A surf town, and its shops
Two of the biggest names in surfing started in Torquay in 1969, and the town has never really stopped being a surf shop with a beach attached. Most of it is in one place: Surf City Plaza on the Surf Coast Highway, with the factory outlets around the corner on Baines Crescent.
It's a handy thing to have nearby. Leaky wetsuit? Forgot your boardies? Kids suddenly keen on a bodyboard? It's all 5 minutes' drive from Holyday House. And on a wet day, an hour in the outlets followed by the surfing museum next door is a pretty good plan.
How it started: Rip Curl and Quiksilver
In 1969, two backyard surf businesses got going in Torquay. Doug "Claw" Warbrick and Brian "Sing Ding" Singer started Rip Curl, making surfboards first. They moved into wetsuits not long after, because surfing in Victorian water all year needs a good one. Rip Curl still has its head office in Torquay.
The same year, Alan Green and John Law started Quiksilver, with the idea of a better boardshort. They borrowed features from wetsuits, like snaps and a Velcro fly, and according to Visit Great Ocean Road their first boardshorts were in Australian shops in 1970. Quiksilver went on to become one of the world's biggest surfwear brands, and its parent company later took the Boardriders name.
Add the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, which has been running since the 1960s, and you can see how a small coastal town ended up as the engine room of the Australian surf industry. The Australian National Surfing Museum tells the full story.
Surf City Plaza
This is the main strip. Visit Great Ocean Road describes Rip Curl and Boardriders as bookending the plaza, with Rip Curl's large retail store at one end and Boardriders (the home of Quiksilver and Roxy) at the other. It also lists Billabong, Roxy, Strapper and Ghanda in the middle and across the road. Shops come and go, so treat that as a rough guide and have a wander.
The big names have their own pages: Rip Curl Torquay (the flagship and the outlet), Quiksilver and Boardriders (with Roxy and Billabong), and Ghanda, the Torquay-born label that prints its own clothes.
You'll find surfboards, wetsuits, clothes, thongs, beach towels, skateboards, sunglasses and watches, and even some snow gear for the winter crowd. There are a few cafes in the plaza, a skate park, the visitor information centre and the public library. The surfing museum is part of the same precinct, at 77 Beach Road.
Rip Curl
The flagship store at 101 Surf Coast Highway, with the full range and the most wetsuits in town. Rip Curl was founded in Torquay in 1969 and its head office is still here.
Boardriders (Quiksilver and Roxy)
At 61 Surf Coast Highway, at the other end of the plaza, with the 4 Pines x Boardriders bar at the same address.
Billabong
Part of the Boardriders group since 2018, with its own store in the plaza.
Patagonia
The outdoor brand's store is at 116 Surf Coast Highway, across the road: fleeces, jackets, packs and some surf gear.
And the rest
Smaller surf, skate and fashion shops come and go around the plaza. Brands seen here have included Roxy, Strapper, Globe, Oakley and Fox.
Getting there
About 5 minutes' drive from the house, down the Surf Coast Highway. There's parking around the plaza. On rainy school holiday days it gets busy, so go early.
Rip Curl Pro shuttle
In recent years a shuttle has run from Rip Curl's Torquay flagship store to the contest at Bells on competition days. Check this year's event information. More in our Bells Beach guide.
The Baines Crescent outlets
Around the corner from the plaza, Baines Crescent is where the factory outlets and seconds shops are. Visit Great Ocean Road says they're especially good for a discounted wetsuit, and Rip Curl has an outlet shop around the corner from its main store. Expect last season's colours, odd sizes and end-of-line stock, with the occasional proper bargain.
Outlets come and go, but when we checked in October 2026 these were the main ones (addresses and hours from Searoad's Torquay outlets guide):
Rip Curl Factory Outlet
On Baines Crescent, around the corner from the flagship. The place to look for a discounted wetsuit.
Quiksilver outlet
16 Baines Crescent, open 9am to 5pm, seven days. Boardshorts, wetsuits and rash vests for the whole family.
Ghanda
The outlet is at 7A Baines Crescent, with hand-printed trackies, hoodies and tees from the Torquay-born label. Ghanda also has a store opposite the plaza at 2/118 Surf Coast Highway and a flagship at 2 Gilbert Street.
