificent Otway Ranges from one ‘Cloud Station’ to another, suspended up to 30 metres above the forest floor.
Fisherman's Beach is across the road where you are staying and has a seaside cafe. Walk on the beach around the point at low tide or above the cliff via a huge playground to the Front Beach. At the far end of the Front Beach is Cosy Corner beneath the cliff which is a great sheltered spot for children and lots of kite surfing is done. Walk past the point to the Back Beach where there is another seaside kiosk from where you can watch the surfing. Walk on past the surf life saving club and you will find lots of walking tracks via the river or you can climb the point for great views toward Jan Juc. Further on is Bells Beach where the World Surfing Championships are held.
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Torquay
Fisherman's Beach is across the road where you are staying and has a seaside cafe. Walk on the beach around the point at low tide or above the cliff via a huge playground to the Front Beach. At the far end of the Front Beach is Cosy Corner beneath the cliff which is a great sheltered spot for children and lots of kite surfing is done. Walk past the point to the Back Beach where there is another seaside kiosk from where you can watch the surfing. Walk on past the surf life saving club and you will find lots of walking tracks via the river or you can climb the point for great views toward Jan Juc. Further on is Bells Beach where the World Surfing Championships are held.
Family run business offering lots of fun for the whole family. Take a change of clothes.
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Anglesea Paddle Boats
105 Great Ocean RdFamily run business offering lots of fun for the whole family. Take a change of clothes.
One of Australia's most famous surfing beaches and annually hosts world surfing titles at Easter. Only very experienced surfers surf here. This beach has a strong rip and is not suitable for families. If you drive around here at sunset, you are likely to see plenty of kangaroos.
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Bells Beach
One of Australia's most famous surfing beaches and annually hosts world surfing titles at Easter. Only very experienced surfers surf here. This beach has a strong rip and is not suitable for families. If you drive around here at sunset, you are likely to see plenty of kangaroos.
You can walk to the point or park and watch the kite surfing and beach activities or visit the ANZAC Memorial at the head of the Point. View the Heads of Port Phillip Bay on a clear day, see ships on the horizon and enjoy great sea views.
Point Danger
You can walk to the point or park and watch the kite surfing and beach activities or visit the ANZAC Memorial at the head of the Point. View the Heads of Port Phillip Bay on a clear day, see ships on the horizon and enjoy great sea views.
The Front Beach has calm waters and is ideal for families. There's a grass area, swings and picnic tables. At the end of the beach beneath the cliff is Cosy Corner which is a great paddle area for young peeps and offers shelter from the wind on cool days.
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Front Beach
The Front Beach has calm waters and is ideal for families. There's a grass area, swings and picnic tables. At the end of the beach beneath the cliff is Cosy Corner which is a great paddle area for young peeps and offers shelter from the wind on cool days.
Teenagers and adults love to surf Jan Juc where the waves are bigger and shorter. Not suitable for young children.
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Jan Juc
Teenagers and adults love to surf Jan Juc where the waves are bigger and shorter. Not suitable for young children.
Pretty holiday area at the mouth of the Barwon River; boats, jetty and great pub.
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Barwon Heads
Pretty holiday area at the mouth of the Barwon River; boats, jetty and great pub.
Great day out visiting Queenscliff Pier for lunch - historical town with plenty of eating places to choose from.
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360q
2 Wharf St EGreat day out visiting Queenscliff Pier for lunch - historical town with plenty of eating places to choose from.
The old gold mining town of Ballarat is a spectacular place to visit and has one of the best natural wildlife parks where you can even pat the kangaroos. It is 109 km away (about 1.5 hours). It also has lots of beautiful historic buildings and you can even go gold mining at Sovereign Hill Historic Park.
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Parco Faunistico di Ballarat
The old gold mining town of Ballarat is a spectacular place to visit and has one of the best natural wildlife parks where you can even pat the kangaroos. It is 109 km away (about 1.5 hours). It also has lots of beautiful historic buildings and you can even go gold mining at Sovereign Hill Historic Park.
