Beaches
Torquay, nearby Jan Juc and Bells Beach have kilometres of sandy beaches catering for all interests - from the serious surfer to the family looking for somewhere to take the kids for a paddle in calm shallow waters.
Bells Beach
Victoria's surfing mecca and the home of the longest running professional surfing event in the world, the Rip Curl Pro, is just a short drive from Torquay, off the Great Ocean Road. Keen surfers "discovered" Bells Beach in the early 1950s and it became the world's first "surfing reserve" in 1971. The Bells area consists of a number of breaks, including Winkipop, Bells Bowl, Rincon, Centreside and Southside. Bells' powerful waves are not for beginners.
Torquay
The resort town has a range of beaches along its wide grassy foreshore. Surfers, swimmers, sailors, sunbathers and anglers are all catered for. There is plenty of car-parking close to all beaches.
As Torquay has been a holiday resort since the late 19th century, its beaches are modelled on English seaside resorts with grassed areas and shady trees for comforting shade. They are very popular in summer with day-trippers from Geelong and Melbourne. Heading south-west from Deep Creek is Zeally Bay which is known locally as Fishermans Beach or Fisho's. As the name suggests it is a noted fishing, as well as a sailing spot. There is a boat ramp and sailing club.
At the western end of Fisho's is Yellow Bluff where there are cypress trees and more picnic grounds. On the other side is Front Beach (known as Cosy Corner), which is a family bathing beach with lawns and an esplanade that is flood-lit at night.
On the western side of the point is Torquay Surf Beach which has a surf life-saving club beside Spring Creek that is open in summer. On the other side of the Creek is Rocky Point (known as Torquay Point).
On the south-western side of Rocky Point is Torquay Golf Club and Jan Juc Surfing Beach. It is a noted surfing area and also has a surf life-saving club.
Jan Juc
The cliff-lined sandy beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. It is just off the Great Ocean Road, near Torquay. Lifesavers patrol daily in peak holiday times and on weekends at other times during the warmer months, usually from late November until the end of Easter. Birdrock is the name of the surfing spot for beginners to advanced.
Point Impossible
A surf beach offering a reef break for beginners through to advanced surfers, a short drive from Torquay. It is also a popular venue for kitesurfing.
Point Impossible is a designated legal clothing optional beach. The area for nude bathing starts approximately 600 metres from Point Impossible and extends for a distance of 1km South West along the beach. The area extends from the top of the first dune from the waters edge to a line 100m below the low tide mark.
The Act does not permit nude bathing within the dunes themselves.