Reef
18 Baines Crescent, open 9am to 5pm, seven days. Sandals and thongs, including the Fanning with a bottle opener in the sole, plus bags.
Big Brand Outlet
Unit 1/4 Gilbert Street, a short drive from the crescent, open 9am to 5pm, seven days. A multi-label outlet with past-season surf tees, boardshorts and casual wear.
Walk the crescent, duck into each one, and compare. Hours change with the season, so check before a special trip. The Torquay Taphouse and Bells Beach Brewing are on the same street when you're done.
Buying a wetsuit
You'll want one all year in Victoria. The water's around 18 to 20°C in summer and closer to 12°C in winter. It's cold. Really cold. A good wetsuit is the difference between a fun hour and a miserable ten minutes.
Thickness
A 4/3 steamer is the usual winter suit down here, and the local hire shops stock them for that reason. If you're only coming in the warmer months, ask the shop about something thinner. Booties, gloves and a hood are worth it in the depths of winter.
Fit
Snug everywhere, with no baggy bits at the lower back or under the arms where water can pool. Raise your arms and squat in the change room. If you can't, go up a size or try another brand.
Kids
Kids grow out of them fast, which makes the outlets a good place to look. A short-sleeved spring suit is fine for a summer paddle at Cosy Corner. For real surf sessions, a full suit keeps them in the water longer.
Hiring or buying a board
Hire first
If you're new to it, or only here for a few days, hire. Go Ride a Wave's Torquay shop hires learner soft boards, hardboards for intermediate and advanced surfers, and 4/3 winter wetsuits. Torquay Surfing Academy on Bell Street also hires boards and wetsuits. Check their websites for current prices and hours.
Buying new
The big stores have racks of new boards, and a few independent shops carry locally shaped ones. Tell the staff honestly how often you surf and where. A beginner on a shortboard is a sad sight, and a good shop will steer you towards something with more foam.
Second-hand
Plenty of shops keep a used-board rack. Look for soft spots, cracks and patchy repairs, and check the fin boxes. A ding that's let water in is worth walking away from.
Getting it home
There's covered storage for boards and wetsuits at Holyday House, a hot outdoor shower to rinse off, and off-street parking for the car with the roof racks. Rinse your wetsuit in fresh water and hang it in the shade, and it'll last a lot longer.
Torquay surf shops FAQ
Where are the surf outlets in Torquay?
Mostly on Baines Crescent, around the corner from Surf City Plaza on the Surf Coast Highway. It's about 5 minutes' drive from Holyday House in north Torquay.
Were Rip Curl and Quiksilver really started in Torquay?
Yes. Both started there in 1969. Rip Curl was founded by Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer, and Quiksilver by Alan Green and John Law. Rip Curl's head office is still in Torquay.
Is there a Rip Curl outlet in Torquay?
Yes. Rip Curl has a large store at Surf City Plaza and an outlet shop around the corner. Check opening hours before you go.
Where can I get a cheap wetsuit?
Try the Baines Crescent factory outlets and seconds shops first. Try it on properly and ask why it's discounted.
Can I hire a surfboard in Torquay?
Yes. Surf schools including Go Ride a Wave and Torquay Surfing Academy hire boards and wetsuits. Check their sites for prices and hours, and book ahead in summer.
What else is near Surf City Plaza?
The Australian National Surfing Museum, cafes, a skate park, the visitor information centre and the library. Bells Beach is about 10 minutes' drive away.
Got the gear? Our surfing in Torquay guide has the breaks by level, and Jan Juc is where to go once you're standing up. The rainy day guide pairs the shops with more indoor ideas, and things to do in Torquay covers the rest. Want somewhere with board storage 5 minutes from the shops? Check dates and send us an enquiry.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 20 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Shopping in Torquay — Visit Great Ocean Road
- Rip Curl — Wikipedia
- Quiksilver — Wikipedia
- Rip Curl warehouse operations to leave Torquay — Bay 93.9
- Torquay surf hire — Go Ride a Wave
- Australian National Surfing Museum — Australian National Surfing Museum
- 7 Best Torquay Factory Outlets — Searoad Ferries
- Quiksilver — Wikipedia