Go Ride a Wave has been teaching beginners to surf since 1987. Lessons are held on beaches the length of the Surf Coast, from Torquay to Wye River, but the main bases are at Torquay and Anglesea. Daily group surf lessons run year-round, with peak season from September to May (but yes, wetsuits are provided year-round). Lessons are for beginners and there’s a one-to-seven ratio of instructor to students, the aim being to get you up on the board in your first lesson,. A two-hour lesson gives you a grounding in beach knowledge and safety before you learn how to paddle and stand up on a wave; a three-lesson package aims to get you catching and surfing across a breaking wave as well as understanding the ocean.

This exquisite day spa and wellness centre offers facials, massage, body rituals (including aromatherapy and exfoliating treatments) and “cosmic tattooing”.

Dramatic beaches, ochre cliffs and breathtaking lookout spots feature along 44 kilometres of walking track between Point Impossible, east of Torquay, and Fairhaven, just west of Aireys Inlet. This walk takes in three important marine sanctuaries – Point Danger Marine Sanctuary, Point Addis Marine National Park and Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary – and is broken into 12 chunks, allowing you to bite off what you choose. The section along the iconic Bells Beach – following the original walking track of early surfers seeking clean waves – is a must, as is the clifftop skirting around Torquay, where you’ll get a grand vista of the coastline from Rocky Point. Look out for sea eagles and peregrine falcons overhead, while on the beaches you might find rare hooded plovers or humpback whales out to sea in the colder months.

Fairhaven beach is the longest on the Great Ocean Road, stretching six kilometres through Anglesea, Lorne, Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven, Moggs Creek and Eastern View. It’s a popular surf beach, with water ranging from inviting to ominous, and is known for its strong rips. A more peaceful, patrolled area sits in front of the Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club. It’s a local favourite in winter.

Stop by for a coffee in the lush nursery courtyard, walk amongst the plants and pick one up to buy, or head to the onsite grocer for some local produce. You’d never know that Poppie’s is right in the middle of Anglesea’s industrial centre.

Your go-to place for a cocktail. What started out as a burger shack is now a South-American inspired bar and bistro that injects Latin flair into everything it does. No wonder it’s one of the most popular spots on the Surf Coast.

One of the best fish ‘n’ chippers on Victoria's surf coast. It’s the kind of spot where local fishermen drop off fresh-caught fish of the day, and there’s way more to the potato cake than meets the eye.

Head to this resort and day spa for gorgeous views out over the Anglesea river and just about every wellness treatment you can imagine.