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Victoria's Surf Coast with its spectacular coastline, scenic rainforests and magnificent beaches, is one of the tourist draw cards of Australia. It is popular both as a permanent place to live and as a second home. The main population centres include Torquay, well known for its surf related industries and Bells Beach, Winchelsea, gateway to the fertile Western District, leafy Anglesea and the beautiful resort town of Lorne.

The Great Ocean Road begins at Torquay, located 95 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. Torquay is a surfing mecca, due to the strength of surf-related industry in the area (brands such as Billabong, Quicksilver and Rip Curl were started and are based here), the Surfworld Museum, and of course the area's beaches, most of all its close proximity to the world-famous Bells Beach.

This beach is 3 kilometres south-west of Torquay, and is a collection of reef breaks, gathering swells from the Southern Ocean and producing waves of between 1 and 4 metres. The professional tournament run each Easter is the highlight of the Australian surfing calendar.

In addition to the area’s surfing pastimes, there are a number of fine coastal walks in the area. The Surfcoast Walk is a collection of trails that amount to a 35 kilometre walk running from Jan Juc, just south of Torquay, to Anglesea. The fit and adventurous can undertake the full distance, while others can take on the shorter walks. 

These walks afford not only spectacular views of the coast, but also opportunities for animal and birdwatching, and, on the Koori Walk, insights into indigenous culture.