Torquay sits at the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road, around a hundred kilometres south west of Melbourne and just twenty minutes from Geelong via the Surf Coast Highway. It is not simply a beach town, it is the place where the modern surf industry was effectively born, the town Quiksilver, Rip Curl and Billabong all trace their origins back to, and it remains home to a genuinely global surfing culture that draws visitors and new residents from around the world. Bells Beach, five kilometres down the coast, hosts the world's longest running professional surf contest and gives Torquay a cultural weight well beyond its population. This guide covers what actually shapes a move to Torquay, from the surf industry identity to the property prices, and what it costs to get there from interstate.

Torquay's popularity has grown alongside a broader shift toward regional and coastal Victoria as Melbourne's own affordability challenges have pushed buyers to look further afield. Melbourne's citywide median dwelling value sat around $827,000 in January 2026, with a rental vacancy rate near 1.5% and the strongest population growth of any state capital, and a meaningful number of those priced out or simply seeking a different lifestyle have turned their attention to the Surf Coast. Torquay has been one of the clearest beneficiaries, with Melbourne buyers discovering the town in numbers large enough to noticeably shift local property prices over the past several years.

The Birthplace of the Global Surf Industry 🏄‍♂️

Torquay's claim to being the surf industry's spiritual home is not marketing spin. Rip Curl and Quiksilver were both founded in the town in the early 1970s, and Billabong traces its own roots back to the same stretch of coast, making Torquay the genuine birthplace of an industry that now spans the globe. The Surf World Museum, located within the Surf Coast Plaza precinct, documents that history in detail, from early board shaping to the rise of the professional surf tour, and it remains one of the few places anywhere that tells the full story of how a handful of local surfers and shapers built brands that now sit in shopping centres worldwide.

Bells Beach and the Rip Curl Pro 🌊

Bells Beach, just five kilometres from central Torquay, has hosted the Rip Curl Pro since 1973, making it the longest running professional surfing contest anywhere in the world and cementing the break's status as one of surfing's most storied waves. It was also the first surf break in the world to receive statutory environmental protection, a status that has helped preserve both the wave and the rugged coastal landscape around it. For many residents, living close enough to walk or ride to a wave with this kind of global standing is a huge part of Torquay's appeal, whether or not they surf themselves.

Torquay as the Great Ocean Road's Gateway 🛣️

Torquay marks the official start of the Great Ocean Road, one of the world's great coastal drives, and that gateway position brings a steady flow of visitors through the town year round rather than just at peak holiday times. It gives Torquay a genuinely different character from a purely residential beach suburb, with a visitor economy that supports a broader range of cafes, restaurants and retail than a town of its size would otherwise carry, while still leaving the quieter residential streets away from the main strip feeling like a proper community rather than a tourist thoroughfare.

Who Is Moving to Torquay 🧭

Surf industry workers, whether employed directly by the brands headquartered locally or by the broader ecosystem of shapers, retailers and event organisers that has grown up around them, make up a distinctive slice of Torquay's workforce. Lifestyle movers from Melbourne form a larger and fast growing group, often people who visited for years before finally deciding to make the move permanent. Retirees and sea changers continue to choose Torquay for its combination of genuine coastal lifestyle and proximity to Geelong's hospital and services, and remote workers who no longer need to be in Melbourne five days a week are an increasingly significant part of the town's recent growth.

Property Prices After Melbourne Discovered Torquay 💰

Torquay's property prices have risen significantly over the past several years as Melbourne buyers discovered the town in growing numbers, and it is no longer the relative bargain it was a decade ago, though it typically remains more accessible than equivalent coastal towns closer to Melbourne itself. Homes closest to the beach and the main surf breaks command the strongest premium, while streets further from the coast and toward the Torquay North growth area offer a more accessible entry point. Rental demand is strong given the town's visitor economy and growing permanent population, and it is worth budgeting for genuine competition on well located properties. Our interstate removalist cost guide is worth a read alongside this one if you're weighing the cost of the move itself against a Torquay property budget.

