Best things to do in Torquay

Take an astonishingly beautiful drive along The Great Ocean Road. Returned soldiers from World War I built this 243 km (151 mi) stretch of seaside road between Torquay and Allansford as a tribute to fallen servicemen, and it now sits as the world's largest war memorial. Stop at lookouts for views over the ocean, and leave extra time to admire 12 Apostles, mammoth rock stacks that rise up from the Southern Ocean just offshore from cliffs that plunge to a pristine beach.

Home to the world’s longest-running surfing competition, Bells Beach is widely recognized as one of the best surfing beaches in Victoria. At this beach you can ride waves all day, or head to the rocky cliffs surrounding the coastline, from which you can watch some of the world’s best surfers perfecting their skills. Named after the family that lived in the area in the 1840s, the beach is popular with sightseers, who walk along the cliffs looking for the best vantage points, or picnic on the sand as the sun goes down. Keep in mind that due to its exposed reef and rough waves, the beach is most suited to experienced surfers.

Take a self-guided walk through Loch Ard Gorge and experience the forces of the wind and the sea, shaping this rugged scenery for thousands of years. Steeped in history, this wild stretch of coastline remains known for the abundance of shipwrecks that have perished under the frothing sea. Notice the two pillars--named Tom and Eva after the two sole survivors of 1878 Loch Ard shipwreck--guarding the shore from the rough waves. A series of steps lead down to a wild beach offering stunning views along the way. To learn more about the area's history, visit a small museum nearby.

Sculpted by harsh winds and steady waves of the Southern Ocean, Twelve Apostles includes a group of eight limestone stacks--the ninth collapsed in 2005--that emerge from the shallows of the marine national park. The tallest of the crumbling pillars rises up to the height of 50 m (160 ft). The underwater scenery is even more dramatic, featuring some deep sloping reefs with habitats of kelp forests and colorful sponge gardens. These impressive rock stacks are arguably most beautiful when bathed in early morning light, when little penguins can be seen nesting in caves below them.

Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the Otway rainforest at Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, which boasts a canopy walkway and a zipline tour. The steel walkway is 600 m (2,000 ft) long and 30 m (100 ft) high, making it the longest and tallest walkway of its type. Roundtrip from the visitor center is a 1.9 km (1.2 mi) through the upper reaches of rainforest. The zipline tour features eight platforms, six flights, and two suspension bridges. The site also has a "dinosaur path" for kids.