Essentials
A supermarket in the main street of Torquay - you can easily walk to it through Taylor's Park via a scenic pond or follow a track along the beach past the huge playground. There's some good cafes opposite, plenty of parking and the main street shops nearby.
This is the easiest supermarket to get to via a lovely walk through the park via the duck pond or you can walk along the beach path and turn just after the huge playground.
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Woolworths Torquay
Walker StreetThis is the easiest supermarket to get to via a lovely walk through the park via the duck pond or you can walk along the beach path and turn just after the huge playground.
A little further than Woolworths but much newer and easy to get to; surrounded by some fashionable shops and cafes.
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Coles Torquay
41 Bristol RdA little further than Woolworths but much newer and easy to get to; surrounded by some fashionable shops and cafes.
A new supermarket developed in one of Torquay's newer suburbs which has all the needs you want and a nice bar next to it.
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Woolworths Torquay North
222 Fischer StA new supermarket developed in one of Torquay's newer suburbs which has all the needs you want and a nice bar next to it.
ALDI Torquay
18 Winki WayGood prices; all your supermarket needs.
Neighborhoods
The city of Melbourne is only 90 km or a day trip away. You can drive, train or bus to Melbourne. Easy way is to drive or bus from the Surfcoast Highway in Torquay to Marshall Train Station in Geelong (30 min). The train will take about 1hr 10min and deliver you at Southern Cross Station in the heart of Melbourne. Melbourne offers free trams throughout the city centre. You can spend the day shopping or checking out the beautiful old city buildings and museums. Head to Southgate near Flinders Street Station for some great sights, buskers and plenty of restaurants along the river. Or to Docklands where there are more shops, cafes and the Southern Hemisphere's only giant observation wheel. Melbourne city is great to visit and is full of historic buildings, interesting laneway cafes and culture but it's always nice to be able to escape back to the beach.
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Melbourne
The city of Melbourne is only 90 km or a day trip away. You can drive, train or bus to Melbourne. Easy way is to drive or bus from the Surfcoast Highway in Torquay to Marshall Train Station in Geelong (30 min). The train will take about 1hr 10min and deliver you at Southern Cross Station in the heart of Melbourne. Melbourne offers free trams throughout the city centre. You can spend the day shopping or checking out the beautiful old city buildings and museums. Head to Southgate near Flinders Street Station for some great sights, buskers and plenty of restaurants along the river. Or to Docklands where there are more shops, cafes and the Southern Hemisphere's only giant observation wheel. Melbourne city is great to visit and is full of historic buildings, interesting laneway cafes and culture but it's always nice to be able to escape back to the beach.
The city of Geelong is only 20 km away and great for shopping, movies or take the family to Eastern Beach. Or you can visit one of the museums: The National Wool Museum, Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, see super hero statues at the Popcultcha Collectors Gallery, visit the spooky old Geelong Gaol or see some amazing street art at the Powerhouse Museum. And there is more. Waurn Ponds is the closest indoor shopping centre to Torquay and houses a multi-screen cinema. You can get a bus from the highway into Geelong. Enjoy!
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Geelong
The city of Geelong is only 20 km away and great for shopping, movies or take the family to Eastern Beach. Or you can visit one of the museums: The National Wool Museum, Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, see super hero statues at the Popcultcha Collectors Gallery, visit the spooky old Geelong Gaol or see some amazing street art at the Powerhouse Museum. And there is more. Waurn Ponds is the closest indoor shopping centre to Torquay and houses a multi-screen cinema. You can get a bus from the highway into Geelong. Enjoy!
Food scene
Every Saturday morning until about 2pm - great fresh food and coffee.
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Torquay Farmers' Market
Every Saturday morning until about 2pm - great fresh food and coffee.
For kids
Cosy corner is the best place for children to swim - often sheltered from the wind and plenty of warm shallow water.
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Cosy Corner Beach
Cosy corner is the best place for children to swim - often sheltered from the wind and plenty of warm shallow water.
Betty's Burgers
Great burgers and good spot to take the kids.