The Surf Coast Highway to Geelong 🚗

Torquay does not have its own train station, so the Surf Coast Highway is the main connection point, putting Geelong and its train line to Melbourne around thirty minutes away by car. From there, the Geelong line's V/Line services reach Southern Cross Station in under an hour, making a Torquay base workable for people who only need to be in Melbourne occasionally rather than every day. Within the town itself, most of Torquay is easily walkable or cyclable, and streets are generally straightforward for a removalist truck, though the main street and beachfront car parks get genuinely busy during summer and any major surf event, which is worth avoiding for a moving day booking.

Weighing Up Life in Torquay ⚖️

Torquay's Climate and Moving Day Timing 🌦️

Torquay's exposed coastal position means genuinely changeable weather, with the swell and wind conditions that make it a world class surf destination also bringing stronger winds and cooler temperatures than Melbourne through much of the year, even in summer. Winters are cool and can be wet with the occasional storm rolling in off the Southern Ocean. Booking a moving truck outside the peak summer holiday period and away from major surf events at Bells Beach tends to make both traffic and parking considerably easier to manage.

What It Costs to Move to Torquay 💲

For an exact figure based on your inventory and Torquay's specific street access, get a free quote rather than relying on averages.

Backloading Along the Surf Coast 🚚

Backloading works well for a Torquay move given the steady flow of freight already running along the Surf Coast Highway and Princes Freeway between Melbourne, Geelong and the coast. Sharing space on a truck already scheduled for a run through this corridor is typically cheaper than a dedicated booking, and given the relatively short distance from Melbourne, delivery windows tend to be tighter and more predictable than longer interstate backloading routes. Our guide to backloading covers typical savings and booking windows in more detail, and our Average Cost of Moving House in Australia guide is worth reading alongside this one if you are still budgeting the move overall.

Frequently Answered Questions❓

Q: Why is Torquay famous? 🏄

A: It's widely regarded as the birthplace of the modern surf industry. Rip Curl and Quiksilver were both founded there in the early 1970s, and nearby Bells Beach hosts the world's longest running professional surf contest.

Q: How far is Torquay from Melbourne? 📍

A: About a hundred kilometres, roughly an hour and a half by car via the Princes Freeway and Surf Coast Highway.

Q: Does Torquay have a train station? 🚗

A: No. The nearest rail access is via Geelong, around thirty minutes away by car, from where V/Line services reach Melbourne's Southern Cross Station in under an hour.

Q: Are property prices in Torquay expensive? 💰

A: They've risen significantly in recent years as Melbourne buyers have discovered the town, though Torquay generally remains more accessible than equivalent coastal towns closer to Melbourne.

Q: Is Torquay a good base for exploring the Great Ocean Road? 🛣️

A: Yes, Torquay marks the official start of the Great Ocean Road, making it a genuine gateway town with a year round visitor economy.

Q: Is Torquay good for remote workers? 💻

A: Increasingly, yes. With Geelong's train line thirty minutes away, remote and hybrid workers who only need occasional Melbourne access are a growing part of the town's population.

Q: Is backloading a good option for moving to Torquay? 📦

A: Yes, particularly given how much freight already runs along the Surf Coast Highway and Princes Freeway, keeping delivery windows short and predictable.

Ready to Move to Torquay? 🚀

Torquay suits people chasing a genuine surf culture and coastal lifestyle, backed by Great Ocean Road access and a manageable drive into Geelong for city services. Once your moving date is set, get a free quote through Best Rated Transport and compare verified operators experienced with Surf Coast moves and Torquay's seasonal traffic patterns.

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• Interstate Removalist Costs Australia 2026: Comprehensive Price Guide
• What Is Backloading? The Cheapest Way to Move Interstate
• Average Cost of Moving House in